Jamaica Street Stores closes its doors permanently today and owner Charlie James has partly blamed the ‘lawless’ and anti-social behaviour around Turbo Island opposite his restaurant. Charlie says that although soaring energy bills and rents are a contributory factor to the sudden closure, it’s the fact that the area has become less safe.
Turbo Island, on the junction of Jamaica Street and Stokes Croft, has long been a troubled area but Charlie says things have worsened in recent times. He claims there have been several instances where he and his staff have been threatened and that there are ‘significant risks to public safety when the council allow areas of the city to become lawless in this way’.
Charlie says recent issues with Turbo Island have included several fires, open drug dealing and drug use, and he has seen rats in piles of rubbish.
