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| Andrew Pope at Mansel Park Photo: Southampton Independents (CT) |
On 12th April, an explosive device was found by a metal detectorist in Mansel Park. It was later destroyed in a controlled explosion by the Army Bomb Squad.
Since then, local residents told Redbridge ward candidate Andrew Pope that they were very worried, as they had been in the area shortly before. And including with their families.
Andrew was worried for them, and because he was also at the exact site of the find with a colleague, just days before (see photo above).
Added to that is the fact that this was the site near where the play area used to be. Now there is just a climbing frame.
Immediately after the incident, Andrew asked the Chief Executive of the Council the following questions:
"Why did it take a metal detectorist to find something which should have been checked and found by the authorities (namely, Southampton City Council, as it is your land)?
Wasn't there a play area near where the device was found?
Was this turned up when the play area was removed?"
No reply was received. Not even an acknowledgement of receipt.
Andrew had to chase the Chief Executive, twice, to get a response.
Eventually a response was received from the Chief Executive today, almost three weeks after the bomb was found:
"As you may suspect I wanted to gather the facts before responding to you and it has taken some time to do so. From my emergency planning colleagues, I understand that while this matter was not reported to us, the appropriate agencies were contacted by the individual and the ordnance made safe which is good news.
Whilst the Council carries out routine visual inspections of its open spaces it does not search for buried ordnance by way of invasive or other means, it would be impractical to do so. If ordnance is found either by Council staff or reported to us by residents there are strict escalation procedures via Emergency Planning and as you will appreciate these involve partners such as the police and army if appropriate.
In the circumstances I am comfortable that the Council takes a responsible and appropriate approach to dealing with such matters and acts in line with both professional advice and as other local authorities do."
What do you think of the Chief Executive's response?
Do you think residents will be reassured by it? Are you?
Do you think the Council could do more to protect residents and workers on their land from explosives?
Or do you think we are asking too much?
Andrew says:
"I am disappointed in the Chief Executive's response, and how long and how much effort it took to get it. I respect the emergency planning function at the Council from previous very positive dealings with them.
But I do not know why other local media have not asked these questions about something which is worrying a lot of park users and Council staff too. It's all a bit of a mystery.I do not think it is too much for Council workers and contractors to look out for bombs or other dangers on Council land, when conducting work. They surely do, but somehow this was missed. Why and how?
I am worried for the public and for Council workers. I understand these things - if a war explosive is what it was - by nature are hidden but was it inadvertently churned up by works and missed. If so, why? And could anything more have been done? If it could then it should.At Southampton Independents and the Independent Network, we listen to residents and act on their concerns. We do the investigations that other local media do not, and inform the Southampton public about important and urgent issues. We are volunteers. They are paid."
