INVESTIGATION: 2 of 3 Partners in Park and Ride Partnership Blame Southampton City Council for Failings

 

Breaking... When given the right of reply, both Bluestar bus company and University Hospitals Southampton, have passed the buck to Southampton City Council for the failings of the Park and Ride service. 

More to follow...

 

HOSPITAL MAJOR INCIDENT FIRE: SGH Chief Executive Officer and Chief Medical Officer Fail To Answer Urgent Questions on Fire Safety

 

Paul Grundy Chief Medical Officer UHS NHS Foundation Trust
Photo: UHS

UPDATE: A response from Corporate Affairs has now been received, but it is not very helpful and no response to each individual and direct question has been received from either the CEO or CMO, nor Corporate Affairs. 

Please sign Andrew Pope's petition for sprinklers here. 

Andrew Pope says:

"When I contact people directly that I have been in touch with before, including David French about Park and Ride, I expect a direct response from them directly.

And not a feeble response from PR people trying to gaslight patients, staff, local residents and firefighters. I will be going back and asking for a direct response - and not for the first time.

Despite the non-response, it seems that Mr Grundy is now away. So others have been asked to respond in his stead.

I have sympathy that they have been dealing with a Major Incident, but this is somewhat self-inflicted when insufficient fire safety was in place before the Major Incident. The cost of the Major Incident could have been much reduced with better fire safety in place.

I heard similar excuses that these PR people at the Hospital have given now, as compared with the Labour-run Southampton City Council 8 years ago when I put them under pressure after the Redbridge Towers fire. And the Tory Leader of Kensington Council at Grenfell.

The PR response totally justifies the petition that I have created, because the Hospital seem to think it is acceptable to not do it because they are not required to by law or regulation.

Local people think otherwise - the petition has received good response in its first week, both online and offline. Please sign it, if you have not already, and share it."

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Co-Founder of Southampton Independents Andrew Pope has been asking questions of the senior executives of the Trust Board at the Southampton General Hospital (SGH), also known as University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust. Andrew's follow-up letter to the CEO David French and Chief Medical Officer Paul Grundy, is below:

Dear David and Paul,

Please answer urgently the questions that were sent to you before, and followed up on 2nd February. I have repeated them below.

I asked Joe Campbell, via Emily Hudson of the BBC, to ask about sprinklers and the response on the BBC South Today Monday before last seemed to be that patients might get wet, equipment might get wet and the building(s) are old. 

 

Where did those rather flippant and unhelpful answers come from please? PR people or from the Trust Board?

1. Were there sprinklers where the fire broke out? The BBC broadcast to say there were not. Please provide more information.

2. If there were sprinklers, did they contain the fire? No, see 1.

3. If there were sprinklers, why didn't they put the fire out? No, see 1 and 2.

4. Will the hospital review fire safety in this building and across the hospital estate, and install sprinklers? If so, where, by when?

5. If there were electrical, medical or other reasons why sprinklers were not appropriate for that location, please provide those.

I have asked to speak at the next Trust Board, but have not received any response. And the same at the Council of Governors."

 

On sending the follow-up letter, an auto-reply email suggested that Mr Grundy is on significant leave. To be clear, the CEO was also asked and no reply was received.

 

The letter also mentions Andrew Pope's credentials on the topic, and record in Southampton on campaigning on fire safety. 

 

Andrew Pope chaired the Southampton City Council Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee when he led an inquiry into hospital transport, the report of which mentioned a Park and Ride as well as other recommendations that Andrew followed up on. He also wrote his Masters degree thesis on "How Democratic Are NHS Foundation Trusts?" where he interviewed 60 people on their views on the topic. 

 

Andrew also led the campaign for sprinklers to be installed in all Southampton City Council tower blocks, months before the Grenfell Tower disaster in London and after the fatal Shirley Towers fire in 2010 and the near-miss Redbridge Towers fire in 2017, where thankfully nobody died. As documented elsewhere on this website, both Southampton Labour and Kensington and Chelsea Conservatives claimed that residents did not want sprinklers. Labour or Tory, same old story, residents said.

 

In 2018, six months after Grenfell, Andrew brought BBC Radio 5 Live's investigative journalist Adrian Goldberg to Southampton, showing Adrian major fire safety failures in Council tower blocks. These failings were described as "disgraceful" by fire safety expert Dr Stephen Battersby in the radio programme. A short video is here on the BBC website. 

 

As reported by the BBC in 2017, after the Grenfell disaster, "Sprinklers would have saved tower".

"A fire safety expert previously contracted to work on Grenfell Tower has said sprinklers would have stopped the fatal fire from spreading.

Paul Atkins said sprinklers give people a "99% chance of survival" and would have stopped flames taking hold."

Sprinklers are not mandatory in all hospitals and care homes in England. So as with his successful campaigns in and around Southampton, Andrew Pope has started a petition. You can sign it here.

 

 

Redbridge Towers Fire in 2017
Photo: Southampton Independents

Andrew Pope quoted in Daily Echo Redbridge Towers 2017
Photo: Southampton Independents

Front page Daily Echo after Redbridge Towers Fire 2017
Photo: Southampton Independents

 

 

Our Emblem

Andrew Pope when Southampton Independents Councillor for Redbridge
Photo: Southampton Independents

 

 

Sign Andrew Pope's Petition For Sprinklers at the SGH and Make Them Mandatory In All Hospitals and Care Homes in England

 

Southampton General Hospital
Photo: Southampton Independents

You can go straight to the petition at the link here.

You can find out more about the petition here. 

People died at Grenfell Tower because there were no sprinklers. Kensington Council didn't bother. Firefighters died at Shirley Towers in 2010. Sprinklers would have saved lives and property, because they are proven. Don't let it happen again. Please sign the petition. 

Or you can read more about Andrew Pope's leadership on fire safety over nearly ten years in Southampton on this website by using the site search facility and searching for 'fire safety', or clicking the links below:

• here 
•   here 
•     and here. 

And if you are in the Shirley ward, please Vote Andrew Pope Independent Network. 

 

Independent Network Emblem

Andrew Pope Letter Daily Echo on By-Election
Photo: Southampton Independents

 

Fourteen Years of Failure - Southampton Labour Housing Councillor Failing Frampton Refuses To Fix Council Tenants' Concerns

 

Failing Southampton Labour Housing Boss Andy Frampton
Photo: Southampton City Council

Councillor Andy Frampton admits fourteeen years of failure (minus one year of Tory failure*) by Labour on Southampton City Council housing. Last month, launching yet another "strategy" document after those before that failed Council tenants, he said:

'Sadly, too many in our city still fall short of the standard residents rightly expect.' 

On Sunday 1st February 2026, the day of the fire at the Southampton General Hospital (University Hospitals Southampton), Shirley campaigner Andrew Pope sent concerns of Shirley Towers residents over fire safety to the Labour Cabinet Member for Housing at the Council, Councillor Andy Frampton.

Tenants were unhappy that housing officers had failed to address their concerns over many issues:

• fire safety, including in Shirley Towers where firefighters died in 2010
• damp and mould across Southampton Council flats and houses
• energy equipment installed by the Council being faulty
• community rooms in council blocks being closed and 
• bed bugs.

So they approached Andrew Pope, who took up their concerns. 

Cllr Frampton flatly refused to answer their concerns, and we have his refusal in writing. It is unacceptable.

Shirley Towers residents told us, when we told them about Frampton's refusal, that he deserves to lose his Council seat. According to the Council website, his seat is up for election in May 2026. If you would like to stand against him, please get in touch with us. 

Andrew Pope says:

Daily Echo in 2017 Andrew Pope Quoted on Fire Safety at Redbridge Towers
Photo: Southampton Independents

 

"I had already tried to get Andy Frampton to address the serious damp and mould problems, but he did not respond.  

Tenants had already tried to get these problems addressed by Council officers, who supposedly answer to the failing Frampton. He should help but he refused.

It is no wonder that tenants find that too many of their problems are either ignored or not addressed properly by Labour-run Southampton City Council.

When even the housing boss fails to address the concerns, Council officers may think they can follow his lead of inaction, incompetence and failure.

Frampton himself has admitted in public his failings and the failings of the Labour-run Council. 

At a meeting in January 2026, after FOURTEEN years of failure after Labour took control of the Council, Frampton said:

'Sadly, too many in our city still fall short of the standard residents rightly expect.'

Labour has been in power in the Council since 2012. 

I resigned from Labour in 2015 and became an Independent councillor because I did not want to be part of a Labour Party that failed Redbridge, Maybush and Millbrook constituents. Labour has run them down and run Southampton down.

Being an independent means I work with residents without any political party between me and those I represent.

That's why I am standing to be a Councillor again. 

If elected, I will have some powers to compel officers to address tenants' concerns. 

And some of those officers may remember that I am not like Andy Frampton - I make sure officers do their jobs and serve tenants. I will be meeting with officers soon to keep up the pressure."

* The Conservatives took control of the Council for just one year between 2012-2026. Labour or Tory, same old story - it's still fourteen years of failure since 2012. And when the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats were in UK Government, they slashed Council funding and made it more difficult for councils to raise their own funding. Southampton Labour's former Council Leader Satvir Kaur MP said that she did not understand Council finances, and brought the Council to its knees. Labour, Lib Dem or Tory, same old story.

 

Andrew Douglas Pope on BBC South Today

 

Andrew Douglas Pope

HOSPITAL FIRE: BBC CONFIRMS NO SPRINKLERS IN MAJOR INCIDENT FIRE IN WEST WING

West Wing Southampton General Hospital
Photo: Southampton Independents

 

Redbridge Towers Fire in 2017 with no sprinklers

"Were there sprinklers at yesterday's major incident fire at Southampton General Hospital? I am asking the hospital Chief Executive and Chief Medical Officers this and other questions. I have also contacted the Fire Protection Association, who are experts on sprinklers."

says prominent fire safety campaigner Andrew Pope, who is standing as the Independent Network candidate in the 26th February 2026 Shirley by-election.

Sign Andrew Pope's petition here to demand that sprinklers are installed, and made mandatory for all hospitals and care homes.

Joe Campbell on BBC South Today 2nd February 2026 confirmed that sprinklers were NOT installed. It appears that the hospital's attempt at explaining why, is that the West Wing is "old" and that sprinklers might get expensive equipment wet and patients wet. We are asking more questions, and asking the Daily Echo and BBC to ask more for patients and local residents.

The ITV News report is here. 

What do you think of the hospital's "explanation" of no sprinklers? 

Andrew says:  

"I noticed in the BBC's original report that sprinklers were not mentioned. So I raised sprinklers with the BBC's Emily Hudson and true to her word, she raised this with the reporter Joe Campbell. I will be thanking Emily and Joe for getting an answer. More answers are needed now though, once the immediate chaos caused by the fire has receded."

Why have Southampton Independents campaigned for sprinklers, ever since the first year we started in 2017?

Because sprinklers save lives. Sprinklers save property. They are, in the words of Nick Ross CBE in the video by the British Automatic Fire Sprinkler Association (BAFSA), "phenomenally successful". 

If you have any doubts about sprinklers, please watch the BAFSA video above. 

Sprinkler Saves reports: "Southampton City Council demonstrated its commitment to fire safety by agreeing, in June 2017, to fund the retrofitting of residential sprinklers within its twenty high-rise buildings as part of a phased programme, in response to the Grenfell Tower fire."  

We began our campaign earlier in 2017 after the Redbridge Towers fire, the Labour-run Council's Cabinet Member for Housing Warwick Payne said that residents did not want sprinklers and that the Council did not have the money. We made them commit to doing it and find the money. 

Please see a selection of reports of the below incidents where our campaign has saved lives and property, and the City Council and taxpayers money, and protected firefighters from tackling a worse incident, in Southampton:

• 13th August 2025, Irving Road, Southampton: HFRS incident reports: "high-rise sprinkler system in Southampton played a key role in containing a kitchen fire, protecting residents, and enabling firefighters to bring the incident under control". 
• 23rd March 2025, Redbridge Towers, Southampton: HFRS incident reports: "It is further reassuring to know that had this fire occurred inside one of the flats and not the sterile communal area, that the building is fitted with firefighting sprinklers. These would have contained the fire prior to our arrival but also protected the residents and assisted in their escape."
• 20th April 2021, Millbrook Towers, Southampton:  HFRS incident reports: "The sprinklers in Millbrook Towers did exactly what these systems are designed to do. By confining the fire to one room, the potential for this being a much more significant incident was averted."

This is just some of the incidents in tower blocks. Southampton City Council issued this update in 2024, with all 20 tower blocks having sprinklers installed, saying: 

"Since the sprinklers have been installed we have had five flat fires in our high-rise blocks. All of these have been suppressed by the sprinkler systems before the fire service arrived." 

Southampton Independents has continued its pressure, checking up on the Council's work. 

On the day of the fire at the Hospital, Andrew Pope sent concerns of Shirley Towers residents over fire safety to the Labour Cabinet Member for Housing at the Council, Councillor Andy Frampton. He flatly refused to answer their concerns, in writing. Shirley Towers residents told us, when we told them this, that he deserves to lose his Council seat. According to the Council website, his seat is up for election in May 2026. If you would like to stand against him, please get in touch with us.

Our campaign worked. Contrast the above safety improvements after our campaign with the incidents at Redbridge Towers in 2017, Shirley Towers in 2010 and Albion Towers in 2017. Sprinklers were not installed then. Both Labour and Tory-run Councils failed to do it, until we started our campaign.

It is now time for the Hospital to do the same, and for Labour to be held to account for its failings on the Council.

 

Andrew Pope, Fire Safety Campaigner

 

CAMPAIGN UPDATE: A Sad and Controversial Goodbye To The Derelict Bridge Tavern Pub on Coxford Road

 

Andrew Pope Outside The Derelict Bridge Tavern Pub on Coxford Road

Shirley ward campaigner Andrew Pope has had confirmation from the Agent of the site developer that the development of the former Bridge Tavern is proceeding. Andrew says:

"I've had a response from the Agent today. I've told him of my disappointment that their proposal was approved by the big party councillors on the Council planning committee, but I have thanked him for his quick response to my questions.

There will be a delay but it may be "May" at the earliest before the pub is demolished. The Council and developer are having trouble agreeing the commitments that the developer must follow. And bats and other wildlife are inside the derelict pub.

I remain concerned on behalf of residents (and local bats, birds and other wildlife) of the impact of the development. I will keep a watching brief.

It's sad to see a pub be demolished but there was no way that I could save this pub. 

I have saved others in the New Forest, including the Anchor Inn at Eling and the Fleur de Lys at Pilley. I was standing for Parliament in New Forest East. Around that time, I also joined with campaigners to protect The Bittern pub at Bitterne from becoming a McDonald's.

Not all pubs can be saved though and not all pubs are wanted to be saved by local residents. The Bridge Tavern is obviously another that could not survive. I've met people who did enjoy the pub many years ago, including on Sunday when I was canvassing nearby, so the pub served its purpose and local residents for a long time. 

The Bush Inn on Maybush Road could not be saved, when I was councillor for Redbridge ward nearby. I asked local residents and they did not want the Bush Inn to be saved. 

At the time I was reported in the Echo saying that I was disappointed to lose another pub, but being an elected representative is not about what I want, it's about what local residents want. I listen to them and act on their views."  

Since 2024, co-founder of Southampton Independents Andrew Pope has listened to and stood up with residents of the Coxford / Maybush area (it depends on who you ask :) ) who live near to the derelict pub on Coxford Road.

The derelict pub is close to the Southampton General Hospital and is affected by hospital staff parking there, as is a very wide area going all the way from Romsey Road to Hill Lane, north and south of Winchester Road and in Shirley Warren. Andrew has confirmed this from listening to many residents of this area.

The latest proposal for the derelict pub was to develop the site, but the proposals were deeply flawed, residents told him. They did not understand why the Council had not rejected the planning application, because it did not improve on previous applications that had been refused.

Andrew added his voice to the objections to the planning application. He organised and ran a petition that local residents signed, and submitted this to the Council.

Andrew spoke up for residents at the July 2025 Planning meeting. What is not mentioned in the Echo report is that incredibly, Andrew observed the now ex-councillor Liberal Democrat George Percival, actually support the application, and shake the hands of the developer's representative at the Planning meeting. It turns out that Percival was committing a flagrant conflict of interest by mixing his occupation with his role as a councillor.

Andrew had previously asked the planning officer that the decision was made in public, so that planning officers could not make the decision bureaucratically and without public scrutiny. He also objected to the application and asked councillors to refuse it. 

The councillors were all from the big political parties: Labour, Tories, Liberal Democrats.

They approved the application despite the huge local objections that it should be refused and residents' views listened to. Southampton resident and supporter of Southampton Independents Felix, who attended the meeting with Andrew, said:

"This was the first planning meeting that I had ever been to. It seemed like the big party's councillors did not listen to Andrew or the residents who spoke at the meeting. They seemed to have made up their mind before the meeting.

But they did listen when Andrew demanded that the Park and Ride now be delivered, and not just be in strategy documents for even longer than the 12 years that Andrew has fought for it." 

Months passed. Nothing seemed to be happening, so Andrew wrote to the Agent of the developer for an update, who has confirmed today that the site will be developed from May at the earliest, due to delays in the legal agreements with the Council's planning officers, and further bat surveys. 

Bats are protected by law and are probably roosting in the derelict pub until May at the latest, "when the hibernation period for bats ends.", according to the Agent.

Andrew may not have stopped the proposal, but since 2024 he has worked hard to represent local residents, and he has had a victory on his 12-year Park and Ride campaign which has already reduced hospital parking and traffic. More details on that victory and his continuing campaign to make the Park and Ride be better, and hold the bus company, hospital and Labour-run Council to account, are on this website:

• here
•   here
•     and here.

HOSPITAL FIRE: "Were There Sprinklers at Yesterday's Major Incident Hospital Fire?" asks Andrew Pope Independent Network Shirley By-Election Candidate

 

Redbridge Towers Fire in 2017 with no sprinklers

"Were there sprinklers at yesterday's major incident fire at Southampton General Hospital? I am asking the hospital Chief Executive and Chief Medical Officers this and other questions."

says prominent fire safety campaigner Andrew Pope, who is standing as the Independent Network candidate in the 26th February 2026 Shirley by-election.

Joe Campbell on BBC South Today this evening confirmed that sprinklers were NOT installed. It appears that the hospital attempt at explaining why is that the West Wing is "old" and that sprinklers might get expensive equipment wet and patients wet.

Sign Andrew Pope's petition here to the CEO of the Hospital to demand that sprinklers are installed, and made mandatory by law for all hospitals and care homes. 

Andrew says: "I raised sprinklers with the BBC's Emily Hudson yesterday and true to her word, she raised this with the reporter Joe Campbell. I will be thanking Emily and Joe for getting an answer. More answers are needed now though, once the immediate chaos caused by the fire has receded." 

 

Andrew Pope, Fire Safety Campaigner

Andrew says: 

"This Major Incident reminds me of the terrifying near-miss fire in early 2017 at Redbridge Towers when I was an Independent councillor for the Redbridge ward. Nobody died. But firemen did at Shirley Towers. Sprinklers were not installed back then in either of the Towers.

I campaigned and won for sprinklers to be installed in all Council tower blocks.  

Just yesterday though, I heard allegations by Council tenants in Shirley Towers that fire safety may have been compromised. The Cabinet Member for Housing, Labour Councillor Andy Frampton refused to answer the concerns that residents raised with me over fire safety. 

I am asking the same questions now of the Hospital's Chief Executive and Trust Board that I asked the Labour-run Council in 2017.

Although there are differences, this seems to be a very similar scenario. I have offered the Hospital's senior management the right of reply.

I hope that the hospital management do not pretend like the Labour-run Council did, that residents or patients do not want sprinklers. They do. And they need them. 

And this fire would very likely have been prevented completely, or better contained, if sprinklers were installed and working.

Sprinklers save lives and property and in the vast majority of cases, they contain or extinguish fires.

There would have been no need for over one-hundred firefighters to attend, and hundreds of patients moved internally and outside Southampton, and no need for a huge emergency service response, if sprinklers were installed and working in the endoscopy unit. Perhaps they were installed and failed, so I am asking Hospital senior management." 

The questions that Andrew has put to David French, the outgoing Chief Executive, and the Trust Board and Governors are as follows:

1. Were there sprinklers where the fire broke out?
2. If there were sprinklers, did they contain the fire?
3. If there were sprinklers, why didn't they put the fire out? 
4. Will the hospital review fire safety in this building and across the hospital estate, and install sprinklers? If so, where, by when?
5. If there were electrical, medical or other reasons why sprinklers were not appropriate for that location, please provide those.

If you want Southampton residents and patients to be protected from fire, please vote for Andrew Pope Independent Network at the 26th February Shirley by-election.

 

Independent Network Emblem

Perhaps hospitals are a special case where sprinklers do not work? No, definitely not. The experts on sprinklers, BAFSA, the British Automatic Fire Sprinkler Association, said in 2024:

 "The impact on UK hospitals and healthcare premises from fire is significant with 636 fires in hospitals in the year to September 2019.

The government’s fire standards for the NHS briefly mention, but do not commit to, the installation of sprinklers. The guidance also repeatedly states that where sprinklers are used, other fire prevention measures may be reduced to prove cost-benefits and design flexibility. Despite this even some new builds have not included sprinklers and almost no mental health trusts have sprinkler systems.
All sprinkler systems will save lives and: 

Protect firefighters
Limit the size of a fire
Control fire spread
Provide additional time to evacuate
Limit fire damage
Be beneficial in terms of business continuity
Compensate for any impairments in passive fire
protection measures"

 

Images and photos from Andrew Pope's previous campaigning work on fire safety are below and on many other posts and pages on the Southampton Independents website. This is just a selection of his work.

 

Daily Echo Front Page after Redbridge Towers 2017 fire

Daily Echo quoting Andrew Pope and Redbridge Towers residents

Damage to Redbridge Towers in 2017 Fire

Andrew Pope appearing on ITV News in 2017

Demo truck at Albion Towers, Southampton

Sprinkler Demo at Albion Towers

Evidence from Andrew Pope Investigation into Fire Safety in Council Tower Blocks

Andrew Pope Investigation into Fire Safety

Andrew Pope Investigation into Fire Safety

Andrew Pope Investigation into Fire Safety

CAMPAIGN VICTORY: Andrew Pope Leads On The Southampton Park and Ride to Reduce Hospital Parking and Hospital Traffic

 

Southampton Park and Ride Bus PR1 Finally Here

Redbridge resident John says:

"When Andrew Pope was our local councillor, of the three councillors we had, he was the one who got things done.

When the residents had a problem with the roadside trees not being maintained, Andrew got that sorted.

When I had a problem with the council tax band my home was in, Andrew came to my house and went through the options, and gave me the advice that helped get the band lowered. I can't see many other councillors doing that. 

Unlike most councillors, who owe their allegiance to one political party or another, Andrew, as an independent, can and does, work for the people who elect him." 

Andrew Pope was a Redbridge ward councillor from 2011 until 2019. The co-founder of Southampton Independents is standing as an Independent Network candidate in the latest Shirley by-election for Southampton City Council. Andrew says:

Independent Network Emblem

 

Andrew Pope, Independent Network and Southampton Independents

 

"People wanted action on hospital traffic and parking. For over a decade, I have listened, I have led, I have acted. I make the change happen, even when opponents do not like it.

I led and won a 12-year campaign for a Southampton Park and Ride for hospital staff and another for the public and football fans too. 

I led and chaired a Council inquiry into transport to the hospital. I held hospital management and chief executives to account for delivering the staff Park and Ride, and then the City Centre and St. Mary's Stadium Park and Rides. The hospital have kept their promises, but the Council has let our City and its visitors down.

I am holding the Labour-run Council and Cabinet Member for Transport to account, and the hospital and private bus company Bluestar to account for delivery, because what they've done so far is a good start, but it is not good enough. The bus company told me it was a "trial". I have asked Councillor Christie Lambert about this but she has failed to answer - and now has quit! My letter was published in the Echo.

 

"Park and Ride not good enough" Andrew Pope Letter in Echo

  

I ran a petition on the derelict pub, whose development proposal threatens more hospital parking problems because there is no parking on the site in the proposal. 

I spoke for you at the Council Planning meeting. Big political parties do not really care about you. They proved it by their councillors approving this pub proposal.

The two Labour councillors for Shirley - Councillor Alex Winning and Councillor Alice Kloker - did nothing on the pub proposal. They were not at the meeting and did not write to object.  I have asked them why.

The now ex-Lib Dem Councillor who caused this by-election actually supported the application and shook the hands of the people acting for the developers, in public, at the Civic Centre. Yes, George Percival really did that! I have never seen any councillor ever do that in all my years as a campaigner. He claimed to represent you but did the opposite, and then quit mid-term. The Lib Dems are still the Fib Dems.

When I spoke up for you at the Plannng meeting, I also called for the delivery of the Park and Ride. Shortly after, after years of Labour dithering, it finally happened. It wasn't a coincidence, I made it happen. 

I called in the Echo for the Labour Cabinet Member for Transport to be sacked, and he was. Captain Chaos Eamonn Keogh had to go, and the Portswood Bus Gate with him.

 

Andrew Pope Letter Calling For Eamonn Keogh to be sacked in the Echo

  

But who is responsible now his very brief successor Lambert has quit? I am demanding answers from the Leader of the Council Alex Winning.

I am here to serve you. I did what I said I would do, which is what I have done for Southampton and its people for many years, and I am standing again to be elected. 

The big political parties let you down, proved by the Lib Dems that caused this by-election, and by the Labour-run Council being incompetent. 

If you want independent representation, you have to vote for it.  

None of the other candidates in this election have the same track record of experience and passion as me. That's why more people are supporting me, and why my former constituent in Redbridge is prepared to be quoted.

Please vote for me, please support me, come and help me win, and please tell others."

 

The Shirley ward by-election is on 26th February 2026.

 

 

VOTE ANDREW DOUGLAS POPE, INDEPENDENT NETWORK CANDIDATE FOR THE SHIRLEY 2026 BY-ELECTION

 

Andrew Douglas Pope of the Independent Network and Southampton Independents

Emblem of the Independent Network

Andrew Douglas Pope is announcing his candidacy for the Shirley ward by-election on 26th February 2026, standing for the Independent Network. 

More information about Andrew Douglas Pope's campaigning, activism and organising work over the last three decades, is on this Southampton Independents website page here. 

Andrew, who was the co-founder of Southampton Independents, says:  

"Dear Residents of Shirley ward of Southampton City Council,

ANOTHER BY-ELECTION CAUSED BY ANOTHER BIG POLITICAL PARTY LETTING YOU DOWN

In 2024, residents had enough of political parties and encouraged me to stand as an Independent candidate. So I did! I listened. I acted. Labour or Tory, same old story, I said. Now add the Lib Dems. Their councillor was elected in 2024 but only lasted 15 months. He quit, causing this by-election.

Residents told me they wanted me to stand again next time. I promised to. So I am. Residents say:

“Andrew is genuine, knowledgeable, persistent and experienced. He knows what he is talking about and is very articulate.” (Resident Chris who lives in the Coxford part of the Shirley ward).

“Andrew is very enthusiastic and believes in what he is doing. I will be voting for him.” (Resident Derek who lives in the Maybush part of the Shirley ward).

“Andrew is very straight-forward and outspoken in his views. In my opinion, he is exactly what we need in Shirley.” (Resident Bogdan who lives in the Old Shirley part of the Shirley ward).

Residents support me because I listen, lead, and act. People wanted action on hospital traffic and parking. 

1. I led and won a 12-year campaign for a Southampton Park and Ride for hospital staff and another for the public and football fans too. Now I am pressuring the Council to get it right.
2. I led a Council inquiry into transport to the hospital and have held the hospital to its promises.
3. I ran a petition on the derelict pub and spoke for you at the Council Planning meeting.
4. I fought back against the Labour Council's stupid car restrictions, the Portswood Bus Gate and over-the-top 20mph limits. 
5. I called in the Echo for the Labour Cabinet Member for Transport to be sacked, and he was. 

Some of the 20mph limits were scrapped, including on Hill Lane. There’s more to do.

What issues matter to you? If you want independent representation, you have to vote for it. 

I am part of the Independent Network of councillors and campaigners. We work together with residents. Independents have won here in Southampton, on the Isle of Wight, and across England. I was a passionate Independent councillor for Redbridge and there were three in Coxford too.

Get in touch to tell me what matters. Listening carefully is vital. That is the start of taking the correct actions with experience and competence. More residents are joining my team and fighting back against the big political parties. I lead by example and inspire others to act. I’ve proved it.

Thank you for reading this letter. Please make sure other people in your household see it. Get in touch at the details below. Put this letter in your window to show your support.

Please vote for me on 26th February. Vote for independent representation and action."

Andrew Pope, Member of the Independent Network, Co-Founder of Southampton Independents

Park and Ride - New Labour Cabinet Member for Transport Takes Two Months To Reply - AND THEN QUITS!

 

Southampton's Weekend-only Park and Ride bus

 

Andrew Pope says: 

 

"What was good about Christie Lambert's very late answer was that she said that she was committed to a Park and Ride. 

But obviously she was not committed enough to the Park and Ride to stay in the Cabinet Member role to get the Park and Ride right before her departure.

She is still a councillor and Deputy Leader, so I expect her to ensure that I get answers to my questions now from her or her replacement, after nearly three months of patience. 

Other councillors know, and residents know, that I am an annoyingly persistent and experienced campaigner. 

I would not have won this 12-year campaign for Southampton, and visitors to our City, otherwise!"

 

Andrew speaking to BBC South Today

 

Winning the Park and Ride Campaign 

Our co-founder Andrew Pope initiated his campaign for a Southampton Park and Ride over 12 years ago, when he led a Council inquiry into hospital transport.

He kept up the pressure by calling in the bus companies and held hospital senior management to account to their "strategy" documents, including successive chief executives, over those years.

The hospital management kept their promise of a staff Park and Ride.

Andrew kept up the pressure for a public Park and Ride, because residents kept complaining about City centre congestion, including when Saints FC were at home.

And hospital parking, including staff parking on a wide area across Southampton near the hospital, both continued to be a problem.

Yet the Council continued to not deliver this public Park and Ride.

Then, when Andrew attended a Council Planning meeting, he continued the pressure by asking "Where is the Park and Ride?" to Labour councillors.

He had also called for the Labour Cabinet Member for Transport, Eamonn Keogh, to be sacked, in a letter to the Daily Echo. Keogh was sacked and replaced by Councillor Christie Lambert. 

As if by magic, the public Park and Ride happened shortly after.

 

Making Improvements

But the weekend Park and Ride, in Andrew's opinion, the Park and Ride that the Council, Bluestar and hospital had delivered was not good enough.

So he went and checked. And checked again.

Then he wrote into the Daily Echo, who published his letter, pointing out the shortfalls.

He wrote to the new Cabinet Member Christie Lambert with some questions, and a copy of the letter.

And he wrote to Bluestar, and the hospital Chief Executive, giving them a right of reply.

 

No Response from the Cabinet Member

Bluestar responded and said that "obviously" the Park and Ride was a "trial". This was never communicated to the public in the Council press release.

The hospital Chief Executive did not respond, which sadly was the level of response of previous chief executives at the first attempt on a range of issues that Andrew raised with them.

And the Labour Cabinet Member for Transport did not respond.

For two months.

And then, days before Christmas 2025, she finally answered and apologised for the delayed response.

Then it was reported in local media that she had quit from the role of Cabinet Member.

So she has been given the opportunity to answer again, including of whether this was a "trial".