PHOTOS: Southampton Labour Fails Again on Tower Blocks

The Top Floor Stairwell of Millbrook Towers

Southampton Independents has been campaigning for better fire safety since the fire at Redbridge Towers in April 2017.

As shown on this website, our campaigning with residents forced the Labour-run Council to commit to install sprinklers in all Council tower blocks.

Before our campaign, the Labour-run Council's boss of Housing, Warwick Payne, said that residents did not want sprinklers.

We forced Labour to think again.

Southampton Independents prefer action, not empty words.

We were formed by residents, for residents.

Since the Grenfell Tower disaster in London, we have been pressuring the Labour-run Council even more.

As shown on this website, we have exposed Councillor Payne's failure to fix long-running problems with fire safety in Canberra Towers. This block is in Weston in the Council ward that Councillor Payne represents, Woolston ward.

Some of those problems have remained for a long time, despite Councillor Payne's Housing staff having reports from fire safety experts that showed problems remained unfixed.

On the BBC's Inside Out programme, Councillor Payne did not explain why these long-known problems were not fixed. On the BBC, Councillor Payne's back was to the wall, residents tell us.

Southampton Independents Councillor Andrew Pope says:

Councillor Andrew Pope

"I have challenged Councillor Payne directly to explain why he hasn't fixed the problems. 

Councillor Payne did not give an adequate explanation.  

Councillor Payne has been in this post for over five years and claims to be an experienced Councillor. I've been telling him for five years that he needs to get a grip. Yet Labour keeps him as "Housing Boss". Why?

It is time that the people of Woolston and Weston voted him and the two other Labour councillors in Woolston Hammond and Blatchford out. This is supposed to be the area that they represent, but they too have failed. 

It's the same in Redbridge and Millbrook, the two Labour councillors McEwing and Whitbread have failed to get Southampton Labour to fix the problems in Redbridge Towers and Millbrook Towers.

And don't forget that Millbrook Labour councillor Mike Denness is under investigation by the Council. 

It is Southampton Independents that is exposing Labour's failures and potential corruption.

Labour is supposed to be in charge, but all they do is charge more Council Tax for a worse Council."

Now, Southampton Independents is publishing below more photos of failures by the Labour-run Council to protect residents of tower blocks. These photos were taken during the last two weeks.

Like before, this is not an exhaustive list of their failures. It is the job of Southampton City Council and Southampton Labour that is supposed to be running it properly.

Leader of Southampton Independents Denise Wyatt says:

Leader of Southampton Independents Denise Wyatt

"Southampton Labour should have fixed the problems. 

Southampton Labour should have known about the problems. 

Southampton Labour should care. But it doesn't. It just pretends. 

We publish these photos to show how Southampton Labour has failed again on tower blocks. 

What is the difference between Kensington and Chelsea Borough Council where Grenfell Tower is, and Southampton City Council? 

One is Tory. The other is Labour. 

Like residents tell us all of the time, whether it is Labour or Tory, it's the same old story - residents let down by the Westminster parties."

The only sure way is to vote Labour and Tory councillors out in the City Council election in May 2018.

The only sure way is to vote for Southampton Independents candidates to replace Labour and Tory councillors in May 2018.

Contact us to get involved to help us to help you, your family and your area.

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Damaged handles on fire doors

Many fire doors don't close properly

Another fire door that doesn't close properly

Yet another fire door that doesn't close properly

Rusty hinges on fire doors - will this protect residents in a fire?

The Coroner of Shirley Towers said firefighters were caught in loose cables

Cable through frame of fire door

Bent handle on fire door

Wooden replacements for ventilation grilles - are they fire safe?

Plastic housing for lighting - is this fire safe?

Redbridge Viaduct works by Hampshire County Council

Redbridge Towers The Gateway to Southampton

Tory-run Hampshire County Council have decided to do the works below, which will cause a lot of disruption over many months.

They have not consulted Southampton Independents, or our Councillor for Redbridge Andrew Pope.

Hampshire County Council claim this is "advanced notice", but the works will soon be upon us.

What do you think?

Councillor Pope is asking questions about what the Labour-run Southampton City Council knew, and what they agreed on YOUR behalf.

What other questions do you want answered?

Contact us at the details on the left of the website.

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A35 Redbridge Viaduct Essential Works

 

I am writing to inform you of forthcoming essential bridge repairs and carriageway resurfacing on Redbridge Viaduct and the A35, between the M271 and Rushington Roundabout. Phase 1 of the project is to replace all the bridge joints on Redbridge Viaduct and resurface the carriageway up to Rushington Roundabout.

 

Background to the Scheme

 

The A35 Redbridge causeway is a strategic transport link which connects western Hampshire, New Forest National Park and the significant industrial areas of Fawley oil refinery and Marchwood military port to Southampton, its docks and the associated motorway / strategic network. It is the only major non-motorway crossing of the River Test. It also carries significant tourist and holiday traffic for the New Forest National Park and links Southampton to the residential areas on the Waterside.

 

The eastbound A35 is carried over three bridges, and the westbound is carried over the 20 span Redbridge Viaduct. Regular Inspections and structural investigations have identified deteriorating problems on all four causeway bridges. The problems are caused by the marine location and leaking bridge expansion joints making them vulnerable to the effects of de-icing salts and sea water. Significant repairs are needed to all four Redbridge Causeway bridges in order to maintain this vital strategic transport link. If no action is taken and the deterioration of the bridges continues then progressively more restrictive weight limits will need to be imposed on the route in order to ensure the safety of the travelling public. This would have a detrimental impact on the large number of vehicles that use the route including the bus services and commercial traffic. The total cost of repairs and strengthening of all these four Causeway bridges and the associated road surfacing works are estimated to be approximately £20 million. Hampshire County Council (HCC) has committed £2 million for the immediate works, and are disappointed that previous DfT bids have been unsuccessful. HCC continue to explore funding opportunities for the remainder of the works.

 

Inspections and structural investigations have identified Redbridge Viaduct as the bridge which is in need of early attention. Prior to carrying out repairs needed to the reinforced concrete supports, leaks through the bridge expansion joints need to be stopped. Replacement of these joints is Phase 1.

 

In order to ensure the safety of the traveling public and our operatives on site, as well as the quality of the work, the westbound carriageway will need to be closed at weekends. The closure dates and times for Phase 1 are listed below.

 

A35 WESTBOUND closed:

 

·    From 8pm on Saturday 4 November 2017 until 5am on Monday 6 November 2017

·    From 8pm on Saturday 11 November 2017 until 5am on Monday 13 November 2017

·    From 8pm on Saturday 3 February 2018 until 5am on Monday 5 February 2018

·    From 8pm on Saturday 10 February 2018 until 5am on Monday 12 February 2018

·    From 8pm on Saturday 17 February 2018 until 5am on Monday 19 February 2018

·    From 8pm on Saturday 24 February 2018 until 5am on Monday 26 February 2018

·    From 8pm on Saturday 3 March 2018 until 5am on Monday 5 March 2018

 

The nature of the works makes them highly weather dependant and a decision whether to go ahead with the works will be made on the Wednesday preceding each of the dates. If poor weather is forecast then no work will be possible and we will not close the road unnecessarily; this news will be published on the electronic signs near the site, as well as Hampshire County Council’s webpage and social media channels.

 

For vehicular traffic, a signed diversion route will be provided during the closure periods, and access for pedestrians/cyclists will be maintained.

Bus companies have been informed, and the affected services will be rerouted via the motorway diversion route.

 

A35 Eastbound

 

Phase 2, in 2018, will be the resurfacing of the Eastbound carriageway and will not involve any daytime full road closures. Further information will be released when available.

 

For the local businesses, we intend to drop letters informing about the work in advance.

Further information about the project will go live on Monday and can be found at https://www.hants.gov.uk/transport/transportschemes/a35essentialworks .

 

PHOTOS: Southampton Labour Fail on Tower Block Safety

Is Council keeping Canberra Towers clean?

Southampton Independents has listened to residents concerns on fire safety. Their concerns increased after the fire at Redbridge Towers in April 2017.

We haven't forgotten. But it seems that the Labour-run Council and Southampton Labour councillors have forgotten residents of tower blocks.

The photo above was taken on Friday 13th October 2017 by Southampton Independents Councillor Andrew Pope when he visited to check that the Council was doing its job. He listened to complaints by residents and acted for them.

The photo is a room apparently used for cleaning the communal areas of Canberra Towers, a Southampton City Council tower block in Weston, Southampton. We think it is disgusting. It shows the Council doesn't care about tower block residents.

Do you agree?

Below, we have more photos taken by Councillor Pope and Denise Wyatt, Leader of Southampton Independents. They also heard from residents of more of their concerns over fire safety.

The photos below show how Southampton Labour has failed to protect the safety and the health of residents of Southampton's tower blocks.

Southampton Labour is supposed to be "in charge" of Southampton City Council.

This is just ONE block of the Council's TWENTY blocks. We have evidence that the state of other Council tower blocks is just as bad.

Residents have raised these concerns over years, just like the residents of Grenfell Tower did with the Grenfell Action Group did. But the Council there didn't act either.

And the Labour-run Southampton Council hasn't acted.

Southampton residents deserve better. We don't think Labour cares and neither do the Tories. They only care about themselves and their political parties.

Do you agree?

Are there issues in your block that need fixing but the Council haven't fixed them?

Contact us at the details on this website. We want to hear from you.

And don't forget to VOTE LABOUR COUNCILLORS OUT IN MAY 2018. Councillors like the ones in the last photo below - the Labour councillors who are supposed to work for Woolston and Weston.

Do you agree that Labour councillors are more shirkers than workers?

Fire Door Failing to Close Properly

Exposed Cables and Wiring

UNLOCKED Fire Door to Electrics and Dangerous Voltages

Cabling Loose and Going Through a Door Frame

Cabling Through a Door Frame (other side)

Sticky Tape around a Tile for a Detector

Hang your heads in shame, Labour councillors Blatchford, Payne and Hammond... Councillor Payne is supposed to be "in charge" of Council Housing. We can't repeat what residents told us they think of him, because some people might be offended. You can imagine what they said, can't you? They saw how badly he answered questions on the BBC recently.

VOTE SOUTHAMPTON INDEPENDENTS in May 2018 to remove Labour councillors like Councillor Warwick Payne.

Front page of the Echo after April's Redbridge Towers Fire

FIRE SAFETY FAULTS - Southampton Labour Council's Sticky Tape for Fire Safety

Detector and Duct Tape

We have listened to residents of tower blocks across Southampton.

Residents are very worried about the failings of Southampton City Council to provide adequate safety against fire. 

There are THOUSANDS of people who live in the City Council's tower blocks. As shown in fire safety reports, in just ONE block there can be 300-400 people.

We listened to residents' worries after the Redbridge Towers fire back in April 2017.

We listened to the reports on fire safety that residents had given to Southampton City Council, which alarmingly had not been acted upon by the Labour-run Council for YEARS. When the Tories had run the Council, they were no better.

Since the Grenfell Tower disaster, residents have understandably become even more concerned about the failures of the Council to protect them by improving fire safety.

Southampton Independents has repeatedly asked the Council to address residents' concerns IMMEDIATELY. Yet the Council has dithered, or not acted at all.

We have asked why the Council has neglected safety for years. We don't yet have the answers, or enough action. The photo above, taken on Friday 13th October 2017, shows how pathetic the Southampton Labour Council is. A fire detector and tile held on with sticky tape. We have plenty more evidence of Labour's failures.

As shown on this website, Southampton Independents won its campaign for the Council to commit to installing sprinklers in ALL tower blocks. And as shown on this website, the Labour Councillor responsible for Housing, Councillor Warwick Payne, did not want to do it. It was our campaign, working with residents, that made him and the Labour Council change their minds.

We have been repeatedly informing the media about the failures of the Council. Why? Because the Council wasn't listening. And the Council wasn't acting to protect residents.

We are pleased that the BBC, ITV, the Daily Echo and Wave 105 have all reported on the failings of the Council to install sprinklers for seven years after the Shirley Towers tragedy and to take action to protect residents.

We thank all of our media colleagues for helping us to expose and put pressure on the Council.

And we thank residents across Southampton for telling us about the continuing failures of the Labour-run Council to protect them.

Southampton Independents has listened.

Southampton Independents has acted.

Please see our related article for some of the latest evidence we have gathered.

It shows that Labour Councillor for Housing, Cabinet member Warwick Payne and the Labour Leader of the Council Councillor Simon Letts, who is ultimately responsible for Property and the performance of Cabinet members, have continued to put lives at risk DESPITE all of the warnings and complaints.

They both should resign in shame.

And if they do not resign as councillors, we ask Southampton residents to VOTE LABOUR OUT IN MAY 2018 at the City Council elections. Labour only has a majority of two seats of 48.

And don't forget, the Tories were rubbish at running the Council before Labour got in.

Vote for Southampton Independents candidates at the May 2018 local elections.

Southampton Independents stand up for action, not words.