CAMPAIGN VICTORY: Council Finally Gets More Control of Its Own Roads with Disruption Charging

 

FOUR MONTHS OF DISRUPTION ON SHIRLEY HIGH STREET
Photo: Southampton Independents

Back in May, after two months of chaos caused by Southern Water and Southampton City Council, Andrew Pope called for the Council to get a grip of its roads, and to bring in "disruption charging", also known as "lane rental". 

Businesses and residents have faced four months of disruption. And it isn't over yet. 

Andrew says:

GONE! This shop closed during the disruption to Shirley High Street
Photo: Andrew Pope

"I spoke to the businesses on Shirley High Street and the Federation of Small Businesses - some of those businesses are members of the FSB, and I contacted the Council to ask what they had done to speed up the roadworks by Southern Water.

The answer was that they had done next to nothing. If the Council had done anything, it wasn't clear in the responses to my emails, and other emails that I had seen from other sources. 

Southern Water gave no completion date when the works started. Then under pressure from me, they apologised for breaking their own water pipes, with the help of their contractors. And the end date slipped from July to August. Businesses were told of this slippage after pressure from me to Southern Water and its contractors. Business owners told me that Southern Water sent out their PR people to speak to them, and told them the end date of the works had slipped to August, having previously told them it would be July.

I heard from the owners that businesses were struggling and takings were down, some by as much as 30%. They had been told by Southern Water that they had to apply to a compensation scheme. The businesses told me that the scheme was highly intrusive, and I confirmed this with Southern Water. Businesses were put off applying by the bureaucracy, and the intrusiveness of it. Other businesses did not think they would get much money.

So I've taken more action to put pressure on the Council and Southern Water, to try to avert this type of disruption in the future.

I saw that Hampshire County Council had already brought disruption charging in, to charge companies who wanted to rip up our roads for the umpteenth time.

I made enquiries with Southampton City Council, who admitted that they had botched their attempt to bring it in last year. Their application was refused.

They said that they had to apply again to the Government, because of the botched attempt.

I asked the Council to confirm whether Shirley High Street was included. They confirmed that it was.

And now it is confirmed that the disruption charging is in place.

If the Council had not botched their first application, Southern Water would have been under more pressure to get the works done quicker than four months. But Labour does not have a grip of its officers. After all, there has been four different councillors responsible for Transport in the last two years.

What was most disappointing, but not surprising, is that the Labour Cabinet Member for Transport, Councillor Jacqui Rayment, did not respond to my queries.

So I went via other routes to get action for Shirley businesses and residents, and for all residents and visitors. 

Now water, electricity, broadband and gas companies will be charged, and will think twice before ripping up our roads for the umpteenth time.

And yes I've confirmed that this also applies to the hated Balfour Beatty "Partnership" with the Council, for which I continue to call for the contract to be cancelled. I am making further queries inside and outside the Council about achieving that.  

Rubber ducks, and my deep investigation into how Labour is giving Balfour Beatty another 60 million of your cash, was just the start. They refused to cancel the contract, but it is inevitable that they will."

 

Rubber ducks in Southampton potholes
Photo: Southampton Independents

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."

 

RESIDENT ACTION: Help Us To Hold Labour Councillors To Account for Extending the Tories' Failed Roads and Pavements Contract

 

Labour's Highway Robbery - Councillors Bung Balfour Beatty ANOTHER £60 MILLION

Labour or Tory, same old story. We've been saying this for a decade now. Southampton people say it back to us on their doorsteps, on social media and in their emails. People agree and are deserting Labour and the Tories in their droves. 

The state of our City's roads is another glaring example of Labour's failures since 2012, when they took control of the Council. They've had thirteen years in power, with the Tories having just one year.

Andrew Pope invented "Guess the Pothole" in 2017 to bring attention to the terrible state of our roads. He brought it back this year, because NINE YEARS LATER, they haven't improved. The rubber ducks are fun, but they bring a serious point that the contract has failed Southampton, despite the huge amount of public money spent on it.

Residents want the Balfour Beatty contract CANCELLED - a decision which our independent colleagues in Herefordshire Council have told us, has already been done. 

But Labour has allocated £60 MILLION to a company that has repeatedly admitted blacklisting - despite Councillor Andrew Pope changing the procurement rules of the Council when last a councillor, to prohibit blacklisting.

 

Extension, not Cancellation - IN SECRET

As exclusively investigated and reported by our Co-Founder Andrew Pope, the Labour-run Council has EXTENDED the failing roads and pavements contract with Balfour Beatty. The Council call it the Highways Service Partnership. 

But there was no fanfare. As exclusively confirmed by Andrew Pope's questions to Council officers, there was no media release of the extension. 

The decision was done in the Council Chamber in secret, with the public not allowed to see the details or hear any debate or ask questions about the detail. This is YOUR MONEY. The Head of Legal allowed this to be done. Do you agree that this is wrong?

The Council's so-called "Transparency Report" was hard to find. It was published in the tiniest writing that had to be zoomed into by 300% to be able to read. Buried in there, Andrew found the £60 million figure and asked Council officers why it was so hidden, and why it wasn't made clearer. 

 

Council's Refusal of Cancellation - They Say It's All in the Past

As exclusively revealed, Council officers have REFUSED Andrew Pope's request on behalf of Southampton residents to CANCEL the contract. 

Andrew asked for this because residents say that the contract has failed for sixteen years since 2010, and because Balfour Beatty blacklisted workers. 

The Council claims that blacklisting is all in the past, so it's OK. Various unions including Unite have said that blacklisting is continuing. Is there another secret list, the same as the Economic League and Consulting Association.

So we have exclusively revealed which Labour councillors voted FOR this extension. They would have had to stand up in the Council chamber and said "For!" when each of them was asked by the Lord Mayor for their vote.

As in our previous article, they were:

"From the Minutes of the meeting, you can see it was Labour councillors only. This INCLUDES the two now Labour MPs, Satvir Kaur and Darren Paffey:

"NOTE: NOTE: FOR THE RECOMMENDATIONS: Councillors Allen, Barnes-Andrews, Blatchford, Bogle, M Bunday, Cox, Denness, Evemy, Fielker, Finn, A Frampton, Y Frampton, Goodfellow, Greenhalgh, Kataria, Kaur, Kenny, Keogh, Lambert, Leggett, Letts, McCreanor, McEwing, Mintoff, Noon Paffey, Payne, Quadir, Renyard, Savage, Shields, Ugwoeme, Whitbread, Winning and T Bunday." 

 

Andrew Pope says: 

 

Andrew Pope on BBC South Today when councillor
Image: Southampton Independents (CT)

  

We have provided the councillors' names, and now we also provide web links to their councillor pages on the Council website, so that you can email them and ask them why. 

That is how our democracy is supposed to work, isn't it? 

Elected representatives must be held accountable for their decisions on behalf of the people of Southampton. Otherwise this looks like a highway robbery by Labour.

Tell us what they say. 

Tell us if they don't respond.

Southampton Independents is a voluntary organisation. It was founded by residents for residents.

We listen to residents. We act with residents.

If elected to the Council again on 7th May, I will have more powers to get answers for residents on the roads and pavements. And I will continue my campaign to get the Balfour Beatty contract CANCELLED!"

 

The Councillor web page is here. Just click the councillor's photo and you can then see their email address.

The format for Southampton councillor email addresses is "councillor" then a dot/full stop then their initial for their first name, then a dot/full stop, then their surname, then "@southampton.gov.uk".

So for the Leader of the Council and Shirley ward councillor Alex Winning (at least until Friday 8th May), it is:

councillor.a.winning@southampton.gov.uk

For Councillor Simon Letts, who was responsible for that year's budget, which the spending is part of, it is

councillor.s.letts@southampton.gov.uk 

And so on...

Let us know how you get on, by contacting us here. 

 

 

EXCLUSIVE: Which Councillors Voted For The £60 MILLION Extension To the Council's Roads and Pavements Contract?

 

You Guessed It - Labour Councillors Voted It Through!

 

You guessed it! Labour councillors voted through the extension to the Balfour Beatty roads and pavement contract, also known as the Highways Service Partnership. It was the Conservatives who brought the contract in, fourteen years earlier, during 2010.

There was no media release, confirmed by Southampton Independents' enquiries. We only found out about it via legal procurement channels. An officer confirmed that no media release was put out.

When lead investigator Andrew Pope asked Council officers in procurement about how the extension was approved, they said:

"The approval route for the award of the Southampton Highways Partnership was via a delegated decision made by the Executive Director, Growth and Prosperity and Executive Director Enabling Services and S151 Officer in accordance with delegated authority approved by Cabinet and Council in March 2024.

For ease I have included the links to the relevant March 2024 Cabinet and Council meetings:

Agenda for Cabinet on Tuesday, 5th March, 2024, 4.30 pm | Southampton City Council

Agenda for Council on Wednesday, 6th March, 2024, 2.00 pm | Southampton City Council"

 

From the Minutes of the meeting, you can see it was Labour councillors only. This INCLUDES the two now Labour MPs, Satvir Kaur and Darren Paffey:

"NOTE: NOTE: FOR THE RECOMMENDATIONS: Councillors Allen, Barnes-Andrews, Blatchford, Bogle, M Bunday, Cox, Denness, Evemy, Fielker, Finn, A Frampton, Y Frampton, Goodfellow, Greenhalgh, Kataria, Kaur, Kenny, Keogh, Lambert, Leggett, Letts, McCreanor, McEwing, Mintoff, Noon Paffey, Payne, Quadir, Renyard, Savage, Shields, Ugwoeme, Whitbread, Winning and T Bunday." 

 

Note that some of the Labour councillors are:

• no longer councillors, or 
• have lost elections (e.g. Ugwoeme who lost Woolston then Shirley), 
• have been sacked as a Labour councillor (e.g. Whitbread, as exclusively revealed by us), 
• have stood down, or 
• have quit Labour to another party (e.g. Renyard who is now Green, M Bunday who is now Lib Dem). 

 

They were Labour councillors when they voted this through.

  

The only councillors who voted against it were Conservatives. Yet in a move of utter hypocrisy, they had originally let the contract in 2010. This includes Peter Baillie who told us that the contract is great, telling us when we asked about Councillor Rob Harwood's perceived conflict of interest in letting the contract as an officer, then turning up as a Tory councillor the next year:

"The Balfour- Beatty contract works far better than any in house solution." 

 

"NOTE: AGAINST THE RECOMMENDATIONS: Councillors P Baille, Beaurain, Fitzhenry, Galton, Houghton, Laurent, Powell-Vaughan, Blackman, Wood and Barbour. " 

 

Andrew Pope says: 

 

Andrew Pope

  

"The Cabinet of the Council contains ONLY Labour councillors. Nobody else. They voted it through.

Labour has a majority on the Council. So next...

Labour councillors majority-voted the contract through Full Council, which is the second committee mentioned by the officer.

Labour ward councillors would regularly receive complaints about the failures of the contract.  Yet they voted it through anyway, like the party puppets that they are. And this includes the two councillors who are now Southampton MPs - Satvir Kaur and Darren Paffey.

So let nobody be in any doubt, it was Labour councillors that voted through the extension to the failed Balfour Beatty roads and pavement contract.

This is why our City needs independent representation again, by councillors who actually put the priorities of their local residents first, instead of doing what their party tells them to do."

Please Note - Our Story, Our Exclusive

We gave information on our investigation to the Daily Echo's Editor Ben Fishwick about this in mid-February, and to the Local Democracy Reporter Jason Lewis, who is funded by the BBC. We had hoped they would cover it in the public interest.

An article was eventually published by the Daily Echo with the £60 million figure that we gave to them. We were never credited. We were never quoted.

When Andrew Pope complained to the Editor, we were promised a follow-up article. In good faith, more information was given to them.

It is now over two months later.

No follow-up article. No quote. No credit.

So we are publishing our investigation ourselves, in the public interest.

We are volunteers. Once again, we are doing more work than those who are paid to investigate. Because it is in the public interest.

EXCLUSIVE: Council Refuses Campaigner Andrew Pope's Request to Cancel Balfour Beatty Roads and Pavement Contract - Here's Their Excuse

Andrew Pope Demands That the Council's Road and Pavement Contract with Balfour Beatty is Cancelled
Image: Southampton Independents

 

Andrew Pope is the Redbridge ward Independent Network candidate for Southampton City Council. He has been investigating the Council's roads and pavement contract with Balfour Beatty. This is because of constant complaints about the roads and pavements from residents of Southampton.

 

Andrew Pope Independent Network
Photo: Southampton Independents

 

Andrew says:

"I've asked Council officers to cancel the contract. Why? Because it's a clear failure, and because Balfour Beatty are admitted blacklisters." 

 

Andrew Pope with Rubber Ducks in Rownhams Road, Southampton
Image: Southampton Independents (AP)

 

He has also been running the online game "Guess the Pothole", putting rubber ducks in the many potholes and posting the photos online, then asking residents where they think the pothole is, as reported by the Daily Echo. It has been very successful at drawing attention the failings. It also appears in Andrew's election address - see photo above. [The one in the photo is in Rownhams Road, when the gas pipeline was being replaced.]

The contract has been in place since 2010, when the Conservatives ran the Council. And since 2017, it has been extended - and extended again - by Labour running the Council.

Balfour Beatty has repeatedly admitted blacklisting. In 2014, four years after the Council's contract was first let, they apologised to MPs. 

"They confirmed their firms had used the services of The Consulting Association."

In responding to Andrew's demand to cancel the contract, a Council spokesperson said:

"Based on its due diligence, to the Council’s knowledge neither Balfour Beatty Living Places nor any company in the Balfour Beatty group was involved in blacklisting at 2017 nor at the point of the award of the most recent contract in 2025. The Employment Relations Act 1999 (Blacklists) Regulations 2010 enshrines the position in legislation. Indeed it is widely reported that the practice in the construction industry ceased in 2009, which pre-dates the Council’s first highways contract with Balfour Beatty. Based on this position, the Council does not intend to terminate its contracts delivered by Balfour Beatty as a result of the historic blacklisting as its policy has not been breached." 

Andrew says:

"The serious point to the game is to humiliate the Labour-run Council into cancelling the failed £60 million roads contract. 

This contract is clearly a failure. Nobody in Southampton, other than the Labour councillors who voted it through, and Tory councillors Peter Baillie and Rob Harwood, think it has been a success. They've had sixteen years!

It is interesting that before becoming a Tory councillor, Rob Harwood was the Council officer who wrote the report for the Balfour Beatty contract. Not once, but twice - in 2010 and 2017. And then in 2018, he was elected to the same Council as a Tory councillor.

What an amazing coincidence, that he thinks the contract is great and his Group Leader Baillie does too. 

Neither of them wanted to answer queetions when I asked him how he managed any perceived confict of interest. I gave them the right of reply. Worse than that, they said that such questions were 'irrelevant'. Harwood cost the Council over £25,000 for loose words; it seems that he has not learned his lesson.

On the doorsteps of Southampton, residents want to know. Residents want to know why the roads and pavements are so bad and why a failed contract has been allowed to go on for so long. My independent colleagues tell me that in Herefordshire, the Council cancelled Balfour Beatty. So should Southampton.

I've asked Council officers to cancel the contract. Why? Because it's a clear failure, and because Balfour Beatty are admitted blacklisters.

I changed the procurement rules of the Council when I was Councillor before. I was applauded by leading anti-blacklisting campaigners Dave Smith and Phil Chamberlain in their book "Blacklisted". The Council's rules that I put in place are supposed to prevent blacklisters getting council contracts. I took considerable time and effort to ensure officers put such rules in place.

Yet Council officers have refused in writing to cancel the contract, and have made excuses for Balfour Beatty, claiming blacklisting is somehow all in the past. Really? The unions don't think so, including Unite.

So how can a Labour-run Council justify handing another £60 million to Balfour Beatty - a figure which I uncovered and investigated?

They can't, if they are on the side of the working people of Southampton. But residents have worked out that Labour is not for working people and has not been for some time now.

What a shameful situation. Residents deserve to be protected from blacklisters and deserve to have better roads and pavement that are safe. Labour councillors voted this contract through, like the party puppets that they are.

I will carry on campaigning for residents - it is them who I respond to.

If I am elected on 7th May, I will have more powers to get answers and challenge for better roads and pavements." 

 

 

 

ROAD SAFETY: Checking The Safety of the City to Western Cycle Route - For Everyone

 

Western Cycle Route Sign
Photo: Andrew Pope

Today, safety campaigner Andrew Pope checked the road safety of the Western Cycle Route SCN1 from the Civic Centre, Southampton, through the West of the City and out to Totton over the River Test.

 

Western Cycle Route Millbrook Road
Photo: Andrew Pope

Andrew walked from the City Centre to the Redbridge Roundabout, checking as he went along and taking photos.

 

Cycle Route Sign
Photo: Andrew Pope

Andrew says:

 

Andrew Pope on the Western Cycle Route
in Redbridge Ward
Photo: Andrew Pope

  

"I put in a lot of effort to get the Redbridge ward section of this route right. So I did not want to see it degrade over time.

The Redbridge ward used to go right up to Millbrook Roundabout, and that is where I took action - from Redbridge Roundabout to Millbrook Roundabout.

The original plans were dangerous, including bringing trucks into the same zone as cyclists at the UPS and Selco sites, on the pavement side. I stopped this by moving the cycle route to the far side.

I was the only councillor of the three Redbridge councillors who took action. The other two (both Labour) just went along with the original plans.

I worked with businesses, cyclists, the Southampton Cycling Campaign, Council officers, local residents and managers of the sites adjacent to the route.

It took years and great effort to get it right. I tried hard to minimise the risks:

• to residents
• to cyclists
• to motorists
• to pedestrians
• to truck drivers

I am pleased to report that the Redbridge ward section was the safest part of the route, containing a lot of segregated cycle paths from the road. And it still is the safest part.

I know from being a cyclist, a pedestrian and a motorist, what risks there are.

So I mitigated those risks by working in partnership, and being patient and thoughtful. Council officers eventually understood what I was trying to achieve, once I brought the Cycling Campaign out on site to meet them.

I spoke to Roy, a cyclist today that I flagged down on the route. I asked him what he thought of the route. 

He said in 2012 it was unusable and dangerous. He said that I should be congratulated for my work, because it is now excellent, especially the segregated sections.

I am pleased. But on the way, I did find some concerns, which I will be acting on. I prioritise safety when other councillors either do not look, or do not see it or do not act."

Segregated Cycle Path
Photo: Andrew Pope

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" 

 

 

It's Back - Let's Play GUESS THE POTHOLE!

 

Get Your Ducks In A Row
Photo: Southampton Independents

Inventor of this game Andrew Pope, who is a Member of the Independent Network and Co-Founder of Southampton Independents, says:

 

Andrew Pope

 

"It's spring, let's get our ducks in a row. And our ducklings too.

 

Which road in Southampton is the pothole in? 

 

No prizes are given

But you will get 

The warm glow

To know 

That your ducks

Are in a row!

Southampton's favourite pothole-related game is back, on our Facebook page here.

Like the page to follow us and take part.

... 

A bit of help for you, the second clue of the road is in my poem... More clues will be added, so get involved and guess the pothole!"

 

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

We Listened to Portswood Residents Who Saw The Portswood Broadway Disaster Coming and Acted to Oppose It

 

Southampton Independents Letter in Daily Echo 13th February 2025

Labour pretended to listen, ... then Labour's Councillor Eamonn Keogh went ahead with it anyway!

Councillor Eamonn Keogh
Photo: Southampton City Council

Captain of chaos Councillor Keogh needs to go, Southampton people say. The Leader of the Council should sack him, we say.

The full text of Andrew Pope's letter that was printed in yesterday's Daily Echo is below.

We asked for people to stand up in 2022 and in 2023. as reported by the Echo then and in the letters we printed and volunteered to deliver. We contacted the residents associations, and businesses, too.

Portswood people need to stand for Council as Independent candidates, because the political parties let you down - Labour, Green, Tory, Lib Dem - they all put themselves first,  instead of the people of Southampton.

Once again, we will be looking for those people to stand in next year's Southampton City Council elections. And we need people to help contact residents in Portswood.

Get in touch if you want to do it. We will give you advice and support.

 

Former Independent Councillor Andrew Pope

"Disturbed but not surprised

I am disturbed, but not surprised to hear of the unfolding disaster at the Council's Portswood Broadway changes.

It was foreseen by residents and businesses that I spoke to back in 2022 and 2023, and reported by the Echo.

The Council has already tried to paper over the cracks and the out-of-control Cabinet Member for Transport, Labour Councillor Eamonn Keogh, is deaf to the dangers.

Keogh has already caused chaos across Shirley and in the City Centre, making promises to remove 20mph signs, but they are still there.

Keogh needs to be removed from his position by the Leader of the Council Councillor Lorna Fielker, but the talent pool within the Labour Group is very limited, if not non-existent.

The bankruptcy of the Council and crackpot policies in the City prove Labour's inadequacy.

Labour already lost one Portswood seat on the Council after our campaign with Portswood residents against their crazy proposals.

Labour lost the by-election in Shirley too, with residents unhappy about transport policies. I know because I listened to them on their doorsteps.

Do Labour want to lose more Council seats because of their greenie fanatics and ignorance of the vast majority of residents and businesses in the area?

If they do, they are going the right way about it.

Andrew Pope
Southampton Independents"

After Shirley and City Centre Chaos, ANOTHER Crazy Labour Council Road Scheme To Go Ahead - at Portswood Broadway

 

ANOTHER Crazy Highway Scheme By Labour

After the chaos caused by Labour's 20mph signs on Hill Lane and Shirley Road, and months of disruption in the City Centre for no benefit to residents, Labour's cycling fanatic Councillor Eamonn Keogh is pushing ahead with another crazy road scheme as Labour's Cabinet Member for Transport.

This time it's the hated Portswood Broadway scheme, going ahead for "a trial" in 2025.

And just like in Shirley, Keogh is going ahead with it against common sense and despite huge resistance and objections from local residents. More sham consultations mean residents are ignored.

Southampton Independents' Andrew Pope spent his own time as a concerned volunteer to properly listen to Portswood and Highfield residents, and told the Daily Echo what he had found - that the vast majority of residents were against this scheme. He also contacted local residents' associations and encouraged petitions against the proposals to be signed, and encouraged residents to stand for Council.

Via hundreds of leaflets and letters and doorstep conversations with residents and businesses, Andrew found that there was huge dissatisfaction with Keogh's chaotic plans. Andrew says:

Andrew Pope, speaking when a councillor
to BBC South Today

"After my campaign to expose Labour's mistakes on the Broadway scheme, Labour lost one of their Portswood Council seats to the Greens. It seems Labour want to lose more seats in this area, because they are not listening to local residents.

Labour's Transport Councillor Eamonn Keogh seems hell-bent on ruining any productivity on our roads, and his cycling fanaticism is ruining the journeys of the 89% of people who use the car or walk in our City. Cycling and buses should be encouraged but both are a tiny percentage of journeys in our City.

Cllr Keogh shouldn't be experimenting again in our City, as his previous experiments in Shirley on Hill Lane and Shirley Road, and in the City Centre, have both failed, and wasted a huge amount of public money - when the Council is broke. It was obvious that the experiments would not work, but the Labour Council went ahead anyway.

It's time the Leader of the Council Councillor Lorna Fielker removed him from his Transport role, for the sake of our City, the Council's finances, and City businesses and residents."

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! Residents Demand End to Labour and Tory Councillors' 20mph Failure

 

Vigilantes Have Taken Steps
Because the 20mph Fantasy Has Failed

Over the last few years, Southampton motorists, cyclists, lorry drivers and pedestrians have been subjected to disruption and confusion by Southampton City Council.

Labour, Green Party and Conservative councillors have pushed for 20mph "limits" to be put in place. But it is difficult to find residents who wanted them.

Instead of improving road safety, the evidence of residents who live near them suggests that the 20mph signs have created confusion and actually increased danger through frustration.

The 20mph signs have been vandalised by vigilantes. The signs can't be called limits as according to residents and motorists, the vast majority of drivers seem to ignore them and there are little or no reports of any enforcement by the Police. The vandalism by the vigilantes shows how unpopular the signs are, and how out-of-touch these councillors are.

Andrew Pope stood as an Independent candidate in the recent Shirley by-election, and asked residents what issues were important to them. 

Andrew Pope on BBC South Today

Andrew says:

"Enough is enough! There is almost universal disapproval of the safety failures on Hill Lane. The top of Hill Lane, with its two roundabouts, a pelican crossing and two zebra crossings, and more, is already dangerous.

It must be revised and measures put in place that actually work. That's where money should be spent, not on daft schemes that don't work and which cause disruption and danger.

The 20mph signs on Hill Lane are actually creating confusion and danger, and this location is one of the last places this should happen.

What is incredible is how Southampton City Council and its Shirley Labour councillors thought this would be a good idea in the first place. Now there is one less Labour councillor, after the by-election. It's easy to see why they lost.

It should be obvious that it would not work. Residents have said it would not work. The original trials of 20mph signs in Maybush Triangle, where I was councillor, did not work. The signs remained up though. It was deemed "expensive" to take them down.

But the Council ignored that data and what sensible residents thought and councillors such as Councillor Eamonn Keogh, who is Labour Cabinet Member for Transport and Deputy Tory Leader Councillor Jeremy Moulton have carried on putting the 20mph signs up. I have challenged Cllr Moulton over this, and he came back with some figures from Edinburgh, of all places.

The Council claims to have "consulted" residents. But during the Shirley by-election, finding residents who said that they had been consulted proved impossible.

In hundreds of doorstep conversations, and requests in letters to residents about the issues that mattered to them, ZERO residents said that they had been consulted about the Hill Lane 20mph signs or the Shirley Road 20mph signs. It's a fantasyland by Labour and Tory councillors who seem to have been influenced by a tiny minority of "Green" lobbyists.

I have listened very carefully to residents, and come to the conclusion that these 20mph signs on Hill Lane and Shirley Road must be removed immediately before someone is injured or killed.

The Labour-run Council claimed that it was going to do so back in May, just before the Council elections, but five months later, it has failed to do it. Their abuse of election purdah should not have been allowed by Council officers. But they got away with it. And despite saying it would be done quickly, they still haven't done what they said. Labour lost hundreds of votes in Shirley in just five months and decisions like this played a part in that.

I am calling for these 20mph signs on Hill Lane and Shirley Road to be removed NOW, and for proper road safety measures to be put in place that work, where they are thought-through and proven. That's what residents and motorists want.

I know from my work as an interviewer on the Department of Transport's National Travel Survey that the vast majority of journeys are made by car or foot (89%), whether Labour, Tory or Green fanatic councillors like it or not. Cycling and bus journeys are a tiny proportion of journeys. Even when trains are included, it's still only 10% of trips.

In a democracy, the majority should win out, not a tiny minority of cycling lobbyists. It is well-known, including by officers of the Council, that Cllr Eamonn Keogh is a cycling fanatic. Being a councillor and Cabinet Member, he is supposed to put personal views aside in the interests of our City. But Keogh seems to think it's his role to put his own, minority, views first. He's wrong.

Cyclists, motorists and pedestrians should be protected by road safety schemes that actually work, not a fantasyland of putting up some signs and hoping, which seems to be the Council's current policy."