 |
| Southampton Public Park and Ride Bus at Adanac Park Photo: Southampton Independents |
Campaigner and Founder of Southampton Independents Andrew Pope went along to investigate the new Park and Ride for the public to use at the weekend, to see if it met his expectations, having campaigned for it for over a decade.
His letter was published in the Southern Daily Echo on Monday 13th October 2025.
Bluestar buses, the Chief Executive of University Hospitals Southampton and Southampton City Council's Cabinet Member for Tranposrt, Councillor Christie Lambert, have been offered the opportunity to comment. At the time of writing, only Bluestar have responded.
 |
| Andrew Pope Park and Ride Letter in Southern Daily Echo 13th October 2025 |
The full text of the letter is below.
 |
| Former Councillor Andrew Pope Speaking to BBC South Today |
Park and Ride Not Good Enough
"As a long-term campaigner for a better Southampton for residents and visitors, I was very pleased that a campaign that I began in 2013 has been successful.A Southampton Park and Ride is finally here, after years of road chaos and pollution caused by visitors and workers who do not live here.Bluestar and the Hospital were always helpful in this campaign. Southampton City Council dithered and delayed for over a decade.So I had to remind councillors at the recent Planning meeting about the delay. It seems to have worked, as weeks after my speech there, and after such a long delay, it finally happened.And now it is here, but it is not good enough. Now it is here and it has to be made to work, and work all week, not just at weekends.So when I checked up on the actual Park and Ride that is operating over the past few weeks, I was concerned to see the poor promotion of it. And almost empty or completely empty buses, which I confirmed with the drivers.Yes, it will take time for people to start to use it, and it is early days, only a month in.But the signage and information, marketing and promotion need to be improved dramatically, and quickly.It all seemed to be reliant on online information, and obviously that is no good for someone who is driving.Apart from a tiny sign on a lamppost, there was no information at Adanac Park about fares, parking costs, how to get a ticket, or who to get it from.And there were no signs on the M271 telling passengers to go off at Junction 1. I noticed this, and so did the bus drivers, who said they had told bus management.So Park and Ride passengers would be confused and annoyed, and either end up at Romsey, back on the M27 or in Southampton - defeating the purpose of a Park and Ride completely!I can hear the lame excuses from the Council already, saying that the M271 is Highways Agency or part of a road is Hampshire County Council. Frankly, I don't care about passing the buck, I heard that countless times when I was a councillor for eight years.It's the Council's job to co-ordinate in any partnership arrangement.Fixing all of the above will improve passenger numbers, visitor satisfaction and drive Southampton towards a permanent and daily Park and Ride, something our City badly needs. I will carry on campaigning."
 |
| Southampton Independents Emblem |