ROADS CAMPAIGN: "Will the Labour-Run Council Ever Get A Grip of our City's Road Works?" Campaigner Andrew Pope Asks

 

Map of roads disruption in Western Southampton May 2026
Image: Causeway

Collapsed sewer repair on Shirley High Street by Southern Water
Photo: Southampton Independents (AP)

Collapsed sewer repair on Shirley High Street by Southern Water
Photo: Southampton Independents (AP)

This week, the BBC and Daily Echo reported on Southern Water breaking its own water pipe and causing a high fountain on Shirley High Street, next to Shirley Precinct and all the shops on the main road.

It was the latest part of a farce involving a collapsed sewer, investigated and reported by campaigner Andrew Pope. He says:

"I was driving past these roadworks, which have been going for two months now.

My car got wet, I had to wind my car window up so that I didn't get wet and my car didn't get wet inside from the water feature brought about by the incompetence of Southern Water and its contractors.

This disruption has affected residents and businesses. As a local businessman, I've contacted the Federation of Small Businesses to ask them to help me and other local business people.

As a local resident, I've also contacted the Council, local Lib Dem and Green councillors, Southern Water's contractors and local media. 

Will the Labour-Run Council ever get a grip of our City's road works?

I already asked them to cancel the Balfour Beatty contract, which they refused to do, as reported by the Daily Echo.

 

Guess the Pothole Rownhams Road 2026
Image: Southampton Independents (AP)

 

And I had to embarrass the Council and their Balfour Beatty contractors, by putting rubber ducks in the potholes, also reported by the Daily Echo. Many people heard about my actions to humiliate the Labour-run Council, and the serious point was for the Council to take control of our roads.

 

Extract from Andrew Pope Election Leaflet April 2026
Image: Southampton Independents / Independent Network

  

So as the Council haven't got a grip, I am now placing more demands on the Council and councillors.

I want to see all those privatised utility companies - water, gas, electricity, telephone, broadband - have to PAY MORE FINANCIALLY to dig up our roads.

They should have never been privatised in the first place. Public services have been broken up and sold off for private profit, and it has not been for the benefit of taxpayers, citizens or businesses.

The permit system has been an utter failure, as proved by the huge amount of disruption across Southampton.

Now Southampton must have disruption charging, also known as lane rental. The former Cabinet Member for Transport botched its first attempt. There have been four different people in the role over the past two years:

1. Eamonn Keogh, who I called to be sacked, and he was, 
2. Christie Lambert who was only in place for a short while, then 
3. Alex Winning who lost his seat this month, now 
4. Jacqui Rayment since the Full Council this week.

Will the latest Councillor in that role finally sort this out? Past experience suggests not, but perhaps there is a faint hope."

 

Are You Affected? Southern Water Say "Several Weeks" of Shirley Disruption with no end date - A "Collapsed Sewer" in Shirley

 

Shirley High Street Sewer Works

Photo: Southampton Independents (AP) 

 

Since the final weekend of March, privatised water company Southern Water has caused disruption in the Shirley area, due to a "collapsed sewer".

1. Have you been affected? Tell us how and where.
2. Are you losing money?
3. Is it causing you delays?
4. Is your home, or your work or business affected? 

Get in touch on our Facebook page, or at our contact details here.

 

Shirley High Street Closed Off One Way
Photo: Southampton Independents (AP)

The Southern Water statement says:

"We're sorry to residents in the area who may be experiencing disruption.

Our teams are undertaking a repair of our sewer line, due to a collapsed sewer...

... This closure will remain in place for several weeks."

 

 

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

 

Andrew Pope on Rownhams Road with the rubber ducks
and "Guess the Pothole"
Photo: Southampton Independents (AB)

 

"I reported the foul stench of drains to Southern Water at the end of March. They then confirmed that it was due to a collapsed sewer. I saw the display on Romsey Road about the emergency works when completing the 341,000 steps for March the Month to raise £341 for Prostate Cancer UK.

We've just had the privatised gas pipeline disruption as well!

The Tories privatised everything and Labour hasn't sorted it out. It's constant chaos for Southampton, its residents and businesses and the Council isn't on top of it at all.

They whinge that they aren't in control and don't have the powers. Who sets the regulations and the law? Labour or Tory MPs! So again it's the same old story. The two old parties are past it and just blame each other, instead of taking responsibility.

In fact, the Labour-run Council is adding to the disruption, because of the failed Balfour Beatty contract that Labour has just bunged £60 MILLION to, instead of cancelling it. That's the serious point of the "Guess the Pothole" game which I created and which got big interest on reddit, on Facebook, on our website, and in the Echo.

I have made enquiries about how this collapsed sewer happened. I hope it wasn't caused by one of the privatised companies, as we've had so much road and pavement being dug up lately - gas, water, broadband and more...

I remember when I got compensation for hundreds of residents of Millbrook from Southern Electric when they dug up the roads and caused power outages at Xmas. I found out the truth and went on BBC Radio 5 to tell the country. Residents remember too, that's why they are backing me in the Redbridge ward election on 7th May."

 

 

 

For Information: SGN Gas Main Replacement Affecting Maybush Corner Area of Southampton

Gas Main Works at Maybush Corner
Photo: Southampton Independents

 

Andrew Pope of the Independent Network and Co-Founder of Southampton Independents, has received the below information from Southern Gas Networks (SGN), who are working on gas mains in the Maybush Corner area of Southampton. 

Andrew says: 

Andrew Pope

"I asked for this information direct from the private gas company SGN, and they've provided it, so I'm passing it on to residents and businesses.

I've visited the site several times and spoken with staff. They are replacing the gas main and the works are deemed to be essential, according to them.

I've listened to bus users who have complained about the bus stop being moved. This included an elderly man Derek who has mobility problems. So we sat down and talked about it. And I've raised it with the bus company.

I've also spoken to Council officers about the bushes and trees that were cut back, because there may have been nesting birds. They said there were none.

While I was there, I took some photos for Guess the Pothole and reported potholes, two of which are now fixed. There is still a long rut in the middle of the road though.

The Labour-run Council's contractors Balfour Beatty are there checking up that SGN are doing it right according to the regulations. Regulations put in place by Tories. Like SGN, Balfour Beatty are also private contractors, contracted and extended under successive Tory and Labour councils, as documented on our website.

It seems like everything has been split up from central control and sold off, so it's no wonder the public feel the country and the Council is badly run and in constant chaos.

It is worth noting that the Thatcher Tory Government privatised gas, starting forty years ago in 1986. Labour has promised to bring at least part of it under national Government, but like many other broken promises that they've made, Labour has not. Labour or Tory, same old story."

The gas main works are causing disruption on the roads, with the bins, with wildlife, trees and bushes, and more. Get in touch if you want. You can also contact SGN at the details below.

We provide the information straight from SGN, without further comment, for your information. Emphasis has been added. 

"[SGN] would like to provide an update on our programme of gas main replacement work taking place in your local area.  Due to unforeseen engineering challenges our programme, and its traffic management, have changed from what was originally communicated, our plans are now as follows: 
 
14th March to Week Commencing 23rd March: Rownhams Road and Romsey Road – Road Closure and Traffic Lights
Rownhams Road will remain closed. We will be working under two light heads on Romsey Road. However, please note we will be flipping the works area and the live running lane. The light head at Wimpson Lane will remain as per the current traffic management set up. 
 
Week Commencing 23rd March to 30th March: Romsey Road – Traffic Lights
Following completion of reinstatement at Romsey Road junction Rownhams Road, the team will continue along Romsey Road between the junctions of Winchester Road to Rownhams Road under lights. 
 
30th March to 10th April: Romsey Road – Directional Road Closure
After this, we will amend traffic management to a westbound directional road closure between Winchester Road and Redbridge Hill, to complete a connection. 
 
10th April to 4th May: Romsey Road – Traffic Lights
The team will continue works along Romsey Road, from the junction of Winchester Road to Ashmead Road, under lights. Please note, the four-way junction of Romsey Road and Rownhams Road will be unaffected during this phase.
 
4th May to 29th May: Wimpson Lane – Directional Road Closure
We will have a southbound directional lane closure in place on Wimpson Lane. Northbound traffic will remain unaffected.
 
We understand our work can be disruptive for road users and residents; our engineers are committed to completing these works as quickly and as safely as possible. These works are essential to ensure we can continue to provide a safe and efficient gas supply to residents and wider community and avoid further disruptive gas leaks in the future. 
 
If you need to speak to us about these works, please email our customer service team  customer@sgn.co.uk or call us on 0800 912 1700, they will direct your enquiry to a member of the team for response. 
 
We’re sorry for the inconvenience caused and thank you for your patience and understanding. 
 
SGN Southern Replacement"