johnsavage.org

Your Portswood Labour councillors received this letter from a local resident this week. It reveals the cynicism and dishonesty of the Greens locally and makes interesting reading during the week of the local elections.

Portswood Broadway

I’m absolutely sick of the lies coming out from the Greens in the run-up to the local elections. Green candidates in Portswood continue to claim that they are the best party to scrutinise Labour proposals for Portswood Broadway. This has been proven to be untrue.

At February’s three hour Council scrutiny meeting on the subject, the Greens were present, but failed to ask a single question or indeed say anything at all. Portswood Labour Councillors Cooper and Savage were there and contributed to key recommendations, arguing successfully for a re-examination of the scheme. As a result, more research is being carried out into current traffic movements in Portswood, and an independent business impact survey is being conducted; these are both crucial elements needed for final decision making. 

But the the Greens remain silent on their views on the project. They hid in in the scrutiny meeting and they hide now behind negative campaigning.  How can this party claim to be scrutinising anything if they are too scared to speak in a public meeting?

You can read the names of all the speakers at the meeting listed in the minutes (below LINK) and listen to the discussion by clicking on the link in the Feb scrutiny meeting on the council website. (LINK to recording)

I’ll be giving all my votes to Labour this May, as they genuinely care about Portswood, and I know they’ll fight for Portswood when it matters. 

Andrew Jackman,

Southampton

We were so glad to receive this communication and all the valuable feedback we get from local residents about the work we do. Turning up to a meeting, as the Greens do, and saying nothing is NOT doing the work. Thanks for all your support. We will continue to do the real work to support the residents of Portswood.

Highfield Lane Shops

In 2022 lots of local residents were concerned about litter and refuse management near the shops on Highfield Lane. Your Labour Cllr met with the business owners and contacted the City waste team to ensure there were enough bins and that the area was cleared, the bins were in the right place and not blocking access to the post box.

The situation was resolved by simple dedicated councillor casework.

Oakdene Court

For a long time Oakdene Court flats were using commercial bins without lids for the collection of waste for residents. Waste bags began mounding up and being split open by gulls and foxes resulting in waste and squalor littering the area around the garages, neighbouring gardens and local roads.

The matter was complicated because Environmental Health officers do not operate on private land. Councillor Savage intervened to ensure the City Waste team were able to clean up the area, organise replacement commercial bin lids and ensure the apartment management company and residents were educated about the way to handle their waste properly.

This is a typical piece of ward casework to ensure that Portswood is well looked after.

Managing Waste Close to the High Street

More recently your local councillors have been doing lots of work close to the High Street, helping residents above shops who often have difficulty managing waste collections.

Missing bins can result in side-waste, dumped plastic sacks etc. and these get added to by others fly-tipping on top of them. The council waste team cleared the site and by ensuring that all the residents have a numbered bin and understand how to manage them, the area can be kept clear.

We are still working on this across the ward, working to create an area of the City we can all be proud of.

Contact Us

If you have a problem waste area in Portswood, get in touch with your Labour Councillor Team and we’ll get it sorted.

Westridge Road Car Park

The left image is Westridge Road car park (Portswood) during the Conservative administration. As your local councillor I worked to ensure it was regularly cleared by the City Services waste team but it inevitably filled up again with litter and fly-tipped rubbish a few days later. The contract with the charity bin companies was awful and when they failed to collect, rubbish just mounted up.

When Labour took back control in May 2022, I worked with waste services to change the contracts to ensure the charity bins were emptied regularly and that only one company held the contract making them exclusively responsible for dumped waste. In the last six months, this car park has been completely clear of fly-tipped litter.

All Charity Collection Car Parks

The strategy was modelled right across Southampton. Now for every car park across Southampton, this kind of litter has been removed permanently.

The council has saved hundreds of thousands of pounds no longer having to remove tonnes of waste from these sites every month and the charity donation rate has increased from 5 to 25 tonnes every month. A genuine WIN – WIN situation

There is still a lot of work to do but if you want a much cleaner and tidier Portswood vote Labour this May.

Labour Gets It Done

The Appeal to fell a large section of Woodland in Marlhill Copse has been refused. The work for this from the original Planning Meeting over a year earlier right through to the hearing and the site visit involved many hours of hard work from Labour’s Ports wood councillor John Savage. As we approach the election period, Green Party literature tries to take credit for this work. The truth is that a Green candidate arrived on the first morning of the hearing, looking to get her photo in the Daily Echo and left a short while later.

“I would like to thank all the local residents who contributed to the appeal hearing and to the campaign to retain these trees. It was a really tough fight working with the council tree officers on this case, representing the interests of local residents and the special nature of the copse against the Airport’s seven person legal team

To be honest, I felt we were seen as very much the underdogs in the hearing and we were far from certain of a successful outcome. I think we were all expecting a longer wait for a decision but I am absolutely delighted at this brilliant result. 

It shows what local councillors and officers can do when working with, and supporting local residents.” Cllr John Savage.

One local resident, Izzy Sargent, who attended both days of the appeal hearing said:

“We are delighted that the planning inspector has considered all the positions in this application so deeply and found that the proposal to fell almost all the trees in the Southern Edge of Marlhill Copse would spoil the character of the woodland and the visually distinctive skyline. However, we are frustrated that “aerodrome safeguarding” continues to be simultaneously not a “consideration” and part of the debate about whether these trees are allowed to live. Sadly, this is almost certainly not the end of this matter.”

Southampton International Airport Appeal Hearing for Permission to Fell over 100 trees in Marlhill Copse

Around 5 years ago, Southampton International Airport, purchased Marlhill Copse. In March 2021 the Council Planning and Rights of Way panel decided to refuse an application by the airport to the felling of Monterey Pine, Corsican Pine and other coniferous species and all broadleaved species of trees within compartment 1a(i) (marked in black on the chart below).

The applicants, Southampton Airport, decided to appeal against that decision and on 2nd and 3rd November, the appeal hearing took place at the Ageas Bowl, Hilton Hotel in West End, Southampton.

The hearing is quasi-judicial and was overseen by a planning inspector whose job it is to determine whether the appeal is refused or upheld. I must apologize here for some of my terminology, as planning matters can be a little obtuse.

As a member of the original planning panel, I decided to attend and asked the planning inspector if I could present evidence at the hearing. The airport employed a legal team of around seven members including their own barrister, while Southampton City Council was represented by two tree officers and a council solicitor. In addition, several local residents attended, including members of Friends of the Earth.

The central arguments put forward by the Council to refuse the felling application were that the area proposed for felling included some of the most magnificent trees in Marlhill Copse, and indeed across Southampton. They provide a very significant visual amenity to local people who enjoy the woodland and are, in essence, the very “spirit of the place”. The trees form part of a heritage asset bounding the long-established woodland drive and are a key element of the conservation gardens in the copse. We also noted that Marlhill copse contains substantial areas of exotic trees and shrubs including camellias and rhododendrons. In addition, the area the airport wish to fell, totalling over 100 trees, provides significant capacity for carbon sequestration and the improvement of air quality as well as protection of an extensive badger sett within the roots and earth bank beneath the largest trees in that compartment. The trees in the threatened compartment are at the top of an escarpment on the southern edge of the copse bordering the access path and close to neighboring back garden fences.

The airport’s argument is that the removal of these trees will benefit the woodland as a whole; the broadleaf sycamores and the exotic tall pines being undesirable and inconsistent with the rest of the broadleaf woodland and incompatible with their published woodland management plan. The argument is that the tall pines, in particular, are not native and therefore are unwelcome. The plan is to replace all the trees in this area with smaller shrub-like native species.

To the opponents of the airport, it is very clear that the woodland plan and removal of these trees is to satisfy the airports longstanding aim to remove tall trees in line with the southern end of the airport, thus facilitating current and future aviation expansion plans. Their removal will punch a huge hole in the canopy cover destroying the feel of the place and even with replanting will not return to valuable enclosure from the sky for several generations. When the inspector asked why the airport didn’t just go through other legal routes to get the trees removed, for example write to the secretary of state requesting their removal, the airport barrister chose not to answer. He said, “we are choosing not to go down that route at the moment.”

In essence, the airport do not want to be accused of removing trees for aviation reasons but prefer to argue the removal of trees as part of good forestry practice.

It is my view that “the spirit of the place” is so valuable an amenity that it requires protection and should be preserved; and I drove home that argument. The airport legal team persisted with the use of clever but false arguments. Their barrister argued that following the removal of all trees in the contested compartment, carbon capture would actually be increased. What he meant was that, taking the woodland as a whole – which will of course grow over the next year – carbon capture will increase, but not by as much as it would do if the compartment was retained.

There was much play over the nature of developing a soft woodland edge, which is an important part of woodland management, if say a wood is in the middle of heathland. In my view, this is not an issue where the main path is just a few metres from the woodland edge located at the top of an escarpment and this was reinforced by the council tree officers and noted by the inspector.

In my view the moral and ethical argument was won by the Council officers and local residents but the decision on whether the trees are felled or not may rest on the some specific, purely legal arguments put forward by the Southampton Airport team. I believe the decision will be a difficult one for the planning inspector and is still very much in the balance. The decision is expected at the end of November 2022.

After many years of hard work, and five trips to the magistrates court this year, we have been assured by council officers that Byronswell have moved their base of operations out of St Denys.

Following reports by your councilors to planning officers that Byronswell Ltd were operating without planning permission for their HGV operation, in August 2019 the clothing reselling company were forced to submit a retrospective planning application. Most Kent Rd. residents were mainly concerned about the disturbance and damage to their homes and parked cars. Initially planning officers were reluctant to refuse the application but after pressure from Cllr. Savage, we were able to successfully argue that such large vehicles were a danger to the highway, with large HGVs reversing into the site as a standard part of the operation.

In November 2020, the planning application was refused. After lengthy delays, Byronswell subsequently submitted an appeal to the planning inspectorate. Eventually the planning inspector examined the evidence and in July 2021 the appeal was refused.

Planning officers made repeated calls to Byronswell and were given numerous assurances that they had plans to move imminently. Continued failure resulted in their first magistrates court appearance in February 2022 where they claimed not to understand the charges they were facing. Eventually, and after four further magistrate court hearings and two fines of £500 and £5,000 respectively, they moved out Sunday 30 October.

I would like to thank all the local residents who kept me up-to-date with HGV movements and provided the photographic evidence of planning breaches. Dealing with the courts can be a lengthy and frustrating process but with solid good work and patience, we got there in the end.

Dear Friends,

I just added the petition “Stop Cancellation of Bedford Place Pedestrianisation Zone”.

It would mean a lot to me if you took a moment to add your name because:

This is a vibrant area for entertainment and shopping. The opening up of the space for outdoor use for everyone has been hugely beneficial during the pandemic. The continued use will provide some health security for the new-normal and gives safe transit for cyclists and scooter users towards the City centre; and directly promotes a greener, cleaner and safer environment for all.

You can add your name to the petition to keep Bedford place pedestrian by clicking here.

Real change happens when everyday people like you and I come together and stand up for what we believe in.  Together we can reach heaps of people and help create change around this important issue.

After you’ve signed the petition please also take a moment to share it with others.  It’s super easy – all you need to do is share this link on Facebook or Twitter:

In 2013 the Bashir Ahmed Masjid (Portswood Mosque) was completed. It is a lovely building. The planning application was approved on a condition that money was put forward by the applicant to provide important safety infrastructure, a barrier – to protect worshippers – from passing cars adjacent to the dropped kerb near the entrance.

The council received this money but the barrier was never provided. This was completely ignored by other serving councillors from other parties at the time. In 2017, during a period of racist attacks (mainly in the London area), there was an attack on worshippers leaving Porstwood Mosque – fortunately nobody was injured. Since then I have been working with the leaders of the Mosque to provide the protection they need.

The pavement is very narrow at this point and coincides with a fire hydrant, located right outside the gateway to the Mosque. The work was delayed due to other significant road and cycleway changes introduced during the COVID pandemic but the important barrier infrastructure will now be installed during May – June 2021. This will be completed in concert with the Portswood Corridor road and pavement improvement. It has been a long time coming but due to hard work and determination this long overdue work will be completed this summer.

As a local Southampton Councillor I get involved in lots of important work. I am privileged to serve on the Health and Wellbeing Board, on the Planning and Rights of Way Panel (PROW) and this year I chaired the Southampton City Council “Scrutiny Inquiry Panel” to look into ways we can make “Southampton a Carer Friendly City”.

Across the country, carers – young and old – provide billions pounds worth of free care to family members and loved ones. They often sacrifice their own health, education, careers and personal futures in the process. We need to support them in the sacrifices they make and the difficult job they do. The report produced under my chairmanship and accepted by SCC cabinet, will go on to determine policy for carers in Southampton.

I regularly speak to local residents – Friends of Highfield Church. An important part of council services is to cut back vegetation to improve visibility on the junction with Highfield Rd and ensure that children are safe on their journey to school and signs are visible.

On the subject of the Church, residents got in touch with me on another matter. A Virgin Media engineer had dug up the pavement as part of engineering works and replaced a section of kerb removing the pre-existing drainage section to allow rainwater to drain. The Church grounds requires adequate drainage from the area of the graves on the land to the front of the church. Following complaints, they subsequently returned and drilled a tiny ping-pong ball sized hole in the kerb. This was completely inadequate. I have tasked our SCC engineers to liaise with Virgin Media engineering and the problem is now being resolved.

In addition friends of the Church have planned to remove and repair the ancient gates from the church. At my request the Southampton City Council Team have agreed to help with the project. This work has been delayed due to COVID but is in hand to complete in the forthcoming municipal year. It’s what we do as Cllrs. Working hard to get things done.

Post script

I was delighted to discover after several months of waiting but only 2 days after the video above was made, my tenacity paid off and Virgin Media made good the botched job they created over a year ago (27/4/21). You can just about see the measurements and locations regarding pipework under the tarmac patched pavement where the replaced drainage pipes were installed. It looks like a small issue, but incredibly important to prevent the waterlogging of the Church yard.

As a Portswood Cllr. I was able to support a local ward capital bid application to improve the historic entrance to the Little Common in Highfield. I was disappointed to discover later, that despite assurances given, officers intended to renege on this project against the protests of local residents.

I persisted and successfully argued that the project should go ahead. It was installed in 2019 and now provides an excellent gateway to the common from Highfield lane and is much used and highly valued by local residents.