Sulphur Plant Approved By Council's Planning Committee

The City Council’s Planning and Rights of Way panel this morning considered the application for the Sulphur Plant in the Western Docks.

I am very disappointed to report that the application was approved. Click here for a link to the Daily Echo’s coverage: http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/10446477.Sulphur_boss_faces_council_over_plans/

I had hoped that the decision could be deferred and further investigation be carried out regarding safety concerns and the environmental impact of the plant. I had asked that independent consultants be engaged to investigate these matters, in light of the fact there have been no other applications of this nature anywhere in the country and that there are no other such plants in the UK. I made those points to the planning committee but sadly the decision was taken to approve the application.

I am now keen to ensure that any other such applications for the docks are properly scrutinised and that local people are informed in the first instance.

The western docks are becoming more and more industrialised and this is a concern for people locally.

In July I will be holding a meeting at the Civic Centre to specifically look at planning issues in the docks, resident communication and how we can do more to shield residents from noise from the docks.

A New Name For The Former Civil Service Sports Ground?

My letter in today's Southern Daily Echo:

Dear Sir

The Daily Echo recently reported on a public meeting to discuss the future of the former Civil Service Sports Ground behind Malmesbury Rd in Shirley. It was a great meeting, bubbling with ideas, energy and excitement. It has taken a decade for the council to acquire the field for the local community and it was good to hear that local people are determined to work together to bring it back into public use. It will take a little while longer to get the site sorted out and fit for public access. In the meantime though I think a name change is needed. I for one am a bit tired of referring to the site as the 'former Civil Service Sports Ground'. A new name is needed; perhaps reflecting the history of the ground or maybe the exciting new future ahead - maybe a Daily Echo competition to help pick the best name?

Yours faithfully

Cllr Jeremy Moulton

Conservative Councillor for Freemantle Ward

Civil Service Ground Consultation Meeting

There will be a Public Consultation meeting at St Marks School, Stafford Road on 21st May, between 5pm and 7pm.

Local residents and other interested organisations are being invited by the City Council to discuss proposals for the former Civil Service Sports Ground site and to give their views.

If you can come I look forward to seeing you there. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Tough Mudder Challenge

I will be taking on the Tough Mudder Challenge in Winchester as part of the Team Spirit team. 

The aim is to raise sponsorship money for the Civil Service Sports Ground venue in Freemantle. The money will be given to local school children who can decide how the money is spent. 

The Tough Mudder challenge is on 8th June and is a grueling 12 mile assault course. As without doubt I am the least fit in the team, I am in emergency training!

I will be pestering people for sponsorship over the coming weeks (that includes Labour Councillors to whom I should point out that this could be a by election opportunity if I don't make it!).

60th Birthday Celebrations for Banister School!

I was delighted to join Banister School on Wednesday for their 60th birthday celebrations. The school was first opened on 23rd April 1953. Built by a former aircraft manufacturer seeking to diversify their business after the war, the building was only intended to last 15 years. Wednesday's birthday celebrations were also an opportunity to mark the progress of the building of the new school which is due to open in September. The event was marked by the launching of Chinese lanterns from the outside learning space on the roof of the new building. 

Public Exhibition Regarding the City's Station Quarter

Sulphur Plant: Local Meetings

The city council has organised a meeting on:

Wednesday 1st May at the Freemantle CE Community Academy in Mansion Road, 7pm - 9pm. 

Representatives from the City Council, the developer - Oxbow Sulphur and Fertiliser, and local councillors including myself will be present.

In addition Oxbow are holding their own drop in session:

Monday 29 April 2013 at the Freemantle CE Community Academy, between 6:00 pm until 9:00 pm

Action Needed to Tackle Street Drinking in Shirley Road

In Howard Road with a huge pile of beer cans - one example of evidence of street drinking 

I am calling for tough new licencing rules to be brought in to restrict further off licences and shops selling alcohol on Shirley Road and Shirley High St and the roads nearby. 

I recently told the Southern Daily Echo: "The pubs are well managed in the area but there are so many off licences there and we don’t need any more. It’s intimidating when you walk down the road and see people drinking beer in the streets from early in the morning until late at night and urinating in the alleyways and it brings the area down."

I am asking that the Police and the City Council's licencing team look at the introduction of a new 'Cumulative Impact Licencing Policy' which will make it much harder for new off licences to be approved and for existing ones to extend their operating hours. 

I will put the request to a meeting of the city's Safe City Partnership later this month. I am also calling on the police to use their powers to confiscate alcohol from those seen drinking in the street.  

Update 21/04/13: I am attending the Safer City Partnership on 25th April to present my concerns to the Police, the City Council and other local partners.

Plans to Demolish Southbrook Rise?

Several weeks ago demolition signs went up around Southbrook Rise in Millbrook Road East. The building has been empty since the City Council moved out of the offices. 

I have had lots of questions from local people wondering what will happen with the site. No one at the City Council's planning department seem to know anything about it however planning approval would been needed if the building was pulled down. I am trying to find out what is going on. It would be a shame if the building was pulling as its a reasonably attractive office block. I am hoping its not going to be another big block of flats without proper parking. Parking in the area is already very difficult and with plans for night time parking charges in the city centre the local area will suffer even more from commuter parking. More flats would be the final straw!

UPDATE: 21/04/13: I recently raised concerns about the possibility of Southbrook Rise in Millbrook Road East being demolished as demolition signs had gone up around the site. I have been in discussion with the planning department at the council and they have now informed me that the site won’t be demolished and that a planning application (13/00467/FUL) has been received for a proposed single storey new building (reception) and internal refurbishment of the whole building. I am still unsure as to why there are demolition signs on the fencing to front of building as they are not proposing to demolish.

Update on the Lawsons Application 84-88 Millbrook Road East

I regret to inform you that despite the council rejecting the recent planning application on the former Lawsons site, that it was granted planning permission by the Planning Inspector on appeal. The council rejected the application because of concerns about over development and lack of parking and the design. It is therefore a real blow that it has now been given the go ahead. This means that all we can do is appeal to the good will of the developer to ensure that the development is as in keeping with the area as possible. 

I would also be interested in your views on local parking. With this new development and also council plans to charge in the city centre for evening parking, there will be more pressure on local parking. If you have views on whether the hours of the local residents' parking scheme should extended until later into the evening I would be pleased to hear from you.

Planning Application for Sulphur Plant in the Docks

There has been Daily Echo coverage of a planning application for a Sulphur Pellet Plant in the West Docks and I know residents will be very concerned about possible noise, smells and traffic.

I am hoping that there will be a public meeting very soon and that the company applying for the planning permission will attend to answer questions about the proposed plant.

I can also confirm that the application will be heard by the council's Planning and Rights of Way Panel. This is a public meeting where residents can speak and raise their concerns in person. It is likely to be on 28th May and I have persuaded that council to extend the deadline for resident comments to 10th May. 

The planning reference is 13/00123/FUL and the full details can be found HERE on the City Council's website.

Residents were not informed about the application by the council, as because this is an application in the docks, they are not legally required to do so. I think this is quite wrong. The planning reports talk about the impact of the plant, citing individual addresses, and yet those properties were not contacted! I am asking that in future the council contact residents when there are docks applications that might impact local people. 

We have the threat of the Helius Biomass power station and now this new application and so residents are rightly concerned and should in my view be properly kept informed. In this case it was only because of an eagle eyed local resident who saw it on the council's website, that the application came to light.

Plans for Flats Along Lordshill Way Scrapped

November 2012: Conservative Campaigner Trevor Glasspool campaigning against 

development on local green spaces

I attended a packed residents meeting at Lordswood Community Centre this evening along with local resident and Conservative Campaigner Trevor Glasspool. We have been fighting plans by the Leader of the Council Richard Williams to build flats on the green spaces along Lordshill Way. 

I estimate about 200 residents attended the meeting. The hall and corridors of the community centre were completely full and people were leaning in through the windows of the building to hear. 

Labour plans for development have been in the public domain since November and included blocks of flats opposite the Rose Road centre in Aldermoor Rd, on Lordswood Road opposite the cemetery, along both sides of Lordshill Way by the Aldermoor Health Centre and further up by Sinclair School. 

A map showing where Labour planned to build new flats and housing 

(Taken from the Daily Echo Website)

Residents at the meeting were unanimously opposed to the development, raising concerns about the loss of open space, the loss of trees and parking and traffic problems. For over an hour resident after resident called for the scheme to be scrapped. 

At the end of the meeting a vote was taken and every person there voted for the scheme to be scrapped. I am delighted to report that the Leader of the Council said he would abandon his plans and that he publicly gave his 'word' that it would not now happen. Residents will now hold him to that promise. 

Conservatives Oppose Labour Plans to Charge for Green Waste Collections

Local Conservatives are fighting Labour plans to charge up to £55 a year for green waste collections in Southampton, a service which was previously free.

Council officers have warned the Labour Administration that their charges will hit recycling rates in the city; with an estimated 3,000 tonnes of previously recycled garden waste now either going to landfill or incineration. It is thought that 25,000 household which previously used the free garden sack service will not now sign up to the new charges, reducing Southampton recycling rates by 3%.

Labour’s plans come just months after an announcement by the government that the city will receiving funding to introduce a new doorstep glass collection. Labour’s changes to green waste collections will however will more than wipe out the extra recycling this will produce. So despite winning millions of pounds from the government to improve recycling Labour will ensure that recycling in the city goes backwards.

The extra charges come on top of Labour’s increase in council tax, their extra council tax charges for pensioners and their introduction of new residents parking charges. Many residents now face bills of more than £200 a year extra.

The changes will mean residents who want to continue to have their garden waste collected by the council will have to endure a 3rd wheelie bin outside their house as the old green sacks are withdrawn.

Labour’s plans also are a slap in the face for city refuse collections who Labour along with Labour activists in the trade unions encouraged to strike last year. The much reduced service will now mean many workers will lose their jobs.

Labour Should Rethink Hiking Up Charges On The Vulnerable

I am delighted that the Labour Council Administration in Southampton has delayed its decision to hike up care charges following last week's council scrutiny meeting. Further consultation has now been extended until 2nd of April and I would urge people to use that time to make the case to the council that some of the planned changes to the charging policy for social care needs a rethink. The impact of some of the proposed changes will be devastating with charges for many increasing by thousands of pounds a year. Those caring for adults with learning difficulties and physical disabilities will be particular hit and it can't be right to put pressure on such families. Also across the board hikes in charges for care users should also be rethought. This proposal was put to the previous Conservative Council by council officers and we rejected it at the time. It was wrong then and it is wrong now. I hope Labour will have a change of heart.

St Marks School Community Forum Dates

The date for the next St Marks School Community Forum will be on Tuesday 26th March, with a Bike It presentation at 6:30pm and Community Forum at 7:00pm.

The one after this will be on Wednesday 3rd July. All meetings will be in the school hall and begin for coffee at 6:30 with a presentation of some sort and the meeting beginning at 7pm.

All are welcome!

Labour's Vendetta Against Coxford

Labour Council Leader Richard Williams seems hell bent on attacking residents in the Coxford Ward after two of the local Labour councillors left the Labour Party to become Independents. Our worry is that he is now on some sort of vendetta to punish these councillors and local residents who have opposed Labour's cuts and broken promises. In recent months Labour have:

- Shut Oaklands Pool despite a clear promise before the election not to do so.

- Tried to pretend that money was not there to do repairs on the pool despite this clearly being the case.

- Been working on secret plans to develop high rise flats along Lordshill Way, taking away green space, not consulting with councillors or residents. 

- Tried to cut ALL of the local youth and children's facilities including the popular Zoe Braithwaite centre

- Announced plans to charge residents living around the hospital to park in their own street.

Labour To Demolish Oaklands

Labour have set aside HALF A MILLION pounds in the city council budget to demolish the Oaklands site.

Local Conservatives warned that Labour planned to demolish the site and have been calling for the swimming pool to be reopened and for the former school to be made into an asset for the local community - as a community centre and for other uses like space for a nursery or even small businesses.

There has been no consultation about this and it is again another betrayal of the local area by Labour. Labour said that they wouldn't reopen the swimming pool because it would cost too much for repairs and here we have them planning to spend half a million pounds demolishing Oaklands! It is a perfectly good building and local people have been crying out for a permanent community centre for years. I want to know what our local councillors are going to do about this.

Labour Plans To Charge You To Park Outside Your Own Home

Labour have announced plans to introduce new charges for residents who live in permit parking areas in the city. Until now residents with permit parking have not been charged for a permit for their first car. Labour made no mention of their plans for first permit charges in their election manifesto last year and instead they claimed that they would reduce parking charges in the city if elected. Another broken Labour promise!

Parking is a massive problem in Freemantle, made all the worse by all the extra flats that were built without proper parking provision under the last Labour Government. To now charge people who are already struggling to park in their road is outrageous. 

The Prime Minister Commits to In - Out EU Referendum

Campaigning for a EU Referendum at last year's Conservative Party Conference

Today's speech by the Prime Minister was truly historic and marks a watershed in Britain's relationship with Europe. The British people will be given a say on whether they wish to remain in the EU. I was not alive when Britain last voted on Europe and only those who are at least 55 today had a say when the country was last given a vote in 1975.

The vast majority of the public are thoroughly unhappy with our present relationship with Europe. A Conservative Government would renegotiate a new relationship with EU and put it to the people to decide whether we remain in or leave.

This is a chance to fundamentally change not just our relationship with Europe but hopefully Europe itself, a chance to regain control of our borders and to restore law making powers to this country and most importantly a chance for the British people to decide. 

I am very proud of the Prime Minister today and courage he has shown. The dividing line with Labour is clear. Labour will refuse the people a say. It is therefore imperative that the Conservatives win in 2015.

Conservatives Call For Council Tax Freeze

Southampton Conservatives are calling for council tax to be frozen for a 3rd year running. The government has made available £800,000 this year to support Southampton in keeping council tax down, yet Labour are proposing turning the cash down and instead raising council tax by 2%.

Today we heard that Southampton is set to receive an additional £5.8M from government this year. This is money can be used to protect front line services that are under threat from the Labour run council. Southampton Conservatives are saying that with extra funding from government there is no excuse for key services to be cut and local taxes hiked up by Labour.