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| 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:
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| Independent Network Emblem |
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| 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.
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| "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.
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| 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.
