Turbo Island May Become Protected Village Green After £100k Sale
Bristol’s Turbo Island could gain protection from development as a village green following a recent £100,000 sale
Turbo Island, Bristol, Village Green, Development, Stokes Croft
Bristol: There’s some buzz about Turbo Island, a small plot in Stokes Croft. It might get protected from development and be recognized as a village green. The city council is set to make a decision soon.
This little piece of land was sold for £100,000 last year, just before an auction was supposed to happen. It used to belong to an advertising company, but now it’s in the hands of a mystery buyer.
The council’s committee will meet on January 16 to discuss the application. They need to see if the land has been used for community activities by a good number of locals. You often see people hanging out there, enjoying bonfires and just chilling.
Normal activities include walking, playing with kids, and even spontaneous parties. The definition of what counts as a lawful pastime is pretty broad, so it could cover a lot of fun stuff that happens there.
Anyone can apply to register land as a village green, but landowners sometimes push back if they want to build on it. There have been disputes in Bristol before, like over Stoke Lodge playing fields.
The new owner of Turbo Island might want to develop it, which could lead to a conflict if the council decides to register it as a village green. If that happens, they can’t build anything there.
Past attempts to clean up the area haven’t lasted long. In 2022, former MP Thangam Debbonaire celebrated some improvements, but the bonfires and gatherings quickly returned.
She mentioned on social media that she’s been working with the landowner and the council to tackle the issues there. Many locals have expressed their concerns, and she’s determined to keep pushing for a better environment at Turbo Island.