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

Park and Ride - New Labour Cabinet Member for Transport Takes Two Months To Reply - AND THEN QUITS!

 

Southampton's Weekend-only Park and Ride bus

 

Andrew Pope says: 

 

"What was good about Christie Lambert's very late answer was that she said that she was committed to a Park and Ride. 

But obviously she was not committed enough to the Park and Ride to stay in the Cabinet Member role to get the Park and Ride right before her departure.

She is still a councillor and Deputy Leader, so I expect her to ensure that I get answers to my questions now from her or her replacement, after nearly three months of patience. 

Other councillors know, and residents know, that I am an annoyingly persistent and experienced campaigner. 

I would not have won this 12-year campaign for Southampton, and visitors to our City, otherwise!"

 

Andrew speaking to BBC South Today

 

Winning the Park and Ride Campaign 

Our co-founder Andrew Pope initiated his campaign for a Southampton Park and Ride over 12 years ago, when he led a Council inquiry into hospital transport.

He kept up the pressure by calling in the bus companies and held hospital senior management to account to their "strategy" documents, including successive chief executives, over those years.

The hospital management kept their promise of a staff Park and Ride.

Andrew kept up the pressure for a public Park and Ride, because residents kept complaining about City centre congestion, including when Saints FC were at home.

And hospital parking, including staff parking on a wide area across Southampton near the hospital, both continued to be a problem.

Yet the Council continued to not deliver this public Park and Ride.

Then, when Andrew attended a Council Planning meeting, he continued the pressure by asking "Where is the Park and Ride?" to Labour councillors.

He had also called for the Labour Cabinet Member for Transport, Eamonn Keogh, to be sacked, in a letter to the Daily Echo. Keogh was sacked and replaced by Councillor Christie Lambert. 

As if by magic, the public Park and Ride happened shortly after.

 

Making Improvements

But the weekend Park and Ride, in Andrew's opinion, the Park and Ride that the Council, Bluestar and hospital had delivered was not good enough.

So he went and checked. And checked again.

Then he wrote into the Daily Echo, who published his letter, pointing out the shortfalls.

He wrote to the new Cabinet Member Christie Lambert with some questions, and a copy of the letter.

And he wrote to Bluestar, and the hospital Chief Executive, giving them a right of reply.

 

No Response from the Cabinet Member

Bluestar responded and said that "obviously" the Park and Ride was a "trial". This was never communicated to the public in the Council press release.

The hospital Chief Executive did not respond, which sadly was the level of response of previous chief executives at the first attempt on a range of issues that Andrew raised with them.

And the Labour Cabinet Member for Transport did not respond.

For two months.

And then, days before Christmas 2025, she finally answered and apologised for the delayed response.

Then it was reported in local media that she had quit from the role of Cabinet Member.

So she has been given the opportunity to answer again, including of whether this was a "trial".

Disruption to Christmas/New Year Rail

We try to let Southampton residents know of any important information that comes to us.

We would like to let you know of disruption to the railways in and around Southampton over the Christmas and New Year period.

Please pass this information on to your friends, work colleagues, family and neighbours.

This is caused by works being done by Network Rail and South Western Railway. So please don't blame us! We are merely passing the information on.

More information is below and at the following link:

https://www.southwesternrailway.com/plan-my-journey/planned-improvements/christmas--new-year-holiday-period

Denise Wyatt

Denise Wyatt
Leader, Southampton Independents

Railway upgrade work over the festive period – Southampton area

We are writing to you about vital upgrade work in the Southampton area over Christmas and the New Year that will affect passenger services.

Work will start early on the morning of Sunday 24 December 2017 and finish late on Monday 1 January 2018 (services will operate as usual on 2 January). There will also be two earlier dates (Sunday 10 December and Sunday 17 December) where engineering work will be taking place. Further work in January and February will also be carried out.

More than 100 engineers and track staff will be working shifts 24 hours a day to replace around 6,000 metres of cabling and around 200 metres of track. The benefits of this £8 million project include improved reliability for passengers and reduced track noise for our lineside neighbours.

This work will mean there will be no services between Southampton Airport Parkway and Southampton Central and the line between Southampton Airport Parkway and Fareham will also be closed. Detailed background information is provided below.

There will be no trains from St Denys, Swaythling or Bitterne stations. Rail replacement bus services will be in operation and there will be road diversions as two level crossings (Mount Pleasant Road and Adelaide Road) will be temporarily closed.

Passengers wishing to travel from London to Southampton Central or beyond during this period will need to change for rail replacement bus services at Southampton Airport Parkway. Work is being carried out at this time as up to 50% fewer people travel over Christmas.

Advice to passengers regarding wider Christmas engineering work on the railway network has already been published. Specific information on work at Southampton will start to be sent to passengers this week, including through on-train announcements, social media, local media and station advertising.

Network Rail has also written to its lineside neighbours regarding the work and we will be holding passenger information sessions at stations.
We are advising people to ‘check before you travel’ through National Rail Enquiries and the South Western Railway website. 

Councillor Andrew Pope

Southampton Independents Councillor Andrew Pope has also made further enquiries about Redbridge and Millbrook services. The following is the response:

"South Western Railway services will be affected at Redbridge and Millbrook stations as a result of these works.

The services from Millbrook and Redbridge stations have been re-timed and services will not run further east than Southampton. Additionally, on24 and 31 December, westbound services will only run to Poole and not to Salisbury.

Our timetables have been updated to reflect the changes in services during this time, and we are advising passengers to check before they travel."

REMINDER: Southampton Roadworks AGAIN This Weekend

Redbridge Towers: The Gateway to Southampton

Redbridge Viaduct/Causeway will be CLOSED this weekend from 8pm on Saturday 11 November 2017 until 5am on Monday 13 November 2017.

These works are being done by Tory Hampshire County Council, and they have been AGREED by Labour Southampton City Council. Both councils were to blame for the chaos. Like Southampton residents say, Labour or Tory, same old story.

After the chaos last weekend in Western Southampton due to the Redbridge Causeway/Viaduct roadworks (reported by the Daily Echo here), we've been listening to what residents of Southampton said.

One letter from a Redbridge resident was in the Echo this week (see below). More complaints have followed in the Echo. And many more Redbridge and Southampton residents have been in touch.

Another Redbridge resident said:"Test Lane never been so busy with people trying to take a short cut to no where!"

A Maybush resident told us:"Cars were sat across the lights so cars couldn't move ,people were driving like idiots all because road signs were not in right places ,then they drove down and under-bridge to other side and still getting caught in traffic other side ,most of traffic was heading up Green Lane then keeping Romsey Road to a standstill".

Another Southampton resident said:"Trying to get out of Southampton on Sunday. It took me over an hour and a half to get onto the M27. A normal trip to Christchurch took me nearly two and a half hours. I don't mind traffic and I understand this is needed but it seemed everyone including myself didn't think there would be so much disruption."

Denise Wyatt

Leader of Southampton Independents Denise Wyatt, who is also a campaigner in Redbridge, said:

"Last weekend, not only Redbridge but all around Western Southampton was in chaos.

This CANNOT be allowed to happen again.

The City Council did not give adequate advanced warnings, and neither did Hampshire County Council.

Southampton Independents tried to let people know via our website and Facebook. But it isn't our job. We are just trying to help residents. Southampton Labour that is supposed to be "in charge" of Southampton City Council. And the Tories likewise in Hampshire.

Labour and the Tories need to be voted out in the next elections, if residents want better performance from the councils. 

Southampton Independents will be standing candidates for councillors in the May 2018 City Council elections. I will be one of them."

Councillor Andrew Pope

Southampton Independents Councillor for Redbridge, Andrew Pope, said:

"Residents were never asked whether they wanted these works, or when it would be wise to do them. And I have confirmed that only a couple of roads in Redbridge were notified about the works with a letter.

It's not good enough. 

As a ward councillor for the area, I should have been consulted. But I wasn't. I have challenged the councils why. And they think that sending a letter out is "consultation". IT ISN'T. Consultation means listening. THEY DIDN'T.

It is better to listen to residents, because they know the area. But neither Hampshire nor Southampton councils want to listen to residents. They just want to do things TO residents.

Following my challenges to officers of both councils to "up their game", I have been assured that improvements will occur for the second round of works this weekend.

We will see.

Tell us what your experiences have been.

Tell us how you think the councils can minimise disruption.

It is very sad that Labour Councillor Jacqui Rayment seeks in today's Echo to criticise members of the public such as Mr Sanders of Redbridge, instead of taking responsibility for her own failures as "transport boss" for Southampton City Council. 

And it is also very sad that despite being given all week, Tory County Councillor Rob Humby has failed to answer my questions and challenges to him as to why he has failed in a similar way to Councillor Rayment. 

I have therefore asked the Leader of Hampshire County Council to ensure that I get answers for Southampton residents.

Do you agree with supporters of Southampton Independents that if the disruption is not minimised, that both councillors Humby and Rayment should resign? Someone should be accountable, they have told us.

Labour and Tory councillors should be making sure disruption is minimised, not blaming each other. Labour or Tory, same old story gets us nowhere!"

---

READER LETTER: Southampton weekend road closures are an almighty blunder

THE closure of the A35 on Saturday, November 4 at 8pm has been one almighty blunder by the highways agency and Southampton council.

I wish that Jacqui Rayment, Southampton councillor for transport, and members of the highways agency could have been at the Redbridge Roundabout to see for themselves what an absolute disgrace the closure was, not only for local residents but for those people trying to get home to Totton, Hythe and all points west of Redbridge.

There were no proper road signs telling drivers that the M271 was the correct route away from Redbridge to get back to Totton and all points west, and not to use Gover Road and Test lane as a detour.

Due to the fact that the future closures are going to take place between now and Christmas, one hopes that Southampton council and the highways agency get their act together so that we do not get a repeat performance during the next closures.

Roy Sanders

Redbridge

Updated: Southampton's Roads Are A Disgrace!

Junction of Parkside Avenue and Brookwood Road during works
by Balfour Beatty and Southampton City Council

So many residents have told us that Southampton's roads are a disgrace.

Here is an example from Brookwood Road in Redbridge, where we expose how poorly the Council's partnership with Balfour Beatty is performing.

Residents of Brookwood Road have waited patiently for decades for their road to be sorted. We campaigned for it to happen - but the Labour-controlled Council have botched it.

This "partnership" between the Council and Balfour Beatty needs to be cancelled, because it is failing our City. Do you agree?

Tell us what you think of the roads and pavements in your area, and send us your photos.

We Independents will carry on campaigning for better roads in Southampton.

Independent Councillor for Redbridge, Andrew Pope, says:

"We have no doubt that the experience of residents of Brookwood Road and Parkside Avenue has been repeated across the City. 

Potholes are reported by residents, but Balfour Beatty tell them that they are not potholes and do not fix them! 

And THEN Balfour Beatty try to tell councillors that they are fixing "99%" of potholes, and that the partnership with the Council is working! 

This is not how residents see it. 

This is not how businesses see it. 

This is not how visitors to the City see it."

Do YOU want to see the Balfour Beatty contract cancelled?

Tell us - our contact details are here.

---

Updated (24th January 2016): It's now months later, and the works were apparently "completed". But residents know that the job was botched by the Council and Balfour Beatty. We have pushed for remedial works to be done.

Now we have been told that the works were due to start yesterday, 23rd January. Apprently a letter has been hand-delivered by the Council.

We have checked, and they did NOT start on time.

What a mess.

The Labour-controlled Council cannot even get that right.

Councillor Andrew Pope said:

"After agreeing with my requests to resurface Brookwood Road, the Labour-controlled Council refused to resurface Parkside Avenue. 

This was a stupid decision and since then – what a mess it’s been! 

The Labour-controlled Council and its “partner” Balfour Beatty made a real hash of the works, both to the road and to the pavements. 

And they did not bother to fix the many potholes at the junction of Brookwood and Parkside – despite our requests on your behalf. 

They need to listen to residents."

Independent campaigner Denise Wyatt said:

"Many residents contacted us, in person and by phone about how poorly the works were done, and the months over which residents were inconvenienced. 

We visited residents and discussed their concerns. 

We have pressured the Council and Balfour Beatty to fix their botched job. 

We pressured Council officers to review the works and take action. 

Our pressure has meant action. 

We expect the botched job to be rectified."

Tell us what you think of the roads and pavements in your area, and send us your photos. Our contact details are here.

We Independents will carry on campaigning for better roads in Southampton.

---

Independent Councillor Andrew Pope has been trying to get Brookwood Road and Parkside Avenue resurfaced for years.

Despite Andrew asking for it year after year, Labour-run Southampton City Council had not prioritised it until 2016.

That may seem good news.

But having waited for many years, many residents are extremely unhappy with the works that have been done so far, and the lack of planning of the works that remain unfinished. 

Residents have complained to the Council, and complained to Andrew and his colleague Independent campaigner Denise Wyatt.

Andrew says:

"People who have lived in Brookwood Road for decades have told us that they had never seen Brookwood Road resurfaced - and now they cannot believe how the Council and Balfour Beatty could have done such a bad job.

Other residents told us that only half of the pavement was going to be resurfaced. We've got the photographic evidence.

I have challenged officers of the Council and Balfour Beatty, to be told there was not enough money for the whole pavement to be done!

And I was told that Parkside Avenue would not be resurfaced. How can this be? Have they seen the state of it? It was done only a few years ago, but it is cracking up and the junction with Brookwood is a disgrace!

What a shambles!"  

Only half the pavement on one side of Brookwood is done - the other left

The pavement on the other side is all done - WHY THE CONTRAST?

Denise says:

"The works and the planning have been completely inadequate. 

The workers have admitted to us that they are embarrassed to be asked to do half of a pavement. Worse, they told us that it is quicker for them to do all of it!

How can the Council and Balfour Beatty conspire as "partners" to produce this utter shambles?

Are they true "partners" or in actual fact "partners in crime"?

Tell us about your nightmare roads! 

Why do you think Southampton City Council and Balfour Beatty are "partners in crime" when it comes to your roads?

UPDATED: Save the Hythe to Southampton Ferry!

The wobbly Pier is matched by the wobbling Action Group

BBC South Today Late Bulletin 24th Nov 2016

"It's very important that the Hythe ferry keeps going because if it doesn't, we're going to have even more traffic and even more air pollution coming through our area."

said Councillor Andrew Pope on BBC South Today on the late bulletin of 24th November.

Andrew has sent the below letter to all cabinet members of the Southampotn City Council. The cabinet is the controlling body that makes decisions for the Council.

Hopefully we will get a useful response.

UPDATE (1st Dec 2016): NO OFFER OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT OR OTHER ASSISTANCE HAS BEEN MADE BY SOUTHAMPTON CITY COUNCIL, despite the urgent situation and my letter below. The only offer has been from the Leader Councillor Simon Letts to meet with any campaign group, an offer which I have indicated to the Leader of the Council that I may take up through my contacts and conversations I've had on the Hythe to Southampton Ferry.

The Leader of the Council has also confirmed that other than Councillor Pope, NO campaign group has contacted him about the Ferry, including those calling themselves the "Hythe Pier and Ferry Action Group". This is despite being challenged to do so by me and other Southampton residents at last week's public meeting in Hythe, at which Cllr Pope was the only Southampton councillor present. This leaves several worrying questions including:

1. Why do they ignore Southampton?

2. Are the "leaders" of that campaign group competent?

3. Do they think that the Hythe Ferry goes around in circles, and doesn't actually ever go to Southampton? It isn't the Hythe to Hythe Ferry!!!!

Those under threat of redundancy on the Ferry, and those who use the Ferry, can't afford to wait to find out.

Meanwhile, we Independent campaigners will continue our campaigning to improve air quality in Southampton and to reduce road traffic congestion.

UPDATE: (7th Dec 2016) We are waiting for more answers from various councils, developers, groups, businesses and people. We also have several meetings planned. Meanwhile, the so-called "Action Group" seems to be foundering on its actions, despite the 90-day redundancy notices still being in force.

What exactly are they doing?

It's all a bit secretive and slow, isn't it?

Tell us what you think via our Contact Us page.

Like the Councillor Andrew Pope page on Facebook or follow the @SaveHytheFerry or @CllrPope Twitter feeds for more on this campaign and all other Independent work.

---

Good Morning,

The Hythe to Southampton Ferry is under threat.

I am concerned about the staff who have been issued a 90-day consultation on redundancies.

I am concerned about the users of the service, both on the Waterside and Southampton sides.

But most directly to the Redbridge ward and the people I represent, I am concerned about the decline and possible extinction of this service.

I hope that you share these concerns.

Yesterday evening, I attended a public meeting in Hythe to organise a campaign to save the Hythe Ferry. It was a packed hall. I was the only Southampton councillor present.

A member of the public from Southampton asked whether the campaign had contacted Southampton City Council. It seemed from the response that they had not.  Do you know of any contact please?

I have offered my support, in person and in writing, and I am writing to you to ask what support the Council will now offer.

I urge you to maximise the effort and funds for a sustainable service.

A few weeks ago, I also asked the Leader and current Cabinet member for Transport for the reasoning behind the cut to the Hythe Ferry subsidy in the 2013 budget, as it was never explained to councillors at the time despite them being whipped to vote for it. I had no response from Cllr Rayment. I did have a half-useful from the Leader.

The Leader was under the impression that the Hampshire subsidy is under threat. It was confirmed at the public meeting by the County Councillor for Hythe, Malcolm Wade, that it is not.

What will Southampton City Council do to ensure that the Hythe Ferry cannot just survive, but to thrive?
​
Regards,

Councillor Andrew Pope
Independent Councillor for Redbridge ward
Southampton City Council

The Scandal of the Southampton Arts Complex

Southampton New Arts Complex
- STILL under construction!

It takes us Independents to shine a light on this scandal, and thanks to the Daily Echo, it is front page news.

We've written on this blog before about the scandal of the Southampton New Arts Complex (SNAC), a project that is massively over-time and over-budget.

We've heard from Southampton residents who are appalled that the Labour-run Council is putting millions into this failing project, whilst basic Council services are failing across the City.

In less than two years, the taxpayer bill has gone up twice, in £2 million chunks, from £12 million to £16 million. 

Independent Councillor Andrew Pope has asked how this has been allowed to happen by the Labour-controlled Council, but has not got full and frank answers from Labour councillors who've voted through these millions, or the Southampton Cultural Development Trust who were supposed to raise funds for the project.

Now the Daily Echo is reporting that the Government is bailing out the project, sinking even more of YOUR public money into this White Elephant, whilst basic services are being cut in YOUR area!

Independent campaigner Denise Wyatt says:

"The Labour Council has the wrong priorities. Roads and pavements are full of holes. Bins are missed. Grass is not cut. Weeds take over. Care centres are closed. Land is sold off. Children and vulnerable adults are unsafe. Traffic is chaos. Why?"

What do you think of the Arts Complex?

What do you think of the services that the Labour-run Council is providing?

Contact us and tell us.

Test Lane: Labour Betrays Redbridge

On Wednesday night, Independent Councillor Andrew Pope and Denise Wyatt attended a public meeting at the Ship Inn, Old Redbridge. Two photos of the residents assembling before the meeting are above, before even more people turned up. The Daily Echo report of the meeting is here.

Around 130 people came along, which was an excellent turnout for a residents meeting. It was standing room only. Councillor Andrew Pope says:

"I am delighted that so many people came. Some people say that people are apathethic. As demonstrated by residents of Millbrook and Maybush defeating Labour's failed Regeneration, this shows that they will come when they are passionate about an issue. Well done to Redbridge Residents Association for organising the meeting. 

Why did so many people come? Because they are so unhappy with the proposals for Test Lane that the Labour Council has pressed on with, despite fierce and sustained resistance from residents."

 

Councillor Pope was the only one of the three Redbridge ward councillors at the meeting.

Councillor Pope and Denise Wyatt have consistently and fiercely resisted this development from the start, as shown by the many posts on this website.

The two other councillors for Redbridge ward, Councillor Cathie McEwing and Councillor Lee Whitbread did not attend the meeting, giving "apologies". The Labour Leader of the Council Councillor Simon Letts was also invited, but also gave "apologies".

Why weren't they at this extremely important meeting?

The only councillor from Labour-controlled Southampton City Council present was Councillor Jacqui Rayment, along with three officers under her command in her role of Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport. Councillor Rayment said to residents that "we want to work with you". Councillor Rayment also said that she wasn't passing the buck, but that Planning was not her area.

Despite claiming she wasn't "passing the buck", under questioning from Denise and Andrew, Councillor Rayment claimed that the Test Lane development could not be stopped.

This is incorrect. Councillor Pope had given the Leader of the Council the opportunity to stop the sale, which he has the power to do until final planning permission is given. Councillor Simon Letts has refused to do so.

Following the meeting, Councillor Pope wrote to the Council's Planning Officer once again. His email, and the response is below (the name of the officer has been removed).

Councillor Pope has also written to the head of the Council's legal officers to clarify the legal position, but like the Planning Manager, he is on leave. Andrew has asked for another officer to respond instead.

Dear X,

I was at a very well-attended public meeting last night at the Ship Inn in relation to the Test Lane proposal.

I wonder if you could answer please:

1. Has final planning permission been issued?

2. If not, why not?

3. Planning Manager Y is on leave. Can you confirm please that under the Scheme of Delegation in the Council's Constitution, and the decision made at planning panel, he has the delegated authority to send this back to the planning panel? As I have already requested, the two-month deadline has already passed. If planning permission has not issued, this must surely now be extinguished. Agreement is not going to be reached.

From:  X
Sent: 28 July 2016 17:40
To: Pope, Andrew (Cllr)
Subject: RE: Test Lane

Dear Councillor Pope,

The answers to your questions are:

1.    Planning permission has not yet been issued but I am intending issuing the decision tomorrow as the Section 106 agreement completed yesterday.

2.    See above – we have been waiting for completion of the legal agreement.

3.    The application will not be going back to the Planning Panel. The decision is being issued in accordance with the decision of the Panel in April which I copy below:

(i)  Delegate to the Planning and Development Manager to grant planning permission subject to the amended planning conditions set out report and the amendment set out below and the completion of the S.106 Legal Agreement in the form shown in Appendix 1.

  (ii)  That the Planning and Development Manager be given delegated powers to add, vary and /or delete relevant parts of the Section 106 agreement and/or conditions as necessary. In the event that the scheme’s viability is tested prior to planning permission being issued and, following an independent assessment of the figures, it is no longer viable to provide the full package of measures set out above then a report will be bought back to the Planning and Rights of Way Panel for further consideration of the planning application.

  (iii)  That the Panel agreed that the suggestion for a Site Liaison Group would be taken forward at the discretion of the Planning and Development Manager and would not be included within the Section 106 agreement or conditions.

There has been no viability case made so (ii) above does not apply.

I hope this clarifies the position

---

Denise Wyatt and Andrew Pope say:

"It is totally wrong and totally unacceptable that the Labour Council intends to issue final planning permission today (Friday).   

This scheme is not proven to be viable. It is, in Evander's own words, "speculative". 

Labour is selling its land and giving planning permission on it, despite our massive campaign with residents against it. 

The Labour Council is pressing ahead with its betrayal of the people of Redbridge. 

Labour Leader of the Council Councillor Simon Letts must stop this development now, or resign. 

The two Labour councillors McEwing and Whitbread should also resign as they have done little or nothing to stop their party from pressing ahead. Mostly they have been absent. 

Travesties like this are why Redbridge needs its Independents to stand up for them. 

We will continue our fight with residents against this morally bankrupt Labour Council."

Keep fighting,

Denise and Andrew

Protect Our Green Spaces!

Below is the original version of a letter printed in the Daily Echo from Independent Council Candidate for Redbridge, Denise Wyatt:

"Labour can't be trusted with green space at the Sports Centre. How do I know this?

Residents of Millbrook, Maybush and Redbridge know that the Labour Council are selling off green space at Test Lane for more monstrous warehousing like the dreadful Lidl development.

Sports clubs and residents have have told me that they fear the future of the playing fields and the future of children's green space. 

The regeneration of Millbrook, Maybush,and Redbridge has put all green space at risk!"

Independent Councillor for Redbridge, Andrew Pope, added:

"Residents have seen the Lidl monstrosity be built, against residents' wishes. And they are now suffering traffic chaos because of the poor planning and lack of leadership from the Labour Council.

Residents are very unhappy that Labour councillors voted through even more warehouses at Test Lane.

And residents are extremely unhappy at Labour's 4-year failure to 'regenerate' the area. They showed their anger at the recent public meeting - a meeting that I had to fight hard to make happen, against the wishes of Labour councillors like Cathie McEwing who told residents at the meeting that they were not "interested".

The only way to protect our green spaces is to Vote Independent for Denise Wyatt at the 2016 local elections on 5th May."