The annual march reminds queer people and allies alike that the need to fight for rights is not won and sends a message to those who aren’t or don’t want to be aware, that LQBTQIA+ people are part of their community and still need support.

After a year of increasing hate towards LQBTQIA+ people, the Supreme Court turning its back on trans+ people and the current government cementing it’s distain for any people who don’t match their own image, Southampton Pride 2025 is one of the most important in a while.

Pride is political, but not to rainbow wash or use partying as a marketing tool – it is a much needed and valuable way to say to all people in government and opposition that LGBTQIA+ people are valuable members of society and deserve the rights that all humans do – respect, dignity, protection from harm and inclusion in community and seats of power.

A huge thanks to all the team at Southampton Pride, Trans Pride Southampton and all the incredible volunteers and marchers who came out today and created a fabulous and powerful first day of Southampton Pride.

In solidarity,
Lori Foster
Southampton Green Party Member

The post Pride is a Protest appeared first on Southampton Green Party.

Depth of water is estimated to be falling below 14 inches.

Fish observed swimming with their top body fully out of the water, while disturbing the mud below.

Video of above content.

Bottom baked hard in heat.

Readers who are concerned that the level of water should be increased by a small convoy of water tankers loaded with agricultural grade water might like to write to the Southampton City Council via this link.

https://www.southampton.gov.uk/people-places/parks-open-spaces/parks/park-facilities/report-an-issue-in-a-park-or-play-area/?

The post Climate Change Hits Common appeared first on Southampton Green Party.

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In this episode of ‘Your Green Breakfast’ on Voice FM, host Xan Phillips discusses with Cllr Katherine Barbour a newly passed motion by Southampton City Council to protect Hampshire’s chalk streams, such as the River Itchen, by giving them legal rights. Green Party councillor Katherine Barber elaborates on the international roots of this environmental movement and the importance of recognising the river as a living entity with an intricate ecosystem. Various local groups are actively involved in efforts to clean the rivers from pollution caused by commercial companies, farming, and road runoff. Cllr Barbour emphasises the need for community involvement and education to foster a sustainable future for the rivers. The discussion highlights the love and commitment that locals have for preserving the River Itchen and the River Test.

The post Rights of Rivers Interview with Katherine Barbour on Your Green Breakfast appeared first on Southampton Green Party.

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She identified a number of properties where tenants had vacated and had left unsorted rubbish outside the houses and flats or where there was excess rubbish around the dustbins.  She contacted the owners where she could to identify whether it was an HMO and asked them to clear this and potentially to reduce the deposit returned to the tenants.  This was successful in most cases apart from one landlord who tore the letter up in front of Katherine.

She has followed up with landlords and thanked them when she has returned and seen the rubbish has been sorted.

Here are some of the photos from properties around the ward, before and after.

If you see any rubbish hotspots do get in contact with your hardworking Green Party councillor Katherine Barbour

councillor.k.barbour@southampton.gov.uk

Before

After

The post Cleaning up Rubbish Hotspots appeared first on Southampton Green Party.

At a Cabinet meeting on 15 July, a felling licence for 19 healthy mature trees and works on a further 10 on
grounds of “aviation safety” was approved. Southampton Airport has long wished to remove “obstacles”
to the flight path which means that the larger aircraft cannot take off with a full load in case of emergency.
We thought that the purpose of the runway extension was to enable the larger aircraft to take off fully
laden and secure the “viability” of the airport, but now it appears they want to extend the range of
destinations because the extended runway alone hasn’t resulted in sufficient passengers for “viability” and
planes to these more distance places still can’t take off fully loaded.

After two failed attempts at nearby Marlhill Copse and Mansbridge Lock, which the City Council stood
firmly behind and opposed tree felling, this third attempt has resulted in an unexpected turn.
In order to get the application through, the airport has gone directly to the “executive” and bypassed the
Planning Committee. It has asked for a felling licence and the City Council has said “yes”. This meant that
the current Tree Policy had to be hastily rewritten and adopted at today’s meeting, in the same item as the
tree felling licence, to give powers to Cabinet instead of the Planning Committee, in effect handing the
decision to a political group rather than a quasi legal entity which tries to look objectively at each
planning application.

At the meeting objectors asked the council to work with the airport to find an alternative solution that
would not involve the loss of so many trees in a sacred space, but it became clear that discussions had
been ongoing long before this issue became public, but possibly this was simply about what “mitigation”
the airport might offer. This may still be subject to further discussion, but even planting four trees for
every one felled won’t replace their environmental benefits for decades – and not even then if they don’t
survive to maturity in our warming climate.

The documentation presented to the Cabinet wasn’t just about aviation safety. It included economic
promises alleged to benefit Southampton, based on the airport achieving 4 million passengers per year –
despite it being capped at 3 million as a condition of the runway extension permission! None of the
economic harms were taken into account, for example health effects of noise, pollution, climate change
impacts, the loss of environmental benefits from these large trees, and the fact that increasing tourism
flights means more people spending money outside the region. We will be watching closely to see
whether the promised extra jobs actually materialise.

The path over South Stoneham Cemetery is 15 degrees off the normal flight path and the airport says
would only be used in the event of an “emergency.” Not mentioned at the meeting was the fact that this
emergency path would take planes directly over Mansbridge School. We wonder how safe they would be
in the event of such an emergency.

There is a wider point. In answer to some of the questions raised by objectors at the meeting, we heard
that none of the trees on Council owned land have Tree Preservation Orders on them. The Council says it
intends to treat them “as if” they have TPOs – but this is not the same, legally. We fear that our gloriously
green city with its abundant parks and green spaces may be now entirely at risk from developers who will
use the same tactics to gain monetary advantage whenever they deem it possible.

Sign the Petition – Prevent Tree Removal in South Stoneham Cemetery

The post Southampton Airport given approval to cut trees at South Stoneham Cemetery appeared first on Southampton Green Party.

This motion will now lead to the creation of a “Declaration of the Rights of the River” which will be shaped in collaboration with local community, conservation groups and agencies. This declaration will be used to guide future decision making related to the river, particularly in planning and development. It is likely to involve considering the river’s needs in regard to water quality, habitat protection and public access.

Katherine Barbour, city councillor for the Green Party in Portswood, Highfield and St Denys said: “There are many groups concerned about our rivers, this was evident at the latest cabinet meeting to determine the sale of land at Woodmill. The strength of opinion is clear. People care about our rivers and demand their protection.”

The local Green Party has been talking to many local groups over the past few weeks and together with colleagues from across the political divide, will work to create a shared vision for this unique natural part of our city.

Gavin Millar from Friends of Itchen Estuary describes a proposal for a River Itchen Urban Park with a focus on nature restoration. Gavin said: “(The park would be) A place that mitigates for climate change, enhances cooling of the city and reduces flood risk. A place where people can relax, and have opportunities to access the water – that has high amenity value. It would attract more people to come and live and work in the city and could be a stimulus to the local economy.”

Katherine Barbour continues: “This motion has galvanised a lot of thinking around the wonderful River Itchen, and it is clear there is an appetite to progress this. As someone who lives 2 minutes from this river, it is my playground and my place of peace, and it needs cleaning up. I will work hard to build on this motion and bring it to life.”

Similar river support schemes in Salisbury and Southsea provide a focus for efforts and with the local universities interested and involved, there are many opportunities to take this work forwards.

If you are interested in being part of this movement, please contact any local Green groups in the city, such as Friends Of the Itchen Estuary (https://www.southamptonnpc.com/friends-of-the-itchen-estuary), or your local councillors for more information.

The post Rights of the River Motion Passed – Vital Step Towards Protecting Southampton Blue Spaces appeared first on Southampton Green Party.

SOUTHAMPTON, Hampshire 16^th JULY 2025 – Popular Southampton site Woodmill Activity Centre and surrounding land, including a designated site of Special Scientific Interest, has today been given the green light by a majority Labour Council to be sold to Southern Water, a company owned in the main by Australian Equity firm Macquarie Asset Management.

Southern Water has come under fire since it’s fine of £90m in 2021 for illegal discharges along coast and inland waterways, and recently due to its local discharges at the Portswood Wastewater Treatment site.

Many local conservation and action groups have voiced concern and dismay at the speed at which this vital Southampton asset has been sold off, arguing that no public consultations have been undertaken.

This is something that the local Green Party has also been highlighting, both in the Council, and speaking in solidarity with local groups and residents.

Councillor for Portswood, Highfield and St Denys, Katherine Barbour of the Green Party said: “Southampton’s Itchen River provides habitat for the endangered Atlantic Salmon and sanctuary to swimmers, boaters and leisure-seekers alike. The designated Site of Special Scientific Interest shelters creatures such as deer, insects, lizards, birds, and native plants. The speed at which this sale has been decided is worrying and I fear for the impact on the one of the city’s most precious resources.”

“Being a resident of St Denys, I’m more than aware how Southern Water have been carrying out their duties. I’m sad to say I was the only councillor in my ward to publicly speak out against this hurried sale. The Water Companies are accountable to shareholders and not residents, I just hope they protect our river as the responsibility of owning this land demands.”

It is reported that the Woodmill Activity Centre and associated land was sold for less than the price of a 4-bed house in Southampton, at just £500,000.

Councillor for Coxford, Matt Renyard of the Green Party added: “Although we are sensitive to the financial needs of the City Council, we are concerned at the speed of the sale agreement, and as Councillors have not been privy to the terms of the sale. We are yet to see if the promises of Southern Water regarding taking over and protecting this vital ecological site are written in ink or have been verbalised. We are pleased to see the Scouts are set to sublet the activity centre and hope that it will continue to provide river access to residents and young people alike.”

About Cllr. Katherine Barbour

As a Councillor for Portswood, Highfield and St Denys, Katherine is committed to preserving and growing green and blue spaces in the city and is active in local organisations which focus on the river and green areas. She is a member of Friends of Portswood Recreation Ground and Friends of Itchen Estuary and is on the committee of the St Denys Community Centre association.

About Cllr. Matthew Renyard

Matt is in his 7^th year representing the ward of Coxford as a Councillor. In that time, he has worked with residents on the issues that matter to them locally. He has fought to end austerity in the interest of the ordinary people that he serves. He moved to the Green Party in 2025 in order to maintain his credibility and continue to serve his ward in this regard. He believes in a rebalancing of the economy and the development of a Green New Deal that benefits people, planet and future generations.

The post Despair as Council Sells Woodmill to Southern Water appeared first on Southampton Green Party.

No data was presented about the impact of the first 3 months of the trial but clearly the results are not as good as was hoped by the Labour administration.

They say they are listening to the public; it has taken them a very long time to do this. The last few months has been terrible for the people of Brookvale Road and Belmont Road and other local streets. Katherine asked Cllr Keogh after the meeting if the traffic calming measures on Brookvale Road and on Russell Place will now be removed. He was not able to answer this question as there is clearly no plan in place. He says he will speak to residents about this as a co-design process is put in place.

Traffic around this area continues to be challenging and sadly no strong measures were put in place to ensure the traffic went along Thomas Lewis Way and the Avenue.

This is sad news for pollution in the local area and will take years for people to trust the councillors and officers who were involved in this project. The key challenge is to get people out of their cars using public transport and walking/cycling. This project did not achieve this.

The Green Party will continue to promote alternatives to car transport and shop local campaigns as Portswood shops have been in nose dive since the trial started.

Southampton and District Green Party

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