By Jamie Shapiro, Local Democracy Reporter, & bitternepark.info
The council is investigating the ‘possibility’ that the Itchen Bridge, which overlooks the Saints’ football stadium, could have its lights changed from the colour of rival football club Portsmouth.
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Perry McMillan outside the council chamber where the court convened. Photo: bitternepark.info
This comes after one devoted Saints fan, Perry McMillan, used the ancient Southampton City Council tradition of Court Leet in October to make a representation to change the bridge lighting from blue to red and white.
As we reported at the time, McMillan told the court: “I think it’s time for those lights to be replaced with red and white ones, so that in the background to the bridge you’ve got St Mary’s stadium; you’ve got hundreds and hundreds of football supporters going over the bridge after and before a game; you’ve got cruise ships coming in to the city – a proud city that can be festooned in red and white.”
“That is the colours of Southampton. And it’s not blue, as it now stands."
A pre-cabinet report hints at the ‘possibility’ of a lighting change but it would need other organisations to agree.
It reads: “Officers are investigating the possibility of altering the colour of lighting on the Itchen Bridge.
“It should be noted that the current blue lighting forms part of the safety measures in place on the bridge and a change in colour needs to be considered by other impacted parties (for example, Network Rail, Port of Southampton (ABP) and the Civil Aviation Authority).
“If a change in colour was to be supported from a safety perspective, a relevant funding source would need to be found.”
The council has also indicated it’s unlikely it will rename the Itchen Bridge ‘The Lawrie McMenemy Bridge’ — another request made at October’s Court Leet, this time by Nick Illingsworth.
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