A petition has been set up to save a renowned piece of land in Bristol, after a local resident noticed it was fenced off.
Duncan West, 27, from St Paul's decided to set up the petition last week, noticing the part of the Turbo Island triangle which belongs to the council was being repaved and was “totally not vibing with the free spirit of Bristol's community.”
The petition, has received 167 signatures so far, is addressed to Bristol City Council.
Duncan said that Turbo Island has been there since he was born in Bristol and it represents the renegade uncontrolled nature of Stokes Croft.
A spokesperson for Bristol City Council confirmed the council did not own or have any control over the part of Turbo Island that is owned by an Essex-based advertising company.
Because the land is private property, none of the various council rules and regulations regarding drinking alcohol in public, lighting fires or playing music in public apply to that parcel of land nearest to the billboard.
“Further up Cheltenham/Gloucester Road you reach stifling levels of student and middle class oriented accommodation and venues.
“Further down to the centre you get milquetoast SWX and Oceana oriented venues.
“Turbo Island is a respite for many in their transition between the two aforementioned areas and the rip roaring free spirited vegan style which caters to both students and possible addicts, or both, of the triangle makes Bristol, Bristol.
“It is literally a free space in between gritty urban architecture, traffic, graffiti, the lot.
“Anyone can come and go as they please and all are welcome.
“Without Turbo Island how do we free ourselves from the shackles of oppressive bureaucracy?
“Free space is underrated in Bristol," Duncan said.
Bristol Live understands while the council did tell local residents last autumn it was looking to reach an agreement with that company to take over day-to-day control of that land, no progress has been made since then, and the land is still privately-owned.
Fencing has been put up to make improvements but the council cannot make any changes to the privately owned land which makes up Turbo Island.
The petition lists well known landmarks and architecture in Bristol, such as the Clifton Suspension Bridge, Cabot Tower and the Bristol Museum & Art Gallery and Duncan believes “None of these compare to the paradise named Turbo Island.”
For more information on the petition visit here
