Itchen Bridge light change ‘ignores safety advice’
The move follows a campaign by a lifelong Saints fan
Civic leaders have been accused of ignoring safety advice over plans to install adaptable lights on the Itchen Bridge.
The city council announced earlier this month that the lighting, which is currently blue, would be upgraded as part of the current bridge refurbishment work.
The move comes after a campaign by lifelong Saints fan Perry McMillian, who wanted to change the colour of the lights to red and white because blue could be associated with club rivals Portsmouth.
Labour council leader Alex Winning said the upgrades would allow the authority to mark key moments.
He said this could be red and white on Saints match days or red, white and blue on days of national celebration.
However, Conservative member Rob Harwood questioned the scheme at a council meeting on Wednesday, February 25.
The Harefield ward councillor said one of the authority’s private finance initiative (PFI) agreements still had nine years of maintenance where the contractor must repair or replace lights free of charge.
Cllr Harwood said: “It looks like you are putting forward an idea and hiding it in the highways budget.
“Actually, it is not going to be spent on roads, it is going to be spent on lights which you don’t need to spend money on.”
Cllr Harwood said train operator South Western Railway had raised safety concerns about red lights on the bridge.
He said: “I have learned from officers that originally when those lights were put on we consulted ABP and they said ‘we don’t care what colour they are’.
“We consulted the airport and they said ‘we don’t care what colour they are’.
“South Western Railway said ‘we’re not keen on red because the sharp bend at Woolston, there’s some signals there and in inclement weather that could cause a problem, we’re not saying no, we’re just saying be it on your own heads’.
“I’m told that comment from South Western Railway is still current. Officers have checked and that comment is still current.
“If you are planning to put red and white lights on the bridge, a, why are you spending this money when you don’t need to, and b, why are you basically avoiding safety advice?
“Are you prepared to accept if something happens on the railway it is down to you?”
The council has not confirmed when the new lighting system will come into effect.