SAFE STANDING: Government to Review the Rules

Since last year, our Southampton Independents Councillor Andrew Pope has been leading the local campaign for Safe Standing at St. Mary's Stadium.

Andrew was interviewed by Julian Clegg on BBC Radio Solent this week. The interview is below.

Photos of rail seats, which are proposed for the trial of Safe Standing at St. Mary's Stadium, are below and in the video that accompanies the interview. Other photos that help to explain the campaign are also on the video stream, including the dangers of "unsafe standing" as currently.

"Passionate Paula" is behind a trip hazard

When "Passionate Paula" gets excited...
... she could trip on the seat in front of her

And "Passionate Paula" can fall on other fans...

The local petition for Safe Standing at St. Mary's Stadium is here. If you have not signed it already, please sign it and share it with your contacts, colleagues, friends and family. At the time of writing, over 800 Saints fans have signed it.

As a result of the national campaign led by the Football Supporters Federation across England for Safe Standing at English grounds in the Premier League and Championship, and because the Government said they would not be looking at Safe Standing despite our campaign, a national petition was started. The e-petition gained over 100,000 signatures in a short time, and resulted in a debate in Parliament on Monday this week.

At the end of the debate, the Minister responsible Tracey Crouch MP, confirmed a review of the rules that currently prevent safe standing.

Councillor Andrew Pope says:

Councillor Pope showing
Rail Seats for Safe Standing
at St. Mary's Stadium

"This is a major step in the right direction for the campaign for Safe Standing across England and at St. Mary's Stadium.

Thanks to everyone who has supported the campaign so far:

• Southampton fans who signed my petition
• Jon Darch and the Safe Standing Roadshow
• The Daily Echo and That's Solent TV who have covered the campaign
• BBC Radio Solent and Wave 105 who have interviewed me several times
• the majority of Southampton City councillors who supported my motion supporting Safe Standing.*
• the Total Saints Podcast who have helped to promote the campaign
• MPs that spoke in the debate in Parliament on Monday

But we are not there yet. The rules have not been changed yet and this review appears to be taking until at least early 2019.

This may be an attempt to kick safe standing into the long grass.

We have not campaigned for years to allow this to happen.

We have to keep up the pressure.

If you want to help with our Safe Standing campaign, or if you want to help us with our other campaigns across Southampton, contact Southampton Independents by emailing us at sotonindies [at] gmail.com."

*(N.B. None of the Coxford councillors voted for the motion - Don Thomas, Keith Morrell and Tammy Thomas - and not all Labour councillors supported it - including Shirley Councillor Satvir Kaur. But the vast majority of Labour and Conservative councillors did support the motion.)

Does Labour Want McDonald's at Itchen Bridge OR NOT?

Is is another Labour Highway Robbery?

MCDONALD'S ARE NOT HAPPY.

THE SOUTHAMPTON LABOUR COUNCIL SOLD MCDONALD'S THE LAND THEN THE LABOUR-MAJORITY PLANNING COMMITTEE REFUSED PLANNING PERMISSION TO THEM.

McDonald's is appealing the Labour-run Council's decision to refuse the planning permission.

They are appealing to the Planning Inspector, whose decision will be final.

Andrew Pope and Denise Wyatt from Southampton Independents were at the Planning Committee when the refusal was done.

Our Councillor Andrew Pope says:

"Two of the Southampton Labour councillors who agreed to sell the land to McDonald's, spoke against the planning permission when it came to the Planning Committee.

The councillors are both Woolston Labour councillors. Their names are Councillor Warwick Payne and Councillor Chris Hammond. The latter is now the Leader of the Council.

Another former Labour Councillor Paul Lewzey, who was also in the Cabinet, spoke against the McDonald's at Woolston.

Yet they had previously supported it.

Were they for or against McDonald's using the site for a McDonald's?

It's difficult to tell when they changed their minds.

Or perhaps they thought that McDonald's would not use the site for a McDonald's, but for some kind of space mission instead?

What do you think?

Southampton Independents is neutral on this application, but I have made a representation to the Planning Inspector about the way the Labour-run Council and Labour Councillors have handled this.

They can't be allowed to get away with it."

Leader of Southampton Independents Denise Wyatt says:

"Is it another case of Labour's Highway Robbery?

Were they only after the money for selling the land, to pay for the extra millions for their Arts Complex in the City Centre?

Residents need to know.

Tell us by email at sotonindies [at] gmail.com or via our phone on 07580715687"