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.