The council says it wants to have "big conversations" with the Bitterne community about "local priorities", and its plans to spend £30 million on a 'hub' that could bring together leisure, health and library facilities.

The concept of a community hub in Bitterne would be "to improve residents' access to public services by exploring the option of combining health, leisure, library and other community support facilities in one location in the heart of the District Centre", explains Southampton City Council (SCC).

The authority says the hub could also benefit local businesses by "bringing greater visitor numbers to the area, potentially boosting economic activity and helping to sustain Bitterne as a viable District Centre".

SCC is also planning to launch a "Park and Travel Hub" at Lances Hill Car Park later in the year – a move that sparked controversy among some residents, who told the Local Democracy Reporting Service earlier in the month that they feared the scheme would "create chaos", and would increase traffic, pollution and anti-social behaviour.

Work to install a new bus stop opposite the car park on Bitterne Road as part of the scheme has been halted by SCC "at this time" as a result of resident feedback.

Meanwhile Bitterne Park library users, whose own local library and 'hub' at Cobbett Road is closed for the foreseeable future after charity Social Care in Action pulled out of running it, will no doubt be watching developments for library services in nearby Bitterne ward with interest.

Additional reporting: Maria Zaccaro, Local Democracy Reporter

Previously
Green light for ‘community hub’ in Bitterne
End of the road for Cobbett library?