By Jamie Shapiro, Local Democracy Reporter

Bitterne Park’s first Labour councillor, Tony Bunday, who was elected in May, used his maiden speech at Wednesday’s (July 20) first full council meeting of the municipal year to highlight the city’s need for speed limit reductions.

Bitterne Park secondary School transformed its school field to host its outdoor music festival ‘The Big Picnic’ on Tuesday (July 19) as a reward for students’ hard work over the year.

Residents braved the heat on Monday evening (July 18) to gather on the steps of Cobbett Road Library and show their frustration that it’s still shut.

Portswood speciality beer shop Bitter Virtue is closing at the end of August after 25 years.

Photo: Google Maps

The ‘Gorillas site’ – previously Blockbuster – in Portswood appears to be available to let following the recent departure of the on-demand grocery delivery company.

Building images: Google Maps

“Footway improvement works” are set to begin on St Denys Road near Dundee Road on Monday (July 25).

Photo: Google Maps

Southampton City Council’s Labour administration wants to reopen St Mary’s Leisure Centre “no later than the end of August”, it has announced.

Photo: Google Maps

There were dramatic scenes in Portswood on Friday evening (July 8) as fire crews tackled a blaze that was believed to have broken out around 7pm at the 7 Bone restaurant.  Read more or click here to watch the video.

Friends of Cobbett Road Library are organising an event on Monday (July 18) to send a message to the council that they want the library reopened “without further delays”.

Image from a library protest from approx 2015

Bitterne Park Stores at the Triangle has announced an August closure while the shop is rearranged and the new refillery is expanded.

By Jamie Shapiro, Local Democracy Reporter

Several new ‘School Streets’ locally are to be added to Southampton’s growing list of school-time vehicular road closure trials, including near Bitterne Park Primary, Townhill Junior and Bitterne C E Primary School.

Marie Keates has delved into the many myths surrounding the recently dismantled giant boat which has been a landmark for so long in its Avon Road back garden. You can read her blog here.

By Jamie Shapiro, Local Democracy Reporter

The leader of Southampton City Council Satvir Kaur has commented on prime minister Boris Johnson’s resignation, saying she is “pleased it’s finally happened”.

Local youth charity No Limits has launched a fundraising campaign so its support groups can take vulnerable children on day trips and give them experiences other young people take for granted during the summer break.

By Jamie Shapiro, Local Democracy Reporter

Transport for the South East (TfSE) has launched a consultation that will last for 12 weeks to allow people to share their opinion on a £45 billion transport plan.

'Three expressions of interest'

Update 2: The council has said that meetings with “bidders” who’ve expressed an interest in running the still closed Cobbett Road library are taking place this month, and it's hoped a new organisation could be running it “by the end of the calendar year”.

By James Hinves

Excitement was high as the Southampton Canoe Club Sprint Team gathered at the National Watersports Center in Nottingham last weekend (July 2/3). This regatta sees the culmination of the years effort for our junior and U23 paddlers - and what a weekend it was.

Extra bus services have been added to the Minilink service 14, running from the city centre to Bitterne and Chartwell Green, from August 1.

By Jamie Shapiro, Local Democracy Reporter

People in Southampton are being given a chance to have their say on how to improve the city’s air quality.

It's understood part of a tree, which it's thought came down last weekend onto play equipment at a playgound on the edge of Frogs Copse, had been scheduled for imminent removal.