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.

Labour Should Abandon Their Cuts to Vulnerable Children

Before Christmas I went to visit the Southampton Young Carers Project, a service at risk of being axed by the new Labour Council Administration.

The Young Carers Project supports some of the most vulnerable families in the city. The project supports 120 brave young children who look after sick or disabled family members. It gives them valuable respite, puts on trips for them and helps to give them a childhood despite the pressures of family life.

Labour announced in November that they will withdraw the full £89,000pa that the council currently gives to the service. This would mean that in April the service will be cut off at the knees, with no time to find alternative sources of funding to keep it going.
Labour’s budget cuts have disproportionately hit services to children in Southampton and cuts like the Young Carers Project will not save money in the long run and instead will put more pressure on families, leading to more family breakdown and children being taken into care.

Local Conservative Councillors are calling on Labour to abandon their plans to cut the service.

Labour Budget Will Hit Freemantle Ward Hard

As a local councillor representing the Freemantle Ward I was extremely disappointed and angered to read the budget plans of the new Labour Administration. Many of the cuts and hikes in charges will disproportionately hit those that I am elected to represent.

Labour came into office full of promises and as predicted, one by one they are breaking them. They immediately u-turned on their pledge to keep Oaklands Pool open. They promised to invest more in SureStart and they are cutting £1m a year from this service. They promised to spend more on libraries, yet they are slashing opening hours, bringing local libraries to the verge of closure. Shirley Library is having its hours cut by 15 hours a week. Pensioners are having their council tax raised by 12%, despite a last minute pre election promise by Cllr Richard Williams not to do this. Even the weekly bin collection was due to be axed and it was only spared because of a grant from the Government.

A 35% reduction in street cleaning in local roads will mean lots of more litter. Local residents associations are fighting an ongoing battle to keep the area clean, with regular litter picks and this will come as a real slap in the face to many people. I am very worried about the cuts to the upkeep of local parks. We already have problems with drinking in Lake Park and cans and glass left behind as well as the ongoing problem of dog fouling. We have more and more young families in Freemantle and keeping the local parks clean, tidy and safe is essential.

Parking is one of the biggest problems faced by residents in Freemantle Ward. I have fought for a long time to stop new charges coming in for first permits in residents’ parking zones. Labour tried to bring in charges last time they were in power and now they are back they are quick to charge residents to park. Worse still this doesn’t even guarantee residents a space in their road. Residents’ Parking enforcement stops at 6pm so many residents will end up paying for permits and much of the time they will be worthless. Labour plans to introduce on street parking charges in the evenings in the city centre will mean more workers parking their cars in local roads after 6pm, making it even harder for residents to park. Also charging people to park when they are shopping in Shirley will hit local businesses hard, damaging trade and costing jobs, at a time when everyone is struggling.

Labour have not thought through their proposals. They were elected with no plan and no vision for the city and now residents are suffering the consequences.

Conservatives Save The Weekly Bin Collections

Local Conservatives have saved the weekly bin collections in Southampton, despite Labour's best efforts to axe the service! 

Labour announced earlier this month that the weekly bin collections would go if a bid submitted to government by the previous Conservative Council was unsuccessful and have put a dozen bin men on notice of redundancy. This was despite their last minute pre-election pledge not to cut the bins. 

Conservatives have been lobbying the government over recent months to provide extra funds for the city which will not only protect the weekly bins but also provide the money for a new, FREE doorstep collection of glass. We have heard today that the Secretary of State for Local Government, Eric Pickles MP, has agreed the funds and saved Southampton's bin service from planned Labour cuts. 

Labour To Axe Weekly Bin Collections

Many residents will remember our pre-election warning about the weekly bin collection being scrapped by Labour.

Labour put out leaflets just days before the May elections, promising to keep the bins weekly. Labour knew the full financial situation of the Council when making this and their other promises.

Labour yesterday broke their bins promise by revealing their plans to end the weekly bin collection. This is a cynical and calculated betrayal of local people who believed in Labour and their promises. 

Despite being in power for less than 7 months, Labour's legacy in Southampton is already one of lies and broken promises. 

On behalf of the residents who value their weekly bin collection and do not want a permanent stinking mess on their doorstep we are now calling on Labour to reverse this crazy decision and stick to their pre-election pledge.