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.

 

 

CAMPAIGN VICTORY: 3 Years Later, Southampton Labour's Disastrous Portswood Bus Gate Is Gone!

 

Councillor Eamonn Keogh SACKED From the Cabinet

 

 ... just two months after the Cabinet Member for Transport Captain Road-Chaos Councillor Eamonn Keogh had been sacked from the Cabinet, amid comments that he was proud of his record, with Keogh saying he was:

"very proud of the improvements that the transforming cities grant has brought to the city".

In a letter published in the Daily Echo in February 205, campaigner and former Southampton Independents Councillor Andrew Pope called for Keogh to be sacked from the Cabinet by the former Labour Leader of the Council Lorna Fielker. She refused to. She lacked the authority, it seemed.

Former Council Leader Councillor Lorna Fielker

Keogh was allowed to go ahead with the scheme by Fielker, despite the huge outcry against it. So the call for his removal was necessary. 

Shortly after Pope's call in February 2025 for the sacking of Keogh, suddenly and shockingly, the previously weak Conservative Council opposition developed a backbone and called for Keogh to resign. This did not happen, either. 

It took another failed Labour Leader of the Council to go (Fielker), before it was finally confirmed by the Daily Echo this week that the Portswood Bus Gate "would not return". Previously, the Council had only announced that the "trial" had been "suspended". Keogh had tried to cling onto his Cabinet role, amid the suspension.

This is a victory for local residents, for Southampton Independents and for Andrew Pope, who joined residents and businesses in the campaign against the Portswood scheme in 2022 and encouraged people to sign the petition against the proposals in 2023.

Fresh from his twelve-year campaign victory getting a Park and Ride for Southampton, and seven-year win on safe standing at St Mary's Stadium, Andrew says:

 

Andrew Pope victorious in the Safe Standing campaign
Park and Ride and now the Portswood Bus Gate

 

"I always said that this Portswood Broadway was a stupid idea that should never have been done. 

Eamonn Keogh claimed to have listened to residents and businesses. He did not and carried on regardless. 

We had to work together to make him listen. He simply had to go if he did not.

Working with residents, and having contacted the residents groups, I spent my own time, campaign know-how and money on printing letters as a volunteer campaigner and carefully listening to Portswood residents and businesses.

The Daily Echo reported on my work, and the work of other campaigners. Thanks to all of them, we've won!

I put out a lot of letters and spent a lot of time on people's doorsteps as a volunteer in our City. Why?

Because the vast majority of local people did not want this. The consequences of the scheme were clear, yet Southampton Labour councillors went ahead with it anyway. 

It should not have taken THREE YEARS to stop this. Labour should never have done it in the first place.

Now there are lots of other stupid transport ideas that Eamonn Keogh carried out in our City, that Labour have to undo if they are to keep their Council seats at next year's local elections. Road chaos has to stop. 

Labour is already very unpopular in the national Government. The Prime Minister Keir Starmer is spending more and more time on foreign policy, which is what failing leaders have done throughout history. 

What matters is delivery for Southampton residents, and Labour have failed us - nationally in Government and locally in the Council.

Now, even Labour's own councillors are leaving the sinking Southampton Labour ship and running away to other Westminster parties. 

Do any of the current Southampton City councillors have the talent or conscience to be Independent councillors who represent Southampton residents instead of their failing Labour Party? We will see. Southampton people need proper independent representation for each ward of our City.

Like I said when I left Labour over ten years ago, it's time for Labour to be removed from power at Southampton City Council, because they lack the vision and leadership that our City needs. The evidence of that is impossible to ignore. They've had their chance, over ten years of power, and they've blown it."

 

Former Southampton Independents Councillor Andrew Pope

CAMPAIGN VICTORY: Twelve Years Later, Southampton now has a Park and Ride!

Former Southampton City Councillor Andrew Pope

Southampton finally has a Park and Ride for members of the public to use!

It has taken twelve years, and a lot of campaigning work and pressure, but it is finally here, as confirmed on the Southampton City Council website.

The Park and Ride has been a long time coming. Twelve years!

Campaigner and founder of Southampton Independents Andrew Pope started the campaign for a Southampton Park and Ride twelve years ago, back in 2013, when he was still a Labour Councillor on Southampton City Council and Parliamentary Candidate in the 2015 General Election for the New Forest East Constituency.

Andrew says:

"I am delighted to deliver another campaign win that benefits the people of Southampton, to reduce the chaos on our roads, to improve the air quality of our City, and to welcome visitors to Southampton in an orderly and sensible way.

This Park and Ride should have been delivered ten years ago, but as I said at the Council's Planning meeting recently, the Labour-run Council kept writing it in strategy documents but delivered nothing. 

So I had to keep up the pressure with various actions. That is what a campaign needs.  

Of course back in 2018 I realised that suggesting Lidl should pay for it was not a realistic suggestion, but it kept the issue in the headlines of the Daily Echo and put a focus on the issues in that part of the Redbridge ward that I used to represent on the Council.

 

Lidl Construction on Brownhill Way

The Inquiry that I ran in 2013 put pressure on the Hospital to deliver, as did my meeting with the Chief Executive and senior staff. They kept their promise to my Committee. I thanked Hospital staff for that back then and I thank them again now. 

A Park and Ride for hospital staff was a good start. What was needed was one for the public.

During the Shirley by-election in 2024 for which I stood as an Independent candidate, I heard so many Shirley, Coxford and Maybush residents complaining to me on their doorsteps, about hospital parking impacting their area, from Upper Shirley all the way to Wimpson Lane. Park and Ride would help. 

And now, there is a weekend Park and Ride.

It will be interesting to see how this can be made to work well, and then to operate it all week. Southampton needs this. 

As I did with my successful 7-year safe standing campaign and the years-long campaign for sprinklers in all Council tower blocks, I have showed that I deliver for Southampton, no matter what it takes or how long it takes.

I hope that I can continue to inspire other independent campaigners to act for our City, including those who saw me speak at the Planning meeting."

Andrew Pope's Safe Standing Campaign front-page of the Daily Echo

Andrew Pope's Sprinkler Campaign front page in the Daily Echo

Details of Weekend Park and Ride

Southampton City Council's website states:

"Avoid city centre traffic and enjoy easy travel with Southampton’s new Park & Ride service, running on weekends and public holidays. Simply park your car in the car park at the Adanac Health & Innovation Campus multi-storey and hop on a bus to the city centre. It is quick, convenient, and great value!

The car park is accessed from Adanac Drive, SO16 0AZ and is open from:

    6:30am to 9pm on Saturdays
    8.30am to 7pm on Sundays and bank holidays (except for Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day)

Buses will run every:

    20 mins from 7am to 7pm on Saturdays
    30 mins from 7pm to 8.30pm on Saturdays
    20 mins from 9am to 6pm on Sundays and bank holidays"

 

The Details of the Twelve Year Campaign 

In 2012-2013, as Chair of the Council's Health Overview Scrutiny Panel (HOSP), Councillor Pope ran an Inquiry into transport at the hospital, and saw the need for a Park and Ride for Southampton. He confirmed the plans of the Hospital for a Park and Ride for the hospital in his report in 2013 titled "REPORT OF HEALTH OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY PANEL PUBLIC AND SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT PROVISION TO SOUTHAMPTON GENERAL HOSPITAL – MINI REVIEW".

In the Recommendations of the Inquiry as outlined in the report:

"The (Hospital) Trust confirmed they had been working to improve transport related issues around the hospital such as hospital parking, park and ride, encouraging cycling and provision of shower facilities." 

Councillor Pope confirmed with the Hospital that they would be:

"Procuring and partnering with local organisations to provide staff with 2 x Trust subsidised Park & Ride services with parking for nom’ 320 staff, removing those cars from the hospital site and also local Southampton road networks." 

Then, after authoring the Labour Council's 2014 Local Election Manifesto, when he left Labour shortly after the 2015 General Election as reported by the Daily Echo, Andrew kept up the pressure on the Park and Ride as the first Southampton Independents councillor on Southampton City Council.

 

Independent Councillor Andrew Pope on BBC South Today

Pope met with the then Chief Executive of the Hospital to discuss the Park and Ride and other issues around the hospital such as parking problems, transport and litter in the area. He later attended another meeting with other Hospital staff to discuss their concrete proposals for a Park and Ride for hospital staff, following up on the promise from the Inquiry that he ran. 

Pope had also listened to the concerns of residents over transport in the City during his entire time as a councillor for eight years, and standing in the 2017 General Election as a Southampton Independents candidate.

 

Southampton Independents Campaigners During the 2017 General Election

 

That Park and Ride later became operative, running - not entirely coincidentally - from near to the new Lidl on Brownhill Way. 

But this was not the end of the campaign. Southampton's residents, the quality of our City's air and visitors to Southampton needed a Park and Ride. 

The regular chaos on Southampton's roads proved how badly the Park and Ride campaign was needed.

 

Keeping Up The Pressure in 2025 

Pope's most recent action on the Park and Ride was when he spoke up, not as a councillor but as a concerned campaigner, on behalf of local residents at the Council's Planning Committee to object to the lack of parking in a proposal to redevelop the derelict Bridge Tavern on Coxford Road, very close to the Southampton General Hospital. 

He mentioned the park and ride when he spoke at the public meeting, and in a statement given to all councillors at the meeting, kept up the pressure:

"Where is Southampton's park and ride for the general public? The one for the staff is a start, but it isn't anywhere near enough. The hospital parking is still a massive problem for Shirley, Coxford and Maybush residents. Until the park and ride is there, the hospital will still be impacting on residents." 

And now, the Park and Ride is finally here!

This is what Southampton Independents and Andrew Pope do - deliver for Southampton.

 

 

CAMPAIGN VICTORY: Ten Years Later - Still Protecting Citizens' Rights To Vote From Tory Threats

 

The Refurbished St George's Hall, Calshot

Ten years ago, co-founder of Southampton Independents Andrew Pope led a campaign to protect the right to vote of residents of Calshot, when Tory councillors and officers at New Forest District Council had resolved to close a remote polling station.

Once again, ten years later, there is another review of polling stations by the local Council and again, the local Conservative councillors are failing to protect the right to vote for local people.

Calshot is a remote community at the end of the A326, which runs from Southampton and along the Waterfront at Southampton Water. Closing that polling station would have meant a long journey for voters to Fawley. Bus services there were rare. And the walk would be long and hazardous along an unlit main road.

Despite this, the Conservative-run Council's General Purposes Committee had resolved to close St George's Hall as a polling station. So when Labour's 2015 Parliamentary Candidate for New Forest East, Pope started a petition of people who lived in the area and presented it to the Council.

Chris Yandell of the Daily Echo covered the story.

The campaign was victorious in causing a u-turn, despite local Tory councillor Alexis McEvoy claiming that we were "scaremongering". As reported by the Echo, the Council had resolved and minuted via the General Purposes Committee to close the polling station.

St George's Hall was being run down, and being talked down by officers of the Council and councillors.

Now, it has been refurbished and control will be passed to Fawley Parish Council. More photos are below. Perhaps this was a sign of a new commitment to the facility from local councillors and the Council?

 

The refurbished Main Hall

The refurbished kitchen

Andrew contacted both local New Forest District councillors, who are both Conservatives, to ask them to pledge to protect St George's Hall as a polling station.

Despite chasing, no such reassurance has been received from Councillor Alan Alvey or Councillor Matthew Hartmann.

What happened to Alexis McEvoy, you may ask?

She is no longer a district councillor, following her 'racist' attack via Twitter on much-loved footballer and pundit Ian Wright.

McEvoy was placed under investigation and had the Conservative whip removed from her. She was also removed from the New Forest National Park Authority.

McEvoy remains as a County Councillor until the elections in May 2025. Some call her "independent" but really she is just a disgraced Conservative.

So have the current local councillors turned over a new leaf? No.

Below is the far-from-delightful and far-from-helpful response from Conservative councillor Alan Alvey, who was given two opportunities to state his commitment to St George's Hall.

"Dear Mr Pope

 

Your original message did not require a response as I am not responsible to you for how I act. You are not one of my constituents and, so far as I am aware, have no connection to the Calshot Ward.

 

Regards

Alan Alvey

Fawley, Blackfield & Langley,

New Forest District Council"

It seems that the standard of Conservative councillor has not improved despite the removal of Alexis McEvoy!

And the people of Calshot need to know that the Tories have not learned any lesson.

Independent councillors of New Forest District Council did reply via their Group Leader Peter Armstrong. And their reply was very helpful in describing the plight of Calshot residents, including more cuts to the buses.

Let us hope that all Conservative councillors for the area will be removed by the people of the area in any future and upcoming elections, and that the polling station is retained.

 

CAMPAIGN VICTORY! Andrew Pope Succeeds In His Campaign For Safe Standing at Southampton FC and St. Mary's Stadium

 

Daily Echo 10th August 2022
Our Campaign Win!

 

UPDATE (13/8/22): After 5 years campaigning, with our increased pressure on Southampton FC producing our victory, officers of Southampton FC have finally announced in public that they will be bringing safe standing in. It happened at the Fans Forum earlier this week. Saints' admission was in response to a question from Adam Blackmore of BBC Radio Solent. Southampton Independents had been in touch with BBC Radio Solent prior to Southampton FC's announcement, to inform them of our campaign victory.

Andrew Pope Demonstrating Rail Seats
At A Media Call He Organised in Southampton in 2018

We have great news. Another campaign win for Southampton Independents and Andrew Pope. We've won on Safe Standing at St. Mary's.

We have given the Daily Echo an exclusive on our 5 YEAR campaign for Safe Standing a St. Mary's Stadium. They write:

Daily Echo Website Late on 9/8/22

"The step forward for safe standing is a victory for former independent city councillor Andrew Pope who has been campaigning on the issue for five years. 

He says it would improve the atmosphere and matchday experience for both home and away fans.

Now, he's been contacted by Saints to say they are looking to 'adopt and embrace' safe standing."

Daily Echo 10th Aug 2022

 

Andrew, who is a former Southampton Independents councillor, said:

Andrew at St. Mary's in 2018

"I am delighted that after five years of leading the campaign for Safe Standing, that Southampton FC have finally confirmed to me that they will be doing a trial and that I will be consulted on the designs, which I understand are imminent.

I would like to thank Tim Greenwell of Southampton FC for listening to me on my concerns regarding fan safety and for confirming this trial, Jon Darch of the Rail Seats Roadshow and Ann Ramage of the Sports Grounds Safety Authority.

I would also like to thank the Daily Echo for covering the full course of my campaign over the five years.

As for Southampton City Council, their responses to my Freedom of Information requests have been an embarrassment to our City. They denied the existence of the campaign, their own letter to Southampton FC and even that the Full Council meeting happened. I am considering complaining to the Information Commissioner's Office."

Southampton Independents listened to Saints fans.

Southampton Independents acted for Saints fans.

Labour and the Tories were nowhere to be seen. They do not listen to residents. They do not act for residents.

Southampton Independents does provide leadership. But it also listens to and works with Southampton residents.

Andrew adds:

"We've had it confirmed by the Council in their second FoI response to me - the Labour-run and Tory-run councils did nothing. That's not just my opinion. It is a fact proven by Southampton City Council officers. 

Just the one letter - in four years - was sent by the Council on safe standing. And that was ordered by the motion that I forced through the Council! 

The contents of the letter by former Labour Leader of the Council Christopher Hammond were very weak. He didn't bother to consult me before sending his letter form of limp lettuce. So I had to up the pressure.

And it is just as well that Saints fans did not rely on the "Executive taking the lead" as written to me by Labour Councillor Dave Shields after he and the other councillors majority voted for my motion. Because the FoI response PROVES he and successive Labour or Tory councils did nothing!

It's another campaign win for me and Southampton Independents, but most importantly, for Saints fans and Southampton residents. That's what Southampton Independents exists to do."

England versus Wales
St. Mary's Stadium

 

CAMPAIGN VICTORY: OUR CAMPAIGNING FORCES LABOUR TO SAY NO TO CHARGING PRIVATE CARS

Is this another part of
Labour's Highway Robbery?

UPDATE (29th August 2023): A new article is now published with updates on the London measures imposed by Labour Mayor of London Sadiq Khan. We continue our campaign for a Park and Ride for Southampton, after our success of campaigning for and achieving one for the staff at University Hospital Southampton.

---

Victory (9th October 2018): As reported in the Daily Echo, the Labour Council has been forced to climb down from their plans to charge vehicles. and the so-called "Green" Clean Air Southampton campaigners, have failed in their bid to make Southampton residents pay.

Update: At Full Council on Wednesday 19th September, as reported by the Daily Echo, our Councillor Andrew Pope repeatedly asked the Leader of the Labour-run Council, Councillor Chris Hammond, to rule out charging private cars.

Councillor Hammond repeatedly refused to rule it out.

Southampton Independents to Campaign for a Referendum on Charging

Councillor Pope announced that Southampton Independents will be campaigning for a referendum. He says:

"Southampton Independents supports residents in their opposition to charging.

No Southampton resident should be charged as part of a Clean Air Zone, congestion charge or any other similar charge.

We totally oppose charging Southampton residents.

So if the Labour-run Council want to introduce any charging, they must allow Southampton residents to vote on it first.

Other Independent councillors seemed to support my suggestion.

I have asked the Leader of the Conservative Group whether he supports a referendum. He would not commit to it without speaking to other Conservative councillors first, which I suppose is fair enough. I will await his response when he has spoken with them.

And to add insult to injury, when I asked her, Labour's Cabinet Member for Road Chaos, Councillor Jacqui Rayment, refused to stop charging people for crossing the Itchen Bridge Toll. This is despite the fact that the Labour Council is doing this for electric vehicles.

If they can end the toll for electric vehicles, they can end the toll for ALL VEHICLES. But they don't want to, because they want to keep taking your money.

And charging vehicles as part of any Clean Air Zone or other scheme will be another way for Labour to rob you on the highways.

It is Labour's Highway Robbery."

If you are opposed to any charging, let us know by getting in touch by email at sotonindies [at] gmail.com.

---

Would you support charging private cars to enter our City? In this Daily Echo article, Clean Air Southampton and Friends of the Earth are suggesting it.

Sadly the Labour Council Leader Chris Hammond does not rule it out in the article.

Councillor Andrew Pope says:

"In all of the conversations we have had on residents' doorsteps about pollution in Southampton, nobody has suggested that private cars should be charged.

Just who does "Clean Air Southampton" represent?

Southampton Independents is totally opposed to charging private cars in any Clean Air Zone.

Instead, residents want it, so we are campaigning for Park and Rides to be implemented. Labour and Tory councillors have done little to progress these in many years. We applaud the new hospital's Park and Ride at Nursling and have supported the planning application.

Southampton City Council should be taking action to get Park and Ride across the City, not charging private cars.

I am asking the Leader of the Council to rule out charging private cars, in a Formal Written Question at the September Full Council meeting."

CAMPAIGN VICTORY! Working With Residents We Stop Domino's in Residential Area

Redbridge Council Candidate Denise Wyatt
at the new estate on the former Ordnance Survey site

We are campaigning for a community facility
here like a cafe

On Romsey Road there is a new housing estate on the former Ordnance Survey site. Ordnance Survey have moved to Adanac Park and the site has been re-developed.

Southampton Independents has been listening to residents here, like we do everywhere.

We have been campaigning for a community facility here, but the Labour-run Council has been letting the developers get away with not providing one. Currently there is only a Tesco Express.

No GP.

No cafe.

No community facility.

So we were dismayed when Domino's recently submitted a planning application for the vacant commercial premises.

They had already had one turned down in 2016, which we worked with residents to oppose.

We listened to residents' concerns and we acted on their concerns.

Both Denise Wyatt and Councillor Andrew Pope objected to the application. We encouraged residents to object to it, and to work with us.

The application by Domino's was refused.

Denise Wyatt, Council Candidate for this area as well as the whole of the Redbridge Ward, says:

Denise Wyatt
Redbridge Council Candidate for Southampton Independents

"We were formed to listen to residents and to act for residents, because we are residents too.

Together, residents can shape their area and stop the wrong proposals like this.

It was brilliant to work with residents on this. They objected and we informed and supported them.

We want to see a proper community facility here, like a GP surgery or a cafe.

There is already a Domino's in Shirley, on the main road and not in a residential area. The parking issues around the Tesco Express are already seriously impacting on residents. The Domino's would have had too many negative impacts on residents here.

What would you like to see here instead of Domino's?

Please vote for me in the Council elections on 3rd May."

CAMPAIGN VICTORY: We Stop Redbridge Labour Councillors Bid to Remove Park Land and Annoy Residents

Redbridge Wharf Park

VICTORY: We Defeat Council Bid to Sell and Remove Redbridge Wharf Park Land Near You and Increase Light, Noise and Diesel Train Pollution 

Another victory for Southampton Independents, working with residents who objected to the Labour Council's plans with Network Rail and ABP. We opposed their plans and have defeated them.

The Labour councillors for Redbridge McEwing and Whitbread did not stand up for you. Labour supported the Labour Council proposals. They said in emails to Council officers:

“I’m happy to accept the proposal” (Labour Councillor Cathie McEwing)
“I second the comments from my colleague Cllr McEwing.” (Labour Councillor Lee Whitbread)

If you saw our previous letter that we delivered to residents of roads near to Redbridge Wharf Park, we warned that Network Rail and the Council’s plan to increase rail freight, remove park land and to increase light, noise and air pollution for residents. It is bad enough already.

Around 180 trees would have been removed. No noise barrier would have been erected. Network Rail wanted 24-hour working during construction. And the Council ignored our suggestions for improving heritage and park land nearby.

Southampton Independents Councillor Andrew Pope

Southampton Independents Councillor for Redbridge, Andrew Pope (above), objected to the plans.

He ordered the plans to come before a public planning panel so that Southampton Independents and residents could speak up. Otherwise the Labour Council would have approved them against your wishes.

Southampton Independents Leader Denise Wyatt

At the public meeting on Tuesday 1st August, Councillor Pope and Leader of Southampton Independents, Denise Wyatt, spoke up for local residents who objected.

We won! It was refused. 

The Council, Network Rail and ABP wanted to ignore residents. We didn’t let them ignore you.

Be warned – Network Rail are likely to COME BACK with another plan.

Tell us if you hear anything and we will keep you informed.

Thanks for working with us to win, working with you.

Vote for Denise Wyatt to become a Redbridge Councillor in May 2018. Vote Labour out! It’s time for change.

CAMPAIGN VICTORY: Council TOTALLY Caves In to Our Sprinkler Campaign by Councillor Pope – But Questions Remain

Leader of Southampton Independents Denise Wyatt

Leader of Southampton Independents, Denise Wyatt, makes the following announcement on behalf of Southampton Independents and local residents who campaigned with us:

"Working with local residents, Southampton Independents has TOTALLY won! 

Southampton Independents are delighted that after months of campaigning (see elsewhere on this website) we have a statement from the Council that sprinklers will be installed in ALL Southampton Council tower blocks. 

Southampton Independents welcomes the news that the Council has listened.

But questions remain on WHEN will sprinklers be installed and when funding will be clear for ALL high rise blocks in the City, not just a small number.

The Council don't know where the funding is coming from, for the vast majority of tower blocks.

We don’t want Labour Council spin, we want details of when and how. Things are still unclear.

There is no justification for Southampton City Council as Landlords to deny residents the maximum safety.

Southampton Independents will continue our campaign until ALL sprinklers have actually been INSTALLED and are WORKING in ALL Council-owned tower blocks in Southampton."

Commenting after winning this campaign, Andrew Pope says:

Andrew Pope on ITV News after Redbridge Towers fire

Sprinklers Save Lives

Sprinkler Demo Fire at Albion Towers

Sprinkler Works at Demo at Albion Towers

 

"I have led on this campaign because residents wanted me to. They felt unsafe after the Redbridge Towers and Shirley Towers fires.

I am aware of similar fires in other parts of the country, including in London.

My experience on the Hampshire Fire Authority meant that I learned from fire officers and Authority staff that sprinklers save lives.

That's why I have been working with Denise Wyatt, our Southampton Independents supporters, and other local residents, to get the issue on the front page of the Echo, on local radio news, on national radio news including BBC Radio 5 Live and on ITV News.

I attended the demonstration of sprinklers at Albion Towers. This happened because of my campaign.

I will continue to keep the pressure on the Labour-run Council to deliver. They said residents didn't want sprinklers. That is untrue. They said they didn't have the money. That is untrue too. 

Labour failed to protect residents. I will ensure residents are protected."

 

CAMPAIGN VICTORY: Hated Labour Estate Regeneration Scrapped!

Trees in Mansel Park

The Daily Echo reported yesterday what we already suspected.

Labour has admitted defeat in its four years of failure to deliver a single property in its "Regeneration" of Millbrook and Maybush.

Andrew is quoted in the Daily Echo saying:

"Labour has had over four years to deliver Millbrook and Maybush Regeneration.

So far all they've delivered to residents is anger and confusion, and a set of proposals from expensive consultants that are extremely unpopular."

 

Andrew also says:

"My decision to leave Labour over its failed Regeneration is completely justified.

The vast majority of residents didn't want it and I fought for their voices to be heard."

Denise and Andrew add:

"This is a Victory for the residents of Millbrook and Maybush! 

We fought for residents to have their say and to have the public meeting earlier this year. Residents rightly showed their anger at the public meeting, booing Labour Councillor Cathie McEwing when she accused them of not being interested. They were!

This proves that Residents are not "apathetic" like Councillor McEwing accused them of being at the "Steering Group" meetings. Residents are interested in their area, and in defending their area from stupid projects like Labour's Regeneration. 

Labour Cabinet Member Councillor Warwick Payne's incompetence and dishonesty has meant that he has had Regeneration taken away from him by the Labour Leader Councillor Simon Letts, who doesn't know the area either and whose admission of defeat at Full Council on Wednesday show that the last four years have been wasted. 

The Council needs to start from scratch and listen to the public first, instead of wasting more public money on consultants and development companies. Instead of building better housing, they have spent £16m of public money on the Arts Complex white elephant in the City Centre."

CAMPAIGN VICTORY: Fleur de Lys Pub at Pilley Protected after Anchor Inn at Eling Also Protected by Pope

Toby Perkins, Chesterfield Labour MP (left) and Labour 2015 Parliamentary Candidate for New Forest East Andrew Pope (right)

 

 

VICTORY! Andrew Pope Protects the Fleur de Lys Pub at Pilley - and Celebrates With Locals!

Our campaign with local residents to get the Fleur de Lys pub officially recognised as a community pub, at the heart of the area, has been successful. 

This means that the local community will have a right to bid to own and run the pub, if it is put up for sale. It also gives the pub protection in planning law. Andrew Pope said:

"We already knew that this pub has been a key part of the Pilley and Boldre community for many years, with customers coming from near and far."

"New Forest District Council has now officially recognised this, following the petition that we asked local people and people across Hampshire to sign."

Fellow campaigner Denise Wyatt said:

"This pub can now stay at the heart of the local community for many years to come, and we will be organising a celebration at the pub soon."

"We would like to thank everyone who supported our campaign, including pub campaigner Toby Perkins MP (pictured above) and most importantly all local residents in Pilley and Boldre. It is their pub, after all."

 

This Asset of Community Value ACV listing by the Council follows Andrew Pope's campaign to similarly protect the Anchor Inn at Eling, also listed as an ACV following a petition led by Pope as part of his campaign as Labour Candidate for the New Forest East Constituency at the 2015 General Election.

 

Looking back in 2025, Andrew, who resigned in disgust from the Labour Party shortly after completing his 2015 General Election Campaign in New Forest East and being re-elected to Southampton City Council (see elsewhere on this website), says:

"Standing as a Parliamentary Candidate is not all about the vote on Polling Day. There are people who think that, especially political careerists that infest the Westminster parties for their own benefit, and so-called journalists who are lazy and do not report community matters.

Being a credible candidate is about showing you care, and working with local residents on the issues that matter to them, and campaigning for them and their area. 

I protected two pubs that were under threat, as part of my 2015 Parliamentary campaign that began in 2013. 

And both pubs are still running, unlike many others that have closed. Some pubs cannot be saved. Others lack the community support to be saved.

I am proud of my hard work to lead these campaigns and proud of the members of the communities that I recruited to help me win these two successful campaigns."