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."

 

 

 

INVESTIGATION: Chaos at Shirley Warren Primary School and in Southampton Labour

Investigation

UPDATE (Friday 13/3/26): LABOUR IN REDBRIDGE IN CHAOS, SHIRLEY WARREN PRIMARY IN CHAOS, LABOUR-RUN COUNCIL IN CHAOS

1. We have offered Councillor Sally Goodfellow the right of reply to our article.

2. The claims made by the Labour-run Council do not seem to add up. The Daily Echo is standing by its headline that the Council sacked the governors.

3. The Bridge Education Trust have taken over a week to provide any minutes of the governor meetings, despite promising to get them to us by the end of this week. The Acting Headteacher has promised them to us by the end of Monday 16th March.

4. We have offered the three Shirley Ward councillors the right of reply to our article, and pointed out to the Leader of the Council Alex Winning who is a Shirley ward councillor that his own Cabinet Member and senior officers seem to contradict the Echo headline that the Labour-run Council sacked all governors including Labour Redbridge Councillor Sally Goodfellow.

 

Investigation

 

 

 

 

Another Southampton Redbridge Ward Labour Councillor Removed - First Lee Whitbread Now Sally Goodfellow

 

Redbridge Labour Councillor Sally Goodfellow
Photo: Southampton City Council

Labour Losing One Councillor Is Bad... 

First it was reported by the Daily Echo that Southampton Redbridge Labour Councillor Lee Whitbread has been suspended by the Labour Party. At the time of writing, it is one of the most popular posts on our website. 

And at the time of writing, Whitbread is still listed on the Southampton Labour website as a Labour councillor. Is he or is he not? Will he be standing in the local elections when his seat is up?

The Southampton City Council website lists him as "Independent". As we've said before, he is nothing to do with us. He is nothing but a fake independent and a suspended Labour one at that.

Another Redbridge Labour Councillor Loses A Council Role 

Now, it is reported by the Daily Echo that another Southampton Redbridge Labour Councillor, this time Sally Goodfellow, who is in the news. 

She has been removed as a governor at Shirley Warren Primary School. This school is not in the Redbridge ward. It is in the Shirley ward, where Labour have just lost two by-elections in a row.

Who is Responsible? Labour Councillors

The Leader of the Council at the moment is Councillor Alexander Winning. He is a Shirley ward councillor and is up for election in May 2026. The Cabinet Member for Children and Learning is Councillor Amanda Barnes-Andrews, a Bitterne Park ward councillor who is up for election in May 2027. Under collective responsibility at least, they would have both had to agree the removal of the governors.

UPDATE: A response has been received from Councillor Barnes-Andrews. She says that Cabinet did not make the decision. Her response will be communicated in a future article. 

Who Else Was A Governor? 

Councillor Goodfellow has been removed, along with all other governors, including the Chair Andy McHugh who is mentioned in the Echo article. The register of interests document on the school's website shows the following list of governors was in place:

• Zoe Newton, the now ex-headteacher and Governor
• Andy McHugh, Trust Governor, with interest registered as Shirley Warren Action Church
• Sophia Ship, Deputy headteacher and Trust Governor, with interest registered as Southampton City Council
• Aby Adekoya, Co-opted Governor, no interests registered
• Sally Spicer, Co-opted Governor, with interest registered as Southampton City Council. Spicer is Goodfellow's married name. In the Echo report, she is quoted as being "angry".
• Shannon Wannell, Parent Governor, no interests registered
• there are four blank rows in the register of interests, one parent governor, one Council governor, one staff governor, one co-opted governor 

All of these governors have been removed by the Labour-run Southampton City Council.

What Have Southampton Independents Done On Behalf of Parents and Residents? 

Southampton Independents has written to the Bridge Education Trust to express its concern about the situation and ask a set of questions on behalf of parents and the taxpayer. 

We have a response, to which we have also expressed further concern. So we await a further response. The Bridge Education Trust is also responsible for other schools in Southampton.

Southampton Independents has also written to Councillor Amanda Barnes-Andrews with a set of questions on behalf of parents and the taxpayer, and also to Councillor Alex Winning.

 

 

 

Vote Andrew Pope Independent Network on 26th Feb! say Shirley residents... and Andrew responds to them

 

Andrew Pope and the Independent Network emblem

Vote Andrew Pope Independent Network on 26th Feb! 

EIGHT YEARS COUNCILLOR EXPERIENCE & CARE - I HOLD THE COUNCIL TO ACCOUNT FOR YOU 

Please do not waste your vote on the big political parties. 

I am the ONLY candidate at this by-election that has two full four-year terms of experience as a Southampton City Councillor. I have more experience than all the others put together. 

Why? Because all six other candidates have zero experience as a councillor. I checked each one via web search, so that you don't need to. 

I am local. I care. I listen. I act. Elect me to hold the Council to account, regardless of who it is.

Residents told me they wanted me to stand again next time. I promised to. So I am. Residents say:

“Andrew is genuine, knowledgeable, persistent and experienced. He knows what he is talking about and is very articulate.” (Resident Chris who lives in the Coxford part of the Shirley ward).

“Andrew is honest, listened to the problem we had and got it done. He is one of the few councillors who care.” (Resident Barry who lives in the Shirley part of the Shirley ward).

“Andrew is very straight-forward and outspoken in his views. In my opinion, he is exactly what we need in Shirley.” (Resident Bogdan who lives in the Old Shirley part of the Shirley ward).

Residents support me because I listen, lead and act. I’ve helped thousands of Southampton people over decades of hard work here in Southampton. We co-founded Southampton Independents. Why? Because we care about our City and its people.

I've got the big stuff done and got the little stuff done. Just a few examples are below, but you can see more on this website:

1. I led and won a 12-year campaign for a Southampton Park and Ride for hospital staff then another for public and football fans to use. I led a Council inquiry into hospital transport.
2. I ran a petition on the derelict pub plans and spoke up for residents at Council Planning. 
3. I called in the Echo for the Labour Councillor for Transport to be sacked. He was sacked.
4. I successfully pressured the Council to remove silly 20mph signs, including on Hill Lane.

Andrew campaigning on the derelict pub and Park and Ride
Photo: Southampton Independents

Southampton Park and Ride Delivered by Andrew Pope
Photo: Southampton Independents

Sign my petition to demand sprinklers are installed at the SGH. It's on this website, and on Change.org. And you can sign it in person if you get in touch - many people do not use the web and find signing in person is better for them. Mycampaign is building with my dedication and with residents' support.

 

Southampton General Hospital Scene of Major Incident Fire
Photo: Southampton Independents

What issues matter to you? If you want independent representation, you have to vote for it. 

I am part of the Independent Network of councillors and campaigners. We work together with residents. Independents have won here in Southampton, on the Isle of Wight, and across England. I was an Independent councillor for Redbridge and there were three Independents in Coxford too.

Get in touch to tell me what matters. I listen to you. I act. I fight back against the big political parties and keep them honest. I hold them to account. I lead by example and inspire others to act.

Thank you for reading this. Please tell others to vote for me and support the Independent Network in future. 

I live and work locally, running my own business of technical and campaigning consultancy, PopeyMon Consulting. I have a Bachelors degree in Computer Science from Leeds and a Masters degree in Politics from Southampton. 

If you want a local and very experienced and caring councillor, then please vote for me on 26th February. Vote for 8 years of Southampton councillor experience and care.

Vote Andrew Pope, Independent Network on 26th February – Residents say: Local, caring, genuine, experienced and outspoken. Listening, leading and acting for you.

 

Andrew Pope Finding Fire Safety Breaches at Shirley Towers
Photo: Southampton Independents

Independent Network Emblem

INVESTIGATION: Andrew Pope Discovers Fire Safety Breaches at Shirley Towers Scene of 2010 Fatal Fire

 

Andrew Pope at a Very Wet Shirley Towers
Photo: Southampton Independents

UPDATE (22/2/26): There was a fire at Shirley Towers today. Andrew Pope was canvassing for the Shirley by-election nearby and saw the fire appliances and firefighters on site. He spoke with the first and second Incident Commanders of the fire service, and asked whether they knew that the ground floor sprinklers had been out of action since the fire in the bin area in December. They both said that they were not aware before attending, and thanked Andrew for the information. This information was from Andrew listening and acting for residents, and speaking to Council housing officers. Labour councillor for housing Andy Frampton has once again been found wanting - let's not forget he refused to answer Andrew's questions for residents about fire safety and damp and mould.

UPDATE (20/2/26): A fire "drill" appears to have been carried out at Shirley Towers. Andrew Pope says:

"I will keep up the pressure on the Council to protect residents and leaseholders. I should not have to use the media to pressure the Council, but I have had to again.

I acted to protect people in 2017 with my campaign for sprinklers in all Council tower blocks and I continue to act to protect.

It is terrible that Labour's Councillor Andy Frampton refused to act when I asked him to. Thankfully, there are some good officers of the Council who care and the Fire Service care too. Labour have to go."

--- 

Following up on his previous campaigning on fire safety in Council tower blocks, Andrew Pope has been investigating the concerns of Shirley Towers residents.

What he has found is very disturbing, considering that he campaigned for sprinklers to be installed in all twenty Council tower blocks. 

Two firefighters - Alan Bannon and James Shears - died in a fatal fire at Shirley Towers in 2010. A memorial plaque was unveiled in 2023. 

Andrew says: 

"The Labour Councillor and Cabinet Member for Housing Andy Frampton is trying to avoid accountability for ongoing fire safety breaches. It is unacceptable that he refused to answer residents' concerns when I contacted him directly.

As in 2018, when I brought BBC Radio 5 Live to Southampton, fire doors are compromised and not fixed in a timely manner. When I reported it to officers, they asked if it had been reported.

It is the responsibility of the Council to regularly inspect and fix.

And now, I have learned from multiple residents that some sprinklers are not working and have not been since December, after a fire in the bin area.

I have not seen any media report of that fire, so I am bringing it to the media's attention.

Residents are worried, so I am trying to get action and answers.

It has been difficult to even reach the right people to get action taken or get reassurance.

I will not stand by and let residents be put at risk again."

 

Compromised fire door in Shirley Towers
Photo: Southampton Independents

Andrew's campaign for sprinklers in all Council tower blocks began before the Grenfell disaster in 2017, and after the Redbridge Towers fire when he was Independent Redbridge ward councillor.

As documented on the Southampton Independents website, his campaign encountered stiff resistance from Councillor Warwick Payne of the Labour-run Council who said that residents did not want sprinklers and

here on Youtube you can hear Payne claim that he did not have the money to do what Andrew was asking him to do for residents.

 

Our campaign led by Andrew Pope forced the Council to do it for all 20 Council tower blocks. Left to the Tories or other big political parties, it would not have happened. 

 

CAMPAIGN UPDATE: A Sad and Controversial Goodbye To The Derelict Bridge Tavern Pub on Coxford Road

 

Andrew Pope Outside The Derelict Bridge Tavern Pub on Coxford Road

Shirley ward campaigner Andrew Pope has had confirmation from the Agent of the site developer that the development of the former Bridge Tavern is proceeding. Andrew says:

"I've had a response from the Agent today. I've told him of my disappointment that their proposal was approved by the big party councillors on the Council planning committee, but I have thanked him for his quick response to my questions.

There will be a delay but it may be "May" at the earliest before the pub is demolished. The Council and developer are having trouble agreeing the commitments that the developer must follow. And bats and other wildlife are inside the derelict pub.

I remain concerned on behalf of residents (and local bats, birds and other wildlife) of the impact of the development. I will keep a watching brief.

It's sad to see a pub be demolished but there was no way that I could save this pub. 

I have saved others in the New Forest, including the Anchor Inn at Eling and the Fleur de Lys at Pilley. I was standing for Parliament in New Forest East. Around that time, I also joined with campaigners to protect The Bittern pub at Bitterne from becoming a McDonald's.

Not all pubs can be saved though and not all pubs are wanted to be saved by local residents. The Bridge Tavern is obviously another that could not survive. I've met people who did enjoy the pub many years ago, including on Sunday when I was canvassing nearby, so the pub served its purpose and local residents for a long time. 

The Bush Inn on Maybush Road could not be saved, when I was councillor for Redbridge ward nearby. I asked local residents and they did not want the Bush Inn to be saved. 

At the time I was reported in the Echo saying that I was disappointed to lose another pub, but being an elected representative is not about what I want, it's about what local residents want. I listen to them and act on their views."  

Since 2024, co-founder of Southampton Independents Andrew Pope has listened to and stood up with residents of the Coxford / Maybush area (it depends on who you ask :) ) who live near to the derelict pub on Coxford Road.

The derelict pub is close to the Southampton General Hospital and is affected by hospital staff parking there, as is a very wide area going all the way from Romsey Road to Hill Lane, north and south of Winchester Road and in Shirley Warren. Andrew has confirmed this from listening to many residents of this area.

The latest proposal for the derelict pub was to develop the site, but the proposals were deeply flawed, residents told him. They did not understand why the Council had not rejected the planning application, because it did not improve on previous applications that had been refused.

Andrew added his voice to the objections to the planning application. He organised and ran a petition that local residents signed, and submitted this to the Council.

Andrew spoke up for residents at the July 2025 Planning meeting. What is not mentioned in the Echo report is that incredibly, Andrew observed the now ex-councillor Liberal Democrat George Percival, actually support the application, and shake the hands of the developer's representative at the Planning meeting. It turns out that Percival was committing a flagrant conflict of interest by mixing his occupation with his role as a councillor.

Andrew had previously asked the planning officer that the decision was made in public, so that planning officers could not make the decision bureaucratically and without public scrutiny. He also objected to the application and asked councillors to refuse it. 

The councillors were all from the big political parties: Labour, Tories, Liberal Democrats.

They approved the application despite the huge local objections that it should be refused and residents' views listened to. Southampton resident and supporter of Southampton Independents Felix, who attended the meeting with Andrew, said:

"This was the first planning meeting that I had ever been to. It seemed like the big party's councillors did not listen to Andrew or the residents who spoke at the meeting. They seemed to have made up their mind before the meeting.

But they did listen when Andrew demanded that the Park and Ride now be delivered, and not just be in strategy documents for even longer than the 12 years that Andrew has fought for it." 

Months passed. Nothing seemed to be happening, so Andrew wrote to the Agent of the developer for an update, who has confirmed today that the site will be developed from May at the earliest, due to delays in the legal agreements with the Council's planning officers, and further bat surveys. 

Bats are protected by law and are probably roosting in the derelict pub until May at the latest, "when the hibernation period for bats ends.", according to the Agent.

Andrew may not have stopped the proposal, but since 2024 he has worked hard to represent local residents, and he has had a victory on his 12-year Park and Ride campaign which has already reduced hospital parking and traffic. More details on that victory and his continuing campaign to make the Park and Ride be better, and hold the bus company, hospital and Labour-run Council to account, are on this website:

• here
•   here
•     and here.

VOTE ANDREW DOUGLAS POPE, INDEPENDENT NETWORK CANDIDATE FOR THE SHIRLEY 2026 BY-ELECTION

 

Andrew Douglas Pope of the Independent Network and Southampton Independents

Emblem of the Independent Network

Andrew Douglas Pope is announcing his candidacy for the Shirley ward by-election on 26th February 2026, standing for the Independent Network. 

More information about Andrew Douglas Pope's campaigning, activism and organising work over the last three decades, is on this Southampton Independents website page here. 

Andrew, who was the co-founder of Southampton Independents, says:  

"Dear Residents of Shirley ward of Southampton City Council,

ANOTHER BY-ELECTION CAUSED BY ANOTHER BIG POLITICAL PARTY LETTING YOU DOWN

In 2024, residents had enough of political parties and encouraged me to stand as an Independent candidate. So I did! I listened. I acted. Labour or Tory, same old story, I said. Now add the Lib Dems. Their councillor was elected in 2024 but only lasted 15 months. He quit, causing this by-election.

Residents told me they wanted me to stand again next time. I promised to. So I am. Residents say:

“Andrew is genuine, knowledgeable, persistent and experienced. He knows what he is talking about and is very articulate.” (Resident Chris who lives in the Coxford part of the Shirley ward).

“Andrew is very enthusiastic and believes in what he is doing. I will be voting for him.” (Resident Derek who lives in the Maybush part of the Shirley ward).

“Andrew is very straight-forward and outspoken in his views. In my opinion, he is exactly what we need in Shirley.” (Resident Bogdan who lives in the Old Shirley part of the Shirley ward).

Residents support me because I listen, lead, and act. People wanted action on hospital traffic and parking. 

1. 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. Now I am pressuring the Council to get it right.
2. I led a Council inquiry into transport to the hospital and have held the hospital to its promises.
3. I ran a petition on the derelict pub and spoke for you at the Council Planning meeting.
4. I fought back against the Labour Council's stupid car restrictions, the Portswood Bus Gate and over-the-top 20mph limits. 
5. I called in the Echo for the Labour Cabinet Member for Transport to be sacked, and he was. 

Some of the 20mph limits were scrapped, including on Hill Lane. There’s more to do.

What issues matter to you? If you want independent representation, you have to vote for it. 

I am part of the Independent Network of councillors and campaigners. We work together with residents. Independents have won here in Southampton, on the Isle of Wight, and across England. I was a passionate Independent councillor for Redbridge and there were three in Coxford too.

Get in touch to tell me what matters. Listening carefully is vital. That is the start of taking the correct actions with experience and competence. More residents are joining my team and fighting back against the big political parties. I lead by example and inspire others to act. I’ve proved it.

Thank you for reading this letter. Please make sure other people in your household see it. Get in touch at the details below. Put this letter in your window to show your support.

Please vote for me on 26th February. Vote for independent representation and action."

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

EXCLUSIVE: Seven Years After Grenfell and Redbridge Towers City Council Tower Blocks STILL Have "High Risk" Fire Safety Failings

 

The 2017 Daily Echo Headline That Began Our Fire Safety Campaign
After the Redbridge Towers Fire

We can exclusively reveal that Southampton City Council still has "high risk" fire safety failings in its tower blocks, seven years after the Redbridge Towers fire in early 2017.

Southampton Independents led the campaign for better fire safety in Council tower blocks and secured a commitment from the Council for sprinklers to be installed in all Council tower blocks.

Later that year, the Grenfell disaster occurred in London, with 72 victims.

Two years ago, we reported that there were still problems. 

Now, a Southampton City Council report that we have obtained states that:

"17 high risk fire actions are overdue"

The report does not state which blocks these are in, or what the risks are.

Andrew Pope, who led the campaign for sprinklers in all Council tower blocks, says:

Andrew Pope on ITV News after Redbridge Towers fire in 2017

 

"This news does not surprise me. I have seen the state of repair of tower blocks in the City, including Shirley Towers when I stood as a candidate in the recent by-election.

Southampton City Council is a bad landlord. I've heard so many complaints from tenants of the Council and not just in tower blocks. Even the Director of Housing has admitted it, saying and I quote:

'Over the last few years, our performance relating to our housing landlord function has fallen below an acceptable standard. We must and will do better.'

BBC Radio 5 Live initially did not believe me when I told them that the Council was failing on fire safety in its tower blocks.

So I showed their journalist Adrian Goldberg, having invited him to come to Southampton. He was shocked and published video footage on the BBC website.

Yet all these years later, the Labour-run Council still have not got a grip on fire safety. I will be writing to the Cabinet Member for Housing, Labour Councillor Andy Frampton, asking for more information and demanding action."

Southampton City Council Shirley Ward By-Election Result 10th October 2024

 

The Liberal Democrat Candidate George Percival won the Shirley by-election on 10th October 2024, turning around a large deficit from the election in the same ward that took place in May 2024. 

The Tories and Labour candidates were a distant second and third. The only Independent candidate Andrew Pope was fifth out of the six candidates, behind the Green Party candidate. And the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition candidate was last.

Andrew Pope says:

Andrew's recent "safe standing" campaign victory
at St Mary's Stadium

 

"I am proud of running my own campaign with no notice, as the power of calling a by-election was with the Labour Party.

Thank you to the people who voted for me. This is just the beginning of the rebirth of Southampton Independents.

People are already offering to help to campaign, because they know that the Westminster parties let them down. Independent campaigners work with others to win.

It is clear from their comments at the count that the Westminster parties threw everything at this by-election. Many people commented on the doorstep that they had much more contact during this by-election than during the recent General Election.

I congratulated George Percival on his win when I was at the count, and told him that I would immediately be campaigning to get a number of the 20mph signs removed from the ward, especially on Hill Lane. 

That campaign has already begun. Labour promised to remove the 20mph signs in May, just before the election, in a blatant attempt to influence the result of that election. 

Labour have now lost hundreds of votes in just five months, and they deserve to for breaking so many promises in Southampton and at Westminster.

As is proven by the result, residents increasingly agree with my saying on the thousands of leaflets that I delivered: 'Labour or Tory, same old story'."

 

The full result was:

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."

ON 10TH OCTOBER VOTE POPE, ANDREW DOUGLAS – THE INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE – FOR SHIRLEY WARD SOUTHAMPTON CITY COUNCIL

Andrew Pope Election Address

VOTE POPE, ANDREW DOUGLAS – THE INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE –

FOR SHIRLEY WARD SOUTHAMPTON CITY COUNCIL THIS THURSDAY 10TH OCTOBER 2024

Shirley residents have had enough of political parties. I asked them. They encouraged me to stand as an Independent candidate. So I am, proving that I listen, I act. What issues matter to you? As I say in my leaflets and letters, I am here to listen and act – wisely - for residents. So that is exactly what I have been doing. Email me at sotonindies@gmail.com to tell me what matters to you.

The buses or lack of buses? The 20mph signs on Hill Lane and Shirley Road? Crime? Winter fuel payments cut by Southampton Labour MPs? Labour’s bankrupt Council? Our country run into the ground by Tory failures? Labour or Tory, same old story – do you agree? Time to vote differently…

I believe that I am the best candidate. Why? I hope that you agree with the following reasons:

·     I have eight years of experience as a Southampton City Councillor. This is more than all of the other candidates put together, with some who have no experience at all.

·     I have helped thousands of people over the years, with issues on flooding, mental health, sustainable transport, housing, power cuts, safety at St. Mary’s Stadium, sprinklers and fire safety, planning applications, noise nuisance, smoke control, parking, policing, anti-social behaviour, and much more. You can see more on the www.sotonindies.org website.

·     I have won many substantial and long-running campaigns for Southampton’s people, as shown in my positive pink leaflet, with evidence that can be clicked through on the www.sotonindies.org website that links to articles on the websites of the Daily Echo, BBC Hampshire, BBC Radio Solent and more.

·    I live and work in Shirley, running my own PopeyMon Consultancy business and interviewing the public as a professional interviewer for vital Government surveys on health, education, transport and more.

·    My pink leaflet is printed here in Southampton, supporting local business. Are the others?

·    I am not with any of the political parties. I am doing this because I believe that Southampton City Council needs independent representation again. And Shirley does too.

·    Like I did when I was councillor before in the Redbridge ward, I ask the questions that other councillors do not ask. I find out things that they do not. I take actions that they do not.

On 10^th October, Vote Andrew Douglas Pope X - for a Council run for Southampton residents.

Look for Pope, Andrew Douglas on the ballot paper when you vote. It will not say “Independent” or have a party emblem – just my name. I hope that you will vote for me. Thanks for reading.

Best wishes, Andrew Douglas Pope, Independent Candidate for Shirley Ward