UPDATE on Fire at Redbridge Towers

The outside fire damage to Redbridge Towers

Southampton Independents campaigners Denise Wyatt and Councillor Andrew Pope attended the scene of the fire at Redbridge Towers on Sunday night.

We now provide an update to the initial statement we released after we had been at the scene.

We were there for several hours and we tried to keep residents informed and we also asked for the school to be opened.

Since that night, we have been back to the block and spoken to more residents.

We have provided statements to ITV Meridian News and to the Daily Echo.

Front Page of the Daily Echo, Tuesday 11th April 2017

In those statements, we have spoken up for local residents of Redbridge Towers and Cuckmere Lane.

Today, we spent the afternoon speaking to more residents.

Residents are not happy with the response from the Labour-run Council:

- with the events leading up to the fire
- with how the Council handled the fire and the evacuation
- with how the Council failed to keep them informed, and failed to look after their welfare
- with how the Council has responded since the fire

To give an example of the Labour-run Council's failures, Councillor Pope asked, and then asked again, for an update regarding the release of the occupant of the flat where the fire started.

This was because residents contacted us to ask whether that person would be returning to Redbridge Towers. Obviously they would be concerned if that person would be returning.

It was confirmed by the Police that there is a continuing investigation, and as reported by the Daily Echo today, the only suspect was released.

Officers did not respond to Councillor Pope's emails. Eventually, the senior housing officer called Councillor Pope today.

Councillor Pope agreed with that officer to inform residents of the following:

"The occupant of the flat where the fire started will NOT be returning to Redbridge Towers for the foreseeable future."

Southampton Independents would like to be able to say more, but we are sorry that we cannot at this stage.

However, we hope this statement will reassure residents for the time being.

Residents remain angry and that was very clear when we spoke with them again today.

Hampshire Police have asked residents to call 101 if they have any information relating to the ongoing investigation.

Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service continue their investigation into the cause of the fire.

Southampton Independents work on the issues that matter to Southampton people.

We do not jump to party-political instruction, unlike Labour or Tory, who always give you the same old story.

Please continue to give us information, and we will try to get you answers.

Best wishes,
Denise Wyatt and Councillor Andrew Pope

Fire at Redbridge Towers

Following the fire at Redbridge Towers this evening, Southampton Independents Councillor Andrew Pope, ward Councillor for Redbridge, has issued the following statement:

"I have personally thanked the Police and the Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service for their excellent response in ensuring that no serious injuries were sustained.

However, I was concerned that tenants of Southampton City Council and local residents were not being kept informed by Council officers.

No facilities were made available, despite requests by residents, on what was a cold night. Some residents and children were clearly traumatised and understandably so.

I understand that the Police and Fire Service are already investigating the cause.

I have already begun investigating what the Council did and did not do prior to this unfortunate incident, and have asked for an urgent update."

Our April Fool's Joke: New Brexit Threat to Southampton Plants, Animals and Humans

Redbridge Wharf Park - under threat?

Southampton Independents are warning of a new threat to Southampton plants and animals, especially those on the Western edge of the City in Redbridge and Millbrook.

The new threat can even be dangerous to humans, especially after Brexit.

The growing trend to plant eucalyptus trees in the New Forest, and the South’s mild climate, is encouraging a dangerous animal to breed and settle – and cause danger to Southampton.

This trend has partly come from the links between Lyndhurst in the New Forest and Sir Arthur Phillip, the first Governor of Australia. Arthur Phillip lived in Lyndhurst, near the former Lyndhurst Park Hotel that was recently saved from demolition.

New Forest District Council planted a eucalyptus tree in its Appletree Court offices, in honour of the area’s connection with Arthur Phillip. Since then, more and more eucalyptus trees have been planted across the New Forest and in Southampton. They are hardy and beautiful trees.

Independent Councillor for Redbridge ward, Andrew Pope, warned:

“It is feared that a new breed of marsupial has been breeding in the New Forest’s eucalyptus trees. It is like the cuddly koala bear, but Australians call it the ‘drop bear’, because it drops out of trees when it becomes agitated. They have been known to smuggle in the car boot of New Forest commuters coming into Southampton and polluting our air.”

Denise Wyatt, Independent campaigner for Redbridge, says:

“We’ve heard about ‘drop bears’ before because we have friends in Australia. Friends told us that like koalas, they eat only eucalyptus leaves, and have to develop the ability to do this from their mothers. If they don’t do this, as the leaves are toxic, they become agitated and highly dangerous. They are even known to attack humans sleeping in their tents, especially tourists from the EU after Brexit.*”

* Happy 1^st April. See you on the campaign trail and thanks for all your support.

Labour Council Blames Tory Government For Its Own Failures

Southampton Independents campaigner Denise Wyatt wrote the following letter to the Daily Echo.

The online version is here, with links to other Echo articles on the funding of schools.

The original version of Denise's letter is below.

"I read today's Echo with interest, as I and my Southampton Independent colleague Councillor Andrew Pope had been contacted by parents and the headteachers of schools across Southampton. We met with those parents and headteachers.
The problems are not limited to just SEN schools.
As the Echo has reported at February Full Council, mainstream schools had their funding changed - not by the Conservative Government but by the Labour-run Council. Schools were told one thing by the Council and then the Council did another. They are furious with the Council.
Prior to that, the SEN provision in the City had not been properly forecast by the Council. And massive unplanned expenditure of millions of pounds resulted.
It seems that the Council doesn't have a grip on its schools, or on their funding, just like it doesn't have a grip on the safeguarding of children.
This is unsurprising perhaps when the current Chief Executive Ms Baxendale has presided over several Directors of Children Services and Labour has changed the Cabinet members for education and safeguarding many times over the last five years. The latest incumbent Labour Councillor Paffey doesn't have a grip, as neither did his predecessor former Cllr Jeffrey.
And no wonder OFSTED came back recently to inspect Southampton City Council. The Tories were no better when they were "in charge" of the Council.
It's just another case or Labour or Tory, same old story.
And it's one blaming the other, rather than parents and children getting the education and facilities they deserve - the best.
Best wishes,
Denise Wyatt
Southampton Independents"

Air Pollution: Your views on Southampton Labour Council's Ideas

What do you think of Southampton's Labour-run Council ideas to tackle air pollution below?

It comes after they have been "in control" of Southampton City Council for almost five years, since May 2012.

They have dithered and wrote documents. Then wrote more documents.

They have approved even more warehouses, especially in the Redbridge area.

It seems to have been all talk and no do.

So the following is taken from the public Council document "Frequently Asked Questions" about the "Clean Air Zone" idea they have had, which they claim will be done to improve air pollution in Southampton.

It is quoted verbatim.

We Independents aren't sure it will happen.

And we aren't sure that even it does happen, that it will have much of an effect.

But don't just take our word for it.

Neither does the University of Southampton, according to their research Matt Loxham, when he appeared on the BBC recently.

What do you think?

Post below or Contact Us using the details on the left.

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Here it is:

"

• Why are we introducing a Clean Air Zone?

Like many cities Southampton experiences poor air quality, much of this is caused by road transport.  DEFRA published the UK Air Quality Plan in December 2015. The document identifies Southampton as one of five cities which will be required to implement penalty charges for the most polluting HGV’s, buses and taxis when the mandatory zone comes in to force in 2019.

• What does it mean?

We are advised that the anticipated standards expected for the clean air zones will be as follows:

Vehicle type	NOx emissions limit
HGV	Euro VI
Buses/Coaches	Euro VI
Taxis	Euro 6 (diesel) Euro 4 (petrol)

Map of proposed Southampton Clean Air Zone

All major arterial roads in Southampton will be included

• How can I avoid the charge?

If your HGV, bus, taxi meets the emission standard there will be no charge.

Private Cars are exempt from the charge.

The level of charges for noncompliant vehicles will be determined by the Government at a later stage.

Council's Child Protection Crisis Continues!

Southampton City Council has faced constant criticism over recent years, whether the Labour Party has been "in charge" of the Council or the Conservative Party has been "in charge". A list of some of the criticisms is at the bottom of this article.

Southampton Independents have been dealing with an increasing number of cases of protecting children from harm, including harm caused by the neglect of Southampton City Council.

One Redbridge family who asked us Independents to help them to protect a child and their family say:

"This Labour Council is a risk to children and their families.
For months, officers of the Council ignored us. The child ended up in hospital.
OFSTED need to come back!
Andrew and Denise fought for us to better protect the child.
Labour is failing families."

The case was referred by us, with the permission of the family, to OFSTED, who inspect Council services. OFSTED confirmed they would add the issues of the case to what they would look at when they next inspected the Council.

The issues included the lack of responses from the Council to the family, and the lack of response to Independent Councillor Andrew Pope when he raised the issues on behalf of the family.

The Labour Leader of the Council, Councillor Simon Letts, said at the time, and we quote:

"Contacting Ofsted in these circumstances makes you look ridiculous."

Do you agree that we did the right thing?

And do you agree that the Leader of the Council brings the Council into disrepute by saying such a thing?

Southampton Independents have been dealing with other cases where children's health and wellbeing have been put at risk by the Council's neglect.

Independent campaigner Denise Wyatt, an expert on local government, the welfare system and the protection of the vulnerable, says:

Denise Wyatt

"There have been many critical reports by the local Daily Echo and Hampshire Chronicle, going over many years, but neither Labour nor Tory seem to have been able to protect children, which they are legally and morally obliged to do."

Some of the failures by Southampton City Council, and which party was supposed to be "in charge" of protecting children, are listed below.

Independent Councillor Andrew Pope said:

"The many criticisms are the verdicts of the local media, the Lottery, the Crown Prosecution Service and OFSTED.  

Why has it been left by Southampton's Labour and Conservative parties to these external bodies to expose their failings?  

Why haven't successive Labour and Tory councils addressed the very serious safety issues? 

Is it because they prefer to cover up rather than clean up?

The fact that they've failed to answer my questions adequately, in public and in private, suggests that they prefer to cover up. 

Southampton Independents will continue to expose the failings of Southampton City Council on safeguarding and other issues facing the residents of our City."

ENDS

Litany of Failures of Successive Councils over Years (click the links for more info):

11th November 2016 (Labour has a majority on the Council. That is, they "run" the Council):

"Senior childcare manager Kim Drake quits just hours before major child services shake-up"

There have been many changes in the Director of Children's Services position over recent years. This was the latest one, and we understand that Ms Drake and someone claiming to be her "partner" did not seem to be too pleased with the situation, judging by comments on the Echo website at the time.

"The authority has twice the number of children in care than the national average."

"Independent Redbridge ward councillor Andrew Pope said: 'After many years, there continue to be very serious problems with the council's Children's Services.'

"Neither the Conservatives, nor Labour, have addressed these problems and children continue to be put at risk by the council's failures."


18th August 2016 (Labour has a majority on the Council):

"Southampton won't get £10m to improve children's mental health project due to "poor leadership" at council"

"LOTTERY bosses have blamed poor leadership at Southampton City Council after they refused a bid for £10million for youth mental health services."


23rd January 2016 (Labour has a majority on the Council):

"City council chiefs have confessed that social services workers, teachers and those in council run community services all ignored glaring signs that the sisters, aged seven and two at the time, were being severely neglected at home."


29th May 2014 (Labour has a majority on the Council, case referred to 2011 when the Conservatives were "in charge" of child protection):

"Southampton social services have been condemned in fresh reports into deaths and abuse of vulnerable children in their care"

"In 2011 Labour criticised the Tory administration for relying too heavily on agency staff to flesh out social services jobs.

But the reports released today confirm these failings continued after Labour won back control in 2012, with two cases occurring in late 2012 and early 2013."

18th November 2013 (Labour has a majority on the Council):

"Shake-up for Southampton City Council social services in wake of children's deaths and damning Ofsted report"

"COUNCIL chiefs have vowed to carry out a major shake-up of social services in Southampton after inspectors branded them “inadequate” at a time when four children died in the city."


30th May 2014 (Labour has a majority on the Council, case referred to 2011 when the Conservatives were "in charge" of child protection):

"Crown Prosecution Service to revisit case of Shelly Adams following a damning review of her care of Bradley and Jayden Adams"

"(Conservative) Cllr Jeremy Moulton, who was in charge of children’s services in 2011, said this was something that should change..."

"Cllr Mark Chaloner, Cabinet member for children’s safeguarding since last December, said some members of the social services leadership team had left their jobs after performance reviews.

He said: “The people who were in charge at the time of these cases are no longer in charge but that was part of a natural change looking at events that occurred across two or more years.”

The OFSTED reports on Southampton City Council are listed on their website here.

Southampton Labour Causing Congestion and Pollution

Council aren't Fixing our Roads or the Congestion

The people of Southampton and the visitors to Southampton have had enough!

This week, the Daily Echo has reported figures that confirm what we already know.

Southampton's roads are a disgrace.

Southampton's roads are too congested.

Southampton's air quality is very poor.

And the situation hasn't improved for years.

Southampton Independent Councillor Andrew Pope is quoted in the Echo article:

"Andrew Pope said the figures were no surprise to him, adding: 

"This congestion is causing poorer air quality and pollution for the people living in Southampton.

"The Labour council has talked a lot and written a lot about improving air quality, but the situation has not improved.

“To fix this, we have to improve public transport and improve the flow-through by removing the pinch points.”*

Southampton Independent campaigner Denise Wyatt says:

"The Council has failed to fix Southampton's disgraceful roads.

The Council has failed to address the serious congestion affecting Southampton.

The Council has failed to address the serious pollution affecting Southampton.

Instead of reducing air pollution and congestion, the Labour-run Council is ADDING to it by approving more and more warehouses like Lidl, UPS, Selco and now at Test Lane. 

Residents don't want it.

Motorists don't want it.

Labour has the wrong priorities and is letting Southampton down."


*A longer recorded interview with Councillor Pope is here.

Labour or Tory, Same Old Story

Labour's Wilted and Dying Rose

Overnight, Labour has had a disastrous result in the Copeland by-election, losing to the Government in the middle of the Tory Government's term of office. This is extremely rare.

Labour should have held on to this seat, caused by their MP resigning to take a job in the nuclear industry.

The Blairites and other factions of Labour are seeking to blame Jeremy Corbyn. The Corbynistas are seeking to blame the Blairites.

It is true that people don't like Jeremy Corbyn. It is true that people don't like his messages either.

We Independents know this from our conversations with people.

But Labour's problems are not just at the national level.

In Southampton, they are also at the local level. They are failing to run Southampton City Council properly. And the Labour Group of councillors are also split between pro- and anti-Corbyn factions, as we have shown on this website before.

Incredibly, when presenting his latest Council Budget, Labour's Finance Chief Mark Chaloner said last week that: "The last Labour Government were running the economy properly!"

This caused everybody in the Council Chamber to laugh uncontrollably. If he believes this, he is more deluded than even Jeremy Corbyn.

Were the Tories any better at running Southampton City Council? No. 

Were the Liberal Democrats? No, neither of them were up to the job either.

But Labour is doomed. Why?

Because across Britain, the membership of every Constituency Labour Party (CLP) is split into at least two - pro- and anti-Corbyn. The Executive Committee of officers in each CLP are also split.

The Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) is split into at least two factions in the same way.

The officers at Labour HQ at Brewers Green are split too.

All of these parts are at loggerheads.

Instead of fighting the Tories, they are fighting themselves.

And instead of standing up for British people, they are fighting themselves.

Independents fight on the issues that matter to you. The Westminster parties think of themselves before thinking of you, your area and your family.

Join us Independents to remove the Labour Party from their seats on Southampton City Council. 

The local elections are not until May 2018, but we are fighting hard for local people right here, right now.

Southampton People Don't Want Fortnightly Bins!

Independent Councillor Andrew Pope

Independent Campaigner Denise Wyatt

This week, both Denise Wyatt and Andrew Pope spoke up at the annual Council Budget meeting where the Southampton Labour-run Council brought in fortnightly bin collections.

Year on year, Labour has said that it will keep weekly bin collections.

The people of Southampton want to keep weekly bin collections.

But ALL Labour councillors voted to cut bin collections in Southampton.

And their votes are now a matter of public record. All Labour councillors can be seen here. Did your local councillor vote it through? Then vote them OUT at the next City Council election in May 2018.

As well as speaking against the proposals, Councillor Pope voted AGAINST the budget.

The Daily Echo blog, including the following quotes from our speeches, is here.

Daily Echo live blog of the Council budget meeting - Denise Wyatt mentioned

Daily Echo live blog of the Council budget meeting - Andrew Pope mentioned

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.

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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.

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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?