THESE are the scenes residents are confronted with when they open their front doors.
Broken beds propped up on the side of houses, traffic cones discarded in front gardens and rubbish overflowing onto the streets is an everyday occurrence at the Polygon.
For 15 years homeowners have been forced to live with the trail of destruction left by students migrating for the summer, landlords dodging disposal fees and out-of-town fly-tippers but enough was enough.
Residents Action spokesman, Lorraine Barter, has taken matters into her own hands by taking pictures of disgusting sightings around her Harbour Road home in a bid to stop garbage wrecking her neighbourhood.
The 68-year-old battled the stench of rancid half-eaten takeaways and stepped over dead rodents to capture what has
happened to her beloved area on a digital camera.
She said: "These pictures are completely indisputable.
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"The invasion of HMOs (Houses of Multiple Occupancy) has been disastrous. We are living in an HMO ghetto.
"I've asked the universities to put these pictures up on notice boards to show students how not to live.
Dumped
"It is driving tax-paying residents away. In my street 49 of the 54 houses are HMOs. There are only five of us standing alone against the invasion."
Southampton City Council has now launched its own crackdown on messy university students' end of year dumpings.
Students and their landlords have been warned they could face a £75 fine if they don't clean up properties before leaving the city for the summer break.
Thousands of flyers have also been distributed as council rubbish inspectors and street wardens begin door-knocking offenders in the next two weeks.
Council waste development officer Gale Williams said trouble hot spots in the Polygon, Newtown, Portswood and Highfield areas would be targeted in the six-week clean-up blitz.
"Dishing out fines is not something we want to do, we
want to work with students to manage their waste.
"Ultimately if it's not being managed then we will issue a fixed penalty."
Waste chiefs also want to end reliance and abuse of a free waste "clear-up" and will now charge £25 for collection of ten bulk items.
Last July the council collected 45 tonnes of waste in a bulk waste clear-up of houses in Portswood and the Polygon, costing the taxpayer more than £6,000.
But Southampton council head of waste, Andrew Taylor, explained the students could not be held solely to blame.
He said: "Students tend not to drag their furniture outside to abandon it. We have in the last couple of years noticed an increase in the volume of stuff being dumped.
"There is evidence of landlords bringing in stuff from the New Forest and Eastleigh where they don't have a free collection. More and more waste is presented.
"The situation has become unbearable. What once was a workable solution is something we can no longer tolerate."
Other councils have been contacted to find the right answer to rid the streets of waste.
The solution in Leeds has been for the council to employ two full-time members of staff to bring together universities, landlords, police and other relevant bodies.
Mr Taylor added: "That is what we are trying to do here. This is the first time this has been attempted in the city. We are not expecting to cure it overnight but we are expecting an improvement next year."
Residents lament what has happened to their neighbourhoods.
Pat Othen, 58, was born in Milton Road and long aspired to live in Kenilworth Road since she was a child.
She said: "I used to play with a girl here and longed to live in this street with its steps leading up to nice houses.
"The stained glass windows were wonderful and there were big trees as far as the eye could see. This was the posh area and I always dreamed of living here and for ten years it was lovely."
Gradually houses were bought up by letting agents and landlords to convert them into student homes.
She said: "My dream became a nightmare and now it is overrun. Seeing all the litter spilling out of the bins and the rubbish in people's front gardens, it breaks my heart."
Noise had been the first big problem with music blaring out from the adjoining house and screams at all hours of the night.
Eventually Mrs Othen was driven to the end of her tether and confronted the students only to end up with a criminal record for breaking a man's car aerial.
She said: "It drove me out of my mind, I needed tranquillisers to sleep. I aim to be out of this place before I am 60."
Southampton County Council's team leader for public health, Ralph Walling, claimed the city had no more noise complaints than anywhere else in the country.
He explained most students were reasonable and did turn the volume down once told.
He said: "There are one or two houses where we have had to serve abatement notices but most of the time noise will really annoy residents for one night during a party and it won't be a problem again."
Southampton Solent University bears the greatest brunt of residents criticism but it assured the Echo that it worked with the council and others to raise awareness among students of their community responsibilities.
A regular student newsletter covers aspects of living in the community and a police officer addressing teens during Freshers' Week on community responsibility.
A university spokesman said: "Most of our students settle into university life well.
"However, if the university receives any complaints it takes them seriously, investigates them fully and, if necessary, employs its community relations officer to liaise between students and any residents affected by their actions.
"The Students Union also takes a proactive role in organising the annual Polygon clean-up, as well as running ongoing campaigns drawing students attention to their wider community responsibilities."
Posted by: Condor Man, Southampton on 4:17pm Wed 14 May 08
Another dig at students. A lot of HMO's in Southampton now house immigrants who find it hard to adapt to UK life. Stuff like nappies and baby stuff is not going to come from a 19 year old psychology student is it!
Another dig at students. A lot of HMO's in Southampton now house immigrants who find it hard to adapt to UK life. Stuff like nappies and baby stuff is not going to come from a 19 year old psychology student is it!
Posted by: Pollyanna, Southampton on 6:37pm Wed 14 May 08
There are no photos of nappies but some people think it would be a good idea for drunken revelers to wear them so there would be less urine running down Bedford Place at night after the clubs turn out.
There are no photos of nappies but some people think it would be a good idea for drunken revelers to wear them so there would be less urine running down Bedford Place at night after the clubs turn out.
Posted by: Gilmore, Shirley, Southampton on 7:29pm Wed 14 May 08
It's a terrible thing to be dumping litter on the streets, I must agree. I just can't believe the sweeping generalisations made by Lorraine Barter that this is all the work of students and those in multiple housing. A lot of us multiple housing folk are good, well-mannered people who recycle, put rubbish in the bins and say hello to you in the street. I think Ms Barter needs to actually talk to more young people rather than peering at them through her net curtains with her camera and notebook.
It's a terrible thing to be dumping litter on the streets, I must agree. I just can't believe the sweeping generalisations made by Lorraine Barter that this is all the work of students and those in multiple housing. A lot of us multiple housing folk are good, well-mannered people who recycle, put rubbish in the bins and say hello to you in the street. I think Ms Barter needs to actually talk to more young people rather than peering at them through her net curtains with her camera and notebook.
Posted by: Local Mum, Southampton on 7:30pm Wed 14 May 08
Students DO drag stuff out of their 'new lets' and leave it on the pavement expecting the council to pick it up for several reasons really. The charge for picking up these items is quite expensive and they know that wardens and Southampton City Council teams will pick it up and most of the time they, the students, do not want the inferior furniture that the landlord has given them. Its about education, letting them know what they can and cant do. It is very difficult though as you 'educate' one lot of students/occupiers to the system and a year later they are away and a new batch move in. The council may have their faults but you cant slate them for trying to clear up a never ending mountain of cr*p!
Students DO drag stuff out of their 'new lets' and leave it on the pavement expecting the council to pick it up for several reasons really. The charge for picking up these items is quite expensive and they know that wardens and Southampton City Council teams will pick it up and most of the time they, the students, do not want the inferior furniture that the landlord has given them. Its about education, letting them know what they can and cant do. It is very difficult though as you 'educate' one lot of students/occupiers to the system and a year later they are away and a new batch move in. The council may have their faults but you cant slate them for trying to clear up a never ending mountain of cr*p!
Posted by: Lorraine Barter, Southampton on 10:24pm Wed 14 May 08
[quote][bold]Gilmore[/bold] wrote:
It's a terrible thing to be dumping litter on the streets, I must agree. I just can't believe the sweeping generalisations made by Lorraine Barter that this is all the work of students and those in multiple housing. A lot of us multiple housing folk are good, well-mannered people who recycle, put rubbish in the bins and say hello to you in the street. I think Ms Barter needs to actually talk to more young people rather than peering at them through her net curtains with her camera and notebook.[/quote] I do not have any net curtains and even if I had none of the photo scenes could be seen from my windows.
I do talk to a lot of young people as the long term older residents have fled the ghetto in great numbers in the last fifteen years.
The Council and Universities know where students
predominate and so do the young peoples neighbours.
What is wrong with making a hobby of photography ?
If the Echo were not interested in the subject they would not publish them.
Gilmore wrote:
It's a terrible thing to be dumping litter on the streets, I must agree. I just can't believe the sweeping generalisations made by Lorraine Barter that this is all the work of students and those in multiple housing. A lot of us multiple housing folk are good, well-mannered people who recycle, put rubbish in the bins and say hello to you in the street. I think Ms Barter needs to actually talk to more young people rather than peering at them through her net curtains with her camera and notebook.
I do not have any net curtains and even if I had none of the photo scenes could be seen from my windows.
I do talk to a lot of young people as the long term older residents have fled the ghetto in great numbers in the last fifteen years.
The Council and Universities know where students
predominate and so do the young peoples neighbours.
What is wrong with making a hobby of photography ?
If the Echo were not interested in the subject they would not publish them.
Posted by: JB Soton, Gosport on 11:49pm Wed 14 May 08
Some 25yrs ago my family lived in Westridge Road,Portswood First there was an I.R.A. bomb factory found (behind the Nick )then a couple of the houses started turning into 'bedsits' My father sold up immediately. I suggest you moaners do the same, even though you have left it somewhat late!!
Some 25yrs ago my family lived in Westridge Road,Portswood First there was an I.R.A. bomb factory found (behind the Nick )then a couple of the houses started turning into 'bedsits' My father sold up immediately. I suggest you moaners do the same, even though you have left it somewhat late!!
Posted by: Gilmore, Shirley, Southampton on 12:20am Thu 15 May 08
Oh Lorraine, I don't mean to argue with you. I want this neighbourhood to be beautiful just like you, I just wish you'd stop referring to the Polygon as a ghetto as if it's the fault of Multiple Occupancy residents. I live here because I can't afford a house of my own. I'm not on benefits, I work for a big employer in the city. I wish you'd stop stereotyping young people as destructive, wasteful hooligans as it undermines your cause. Engagement is key to this problem, and maybe if you'd welcome the Multiple Occupancy folk to your Residents Action group, you'd see a more positive change. There's nothing wrong with photography, but we both know that you're not using it as a hobby in this case, but merely to further your cause. And the Echo? Ha! They'll just print whatever sensationalist nonsense you feed them! My housemate is going to be in the Echo tomorrow for saying there's UFOs over Southamtpton! I'd love to give you some input into the Multiple Occupancy "ghetto" problem, and if you'd like to hear it, please let me know. I'm sure it's a lot better than providing a one-sided, subjective account of the issue. It's not just "long term older residents" who read this newspaper.
Oh Lorraine, I don't mean to argue with you. I want this neighbourhood to be beautiful just like you, I just wish you'd stop referring to the Polygon as a ghetto as if it's the fault of Multiple Occupancy residents. I live here because I can't afford a house of my own. I'm not on benefits, I work for a big employer in the city. I wish you'd stop stereotyping young people as destructive, wasteful hooligans as it undermines your cause. Engagement is key to this problem, and maybe if you'd welcome the Multiple Occupancy folk to your Residents Action group, you'd see a more positive change. There's nothing wrong with photography, but we both know that you're not using it as a hobby in this case, but merely to further your cause. And the Echo? Ha! They'll just print whatever sensationalist nonsense you feed them! My housemate is going to be in the Echo tomorrow for saying there's UFOs over Southamtpton! I'd love to give you some input into the Multiple Occupancy "ghetto" problem, and if you'd like to hear it, please let me know. I'm sure it's a lot better than providing a one-sided, subjective account of the issue. It's not just "long term older residents" who read this newspaper.
Posted by: Lorraine Barter, Southampton on 7:43am Thu 15 May 08
[quote][bold]Gilmore[/bold] wrote:
Oh Lorraine, I don\\\'t mean to argue with you. I want this neighbourhood to be beautiful just like you, I just wish you\\\'d stop referring to the Polygon as a ghetto as if it\\\'s the fault of Multiple Occupancy residents. I live here because I can\\\'t afford a house of my own. I\\\'m not on benefits, I work for a big employer in the city. I wish you\\\'d stop stereotyping young people as destructive, wasteful hooligans as it undermines your cause. Engagement is key to this problem, and maybe if you\\\'d welcome the Multiple Occupancy folk to your Residents Action group, you\\\'d see a more positive change. There\\\'s nothing wrong with photography, but we both know that you\\\'re not using it as a hobby in this case, but merely to further your cause. And the Echo? Ha! They\\\'ll just print whatever sensationalist nonsense you feed them! My housemate is going to be in the Echo tomorrow for saying there\\\'s UFOs over Southamtpton! I\\\'d love to give you some input into the Multiple Occupancy \\\"ghetto\\\" problem, and if you\\\'d like to hear it, please let me know. I\\\'m sure it\\\'s a lot better than providing a one-sided, subjective account of the issue. It\\\'s not just \\\"long term older residents\\\" who read this newspaper.[/quote] Sorry, as you sign yourself Shirley I did not know that you actually live in the Polygon.
Ghetto is an Italian word that means that most of the people in one area have the same job or lifestyle,
as it is proven fact that 75 per cent or more of the houses are
HMOs then the word applies. It is also a proven fact that when the Polygon had no HMOs there were no problems with mess or noise.
You do not know what I do with other photos
so to me it is a hobby, as I worked in photography many years ago.
I do have almost daily contact with the Council, yes, I send them photos and I also have as much contact with the Solent Uni. So I am not out of touch with the lifestyle of the younger residents.
In fact I was recently at a Government consultation meeting
on HMOs where I stated that students make the area safer at night (so many on the streets) and that most of them are good neighbours.
But have you noticed how clean and tidy
the Polygon has become this week ?
No bins left on the street and many HMO gardens cleared of loose food refuse and half eaten take aways.
This would not have happened without pressure from long term residents who it seems are no longer wanted in the area.
Anyway it is nice to have a pen pal on the site and I see no reason why your friends story about UFOs should not be believed.
Gilmore wrote:
Oh Lorraine, I don't mean to argue with you. I want this neighbourhood to be beautiful just like you, I just wish you'd stop referring to the Polygon as a ghetto as if it's the fault of Multiple Occupancy residents. I live here because I can't afford a house of my own. I'm not on benefits, I work for a big employer in the city. I wish you'd stop stereotyping young people as destructive, wasteful hooligans as it undermines your cause. Engagement is key to this problem, and maybe if you'd welcome the Multiple Occupancy folk to your Residents Action group, you'd see a more positive change. There's nothing wrong with photography, but we both know that you're not using it as a hobby in this case, but merely to further your cause. And the Echo? Ha! They'll just print whatever sensationalist nonsense you feed them! My housemate is going to be in the Echo tomorrow for saying there's UFOs over Southamtpton! I'd love to give you some input into the Multiple Occupancy \\\"ghetto\\\" problem, and if you'd like to hear it, please let me know. I'm sure it's a lot better than providing a one-sided, subjective account of the issue. It's not just \\\"long term older residents\\\" who read this newspaper.
Sorry, as you sign yourself Shirley I did not know that you actually live in the Polygon.
Ghetto is an Italian word that means that most of the people in one area have the same job or lifestyle,
as it is proven fact that 75 per cent or more of the houses are
HMOs then the word applies. It is also a proven fact that when the Polygon had no HMOs there were no problems with mess or noise.
You do not know what I do with other photos
so to me it is a hobby, as I worked in photography many years ago.
I do have almost daily contact with the Council, yes, I send them photos and I also have as much contact with the Solent Uni. So I am not out of touch with the lifestyle of the younger residents.
In fact I was recently at a Government consultation meeting
on HMOs where I stated that students make the area safer at night (so many on the streets) and that most of them are good neighbours.
But have you noticed how clean and tidy
the Polygon has become this week ?
No bins left on the street and many HMO gardens cleared of loose food refuse and half eaten take aways.
This would not have happened without pressure from long term residents who it seems are no longer wanted in the area.
Anyway it is nice to have a pen pal on the site and I see no reason why your friends story about UFOs should not be believed.
Posted by: Pukeko, Dunedin, NZ. on 10:12am Thu 15 May 08
Having stayed in this area of Southampton three times over the last 5 years during summer months, I know what Lorraine Barter is saying. As I have seen first hand, the abhorrent wastage of thrown out material outside the student flats in the Polygon area around June. Everything from brand new to barely used furniture or appliances, clothes discarded on the path, and stocks of food piled up, left to rot, attracting vermin. But it’s not their bother is it?, they aren’t living there any more, so need not worry about the rats, that’s someone else’s problem! Yes, hedonistic and consumerist maximus students of such ilk are like a plague on this planet with their efforts towards polluting it. This is not only arrogant to leave such messes for others to see, but a major health hazard (Needless to say, I didn’t need a degree to figure it!). On top of that it just goes to show how decadent most of this ‘rich daddy’s boys and girls’ are. Also in a day and age when we have global warming, the thought that this goes on, on a large scale is depressing, and, worse these arrogant prats ably demonstrate they don’t care for anything other than their own. They clearly wouldn’t have a foggiest of what its like to scrape the barrel to get anywhere, its all on a plate, for little effort, while others work their **** off and get little. Its sobering to think that places in Asia, Africa are way at the other end of the spectrum to them. Yes, there are some good eggs as students about, but just like here where the exact same thing happens in our student area, there are very few. It’s too dark to dwell on the future when such people are in high positions, even worse than those today. While others scrimp and scrape. I also generally found them very arrogant in other ways too, well symbolised by the way I’d keep left on the streets, and they’d just walk abreast and often force you to step off the path. That might not seem much, but indicates a lot about the person who think they are better than everyone else. But as demonstrated by that and the disrespect for normal residents or the planet at large, they are not very evolved people. It’s a shame there is no karma. And finally a sobering thought that just over 60 years ago, it was the other extreme with required resourcefulness, with the war, its turned the extreme opposite!
It wasn’t so long ago I was that age, but I never ever considered behaving like that.
(Male, age 39).
Having stayed in this area of Southampton three times over the last 5 years during summer months, I know what Lorraine Barter is saying. As I have seen first hand, the abhorrent wastage of thrown out material outside the student flats in the Polygon area around June. Everything from brand new to barely used furniture or appliances, clothes discarded on the path, and stocks of food piled up, left to rot, attracting vermin. But it’s not their bother is it?, they aren’t living there any more, so need not worry about the rats, that’s someone else’s problem! Yes, hedonistic and consumerist maximus students of such ilk are like a plague on this planet with their efforts towards polluting it. This is not only arrogant to leave such messes for others to see, but a major health hazard (Needless to say, I didn’t need a degree to figure it!). On top of that it just goes to show how decadent most of this ‘rich daddy’s boys and girls’ are. Also in a day and age when we have global warming, the thought that this goes on, on a large scale is depressing, and, worse these arrogant prats ably demonstrate they don’t care for anything other than their own. They clearly wouldn’t have a foggiest of what its like to scrape the barrel to get anywhere, its all on a plate, for little effort, while others work their **** off and get little. Its sobering to think that places in Asia, Africa are way at the other end of the spectrum to them. Yes, there are some good eggs as students about, but just like here where the exact same thing happens in our student area, there are very few. It’s too dark to dwell on the future when such people are in high positions, even worse than those today. While others scrimp and scrape. I also generally found them very arrogant in other ways too, well symbolised by the way I’d keep left on the streets, and they’d just walk abreast and often force you to step off the path. That might not seem much, but indicates a lot about the person who think they are better than everyone else. But as demonstrated by that and the disrespect for normal residents or the planet at large, they are not very evolved people. It’s a shame there is no karma. And finally a sobering thought that just over 60 years ago, it was the other extreme with required resourcefulness, with the war, its turned the extreme opposite!
It wasn’t so long ago I was that age, but I never ever considered behaving like that.
(Male, age 39).
Posted by: Duh, Southampton on 10:20am Thu 15 May 08
I lived in that area 7 years ago. I moved due to this problem. You will never win this fight as too many house have now been converted. You are best advised to move and leave them to it?
Taking photo's will do nothing but cause whoever you keep sending them to, to not even bother to open the envelope.
Your choice?
I lived in that area 7 years ago. I moved due to this problem. You will never win this fight as too many house have now been converted. You are best advised to move and leave them to it?
Taking photo's will do nothing but cause whoever you keep sending them to, to not even bother to open the envelope.
Posted by: Pukeko, Dunedin, NZ. on 10:20am Thu 15 May 08
PS, meant to clarify with my comment "Its sobering to think that places in Asia, Africa are way at the other end of the spectrum to them."
To say that people here are that poor, they have to patch up and make do, while students are throwing out stuff thats often barely worn! Shocking.
PS, meant to clarify with my comment "Its sobering to think that places in Asia, Africa are way at the other end of the spectrum to them."
To say that people here are that poor, they have to patch up and make do, while students are throwing out stuff thats often barely worn! Shocking.
Posted by: Gilmore, Shirley, Southampton on 11:32am Thu 15 May 08
Fair play, Lorraine, I know what you're saying but I still reckon it's just a very loud and obnoxious minority of students that are spoiling it for everyone else. I'd like to see more students getting involved in this sort issue to try to tackle it from their side as well. A lot of people say that you're losing the battle and you probably will without cooperation from the student population.
Anyway, I still disagree with use of the word "ghetto" to describe the area, regardless of its origins it is still an emotive word with very negative connotations. And to clarify, I live at the Shirley end of the Polygon (or the Polygon end of Shirley), so I'm not really sure if this debate even involves me! Sorry! :P
I've decided to start taking part in more community action. I hope we can all come up with a solution, but please can you lay off the stereotyping of HMOs? Or at least think about it? It really gets me down to see "my people" (we are in the ghetto after all) labelled as no-good-nicks and litterbugs ;)
Fair play, Lorraine, I know what you're saying but I still reckon it's just a very loud and obnoxious minority of students that are spoiling it for everyone else. I'd like to see more students getting involved in this sort issue to try to tackle it from their side as well. A lot of people say that you're losing the battle and you probably will without cooperation from the student population.
Anyway, I still disagree with use of the word "ghetto" to describe the area, regardless of its origins it is still an emotive word with very negative connotations. And to clarify, I live at the Shirley end of the Polygon (or the Polygon end of Shirley), so I'm not really sure if this debate even involves me! Sorry! :P
I've decided to start taking part in more community action. I hope we can all come up with a solution, but please can you lay off the stereotyping of HMOs? Or at least think about it? It really gets me down to see "my people" (we are in the ghetto after all) labelled as no-good-nicks and litterbugs ;)
Posted by: Lorraine Barter, Southampton on 4:54pm Thu 15 May 08
[quote][bold]Gilmore[/bold] wrote:
Fair play, Lorraine, I know what you're saying but I still reckon it's just a very loud and obnoxious minority of students that are spoiling it for everyone else. I'd like to see more students getting involved in this sort issue to try to tackle it from their side as well. A lot of people say that you're losing the battle and you probably will without cooperation from the student population. Anyway, I still disagree with use of the word "ghetto" to describe the area, regardless of its origins it is still an emotive word with very negative connotations. And to clarify, I live at the Shirley end of the Polygon (or the Polygon end of Shirley), so I'm not really sure if this debate even involves me! Sorry! :P I've decided to start taking part in more community action. I hope we can all come up with a solution, but please can you lay off the stereotyping of HMOs? Or at least think about it? It really gets me down to see "my people" (we are in the ghetto after all) labelled as no-good-nicks and litterbugs ;)[/quote] Sorry,but Council officials,Members of Parliament use the word ghetto and I should not be censored just because I speak the truth.
I am not losing any battle as I am still involved in the consultation stage of the Governments study of the problems caused by having so many HMOs in any one area, it produces an Unsustainable Community and is against Government Policies.
If any student who is studying planning law wants help out they are most welcome but I do not think that Planning law is taught at the Solent Uni.
I am also a ghetto resident and you should be proud to be the same, we could be the last of an endangered species !.
I am so glad that this debate has made you want to be involved in the community.
If more people had done that years ago
we should not have had to take drastic action to bring the situation to the attention of the Council and the Government.
Gilmore wrote:
Fair play, Lorraine, I know what you're saying but I still reckon it's just a very loud and obnoxious minority of students that are spoiling it for everyone else. I'd like to see more students getting involved in this sort issue to try to tackle it from their side as well. A lot of people say that you're losing the battle and you probably will without cooperation from the student population. Anyway, I still disagree with use of the word "ghetto" to describe the area, regardless of its origins it is still an emotive word with very negative connotations. And to clarify, I live at the Shirley end of the Polygon (or the Polygon end of Shirley), so I'm not really sure if this debate even involves me! Sorry! :P I've decided to start taking part in more community action. I hope we can all come up with a solution, but please can you lay off the stereotyping of HMOs? Or at least think about it? It really gets me down to see "my people" (we are in the ghetto after all) labelled as no-good-nicks and litterbugs ;)
Sorry,but Council officials,Members of Parliament use the word ghetto and I should not be censored just because I speak the truth.
I am not losing any battle as I am still involved in the consultation stage of the Governments study of the problems caused by having so many HMOs in any one area, it produces an Unsustainable Community and is against Government Policies.
If any student who is studying planning law wants help out they are most welcome but I do not think that Planning law is taught at the Solent Uni.
I am also a ghetto resident and you should be proud to be the same, we could be the last of an endangered species !.
I am so glad that this debate has made you want to be involved in the community.
If more people had done that years ago
we should not have had to take drastic action to bring the situation to the attention of the Council and the Government.
Posted by: Sheriff John Burnell (retired), Southampton on 8:14am Fri 16 May 08
Stop blaming students for the mess - at least they are doing something with their lives. The people to blame are the drug adicts, the wasters, the benefit claimers, the lay abouts, the general scum that seems to be taking over this city. A waste of good oxygen
Stop blaming students for the mess - at least they are doing something with their lives. The people to blame are the drug adicts, the wasters, the benefit claimers, the lay abouts, the general scum that seems to be taking over this city. A waste of good oxygen
Posted by: Lorraine Barter, Southampton on 2:25pm Fri 16 May 08
[quote][bold]Sheriff John Burnell (retired)[/bold] wrote:
Stop blaming students for the mess - at least they are doing something with their lives. The people to blame are the drug adicts, the wasters, the benefit claimers, the lay abouts, the general scum that seems to be taking over this city. A waste of good oxygen[/quote] The Solent Uni know where their students live and so do the Polygon long term residents ( those that have been survived 15 years of an awful stressful life ) the students live HERE.
But it is ironic that so many people are unemployed partly due to the Governments insistance that most school leavers become students, then employers become too selective and will not even interview hard working people if they have no University degree.
I do have sympathy for most people who cannot gain employment as for my generation that was almost unknown .
Sheriff John Burnell (retired) wrote:
Stop blaming students for the mess - at least they are doing something with their lives. The people to blame are the drug adicts, the wasters, the benefit claimers, the lay abouts, the general scum that seems to be taking over this city. A waste of good oxygen
The Solent Uni know where their students live and so do the Polygon long term residents ( those that have been survived 15 years of an awful stressful life ) the students live HERE.
But it is ironic that so many people are unemployed partly due to the Governments insistance that most school leavers become students, then employers become too selective and will not even interview hard working people if they have no University degree.
I do have sympathy for most people who cannot gain employment as for my generation that was almost unknown .
Posted by: Lorraine Barter, Southampton on 2:35pm Fri 16 May 08
The Solent Uni know where their students live and so do the Polygon residents
( those that have survived 15 years of student/HMO Invasion )
The students live HERE in Polygon.
Indisputable fact.
The Solent Uni know where their students live and so do the Polygon residents
( those that have survived 15 years of student/HMO Invasion )
The students live HERE in Polygon.
Indisputable fact.
Posted by: ghetto resident, soton on 1:04am Sat 17 May 08
Sheriff John wrote ,stop blaming the students ,who else do you think is causing all the mess and noise and damage in the early hours on thier way home from the clubs in Bedford place area? could it be the long term residents ,or the children or the elderly or even Lorraine Barter and her gang?so she can take photos of vomit and rats ?get real john ,we all know who is doing it ,and as for your comment 'at least they are doing something with thier lives 'YES ,making ours a bloody misery.
You obviously dont live in the polygon John ,so you have no idea what you are talking about ,Tell me what are they doing with thier lives ?
Sheriff John wrote ,stop blaming the students ,who else do you think is causing all the mess and noise and damage in the early hours on thier way home from the clubs in Bedford place area? could it be the long term residents ,or the children or the elderly or even Lorraine Barter and her gang?so she can take photos of vomit and rats ?get real john ,we all know who is doing it ,and as for your comment 'at least they are doing something with thier lives 'YES ,making ours a bloody misery.
You obviously dont live in the polygon John ,so you have no idea what you are talking about ,Tell me what are they doing with thier lives ?
Posted by: Gilmore, Shirley, Southampton on 2:01pm Sat 17 May 08
Crikey, this topic is still hot!
Hey Lorraine, I've just done a quick web search for the Residents Action but I couldn't find any information. How often do you meet up and where do you publish your minutes or campaign notes? I know I'm probably slightly out of you jurisdiction, in which case do you know of a Shirley equivalent? I couldn't find anything on Shirley Community groups either. Maybe I could start my own? Thanks in advance.
Crikey, this topic is still hot!
Hey Lorraine, I've just done a quick web search for the Residents Action but I couldn't find any information. How often do you meet up and where do you publish your minutes or campaign notes? I know I'm probably slightly out of you jurisdiction, in which case do you know of a Shirley equivalent? I couldn't find anything on Shirley Community groups either. Maybe I could start my own? Thanks in advance.
Posted by: Lorraine Barter, Southampton on 5:00pm Sat 17 May 08
Only an association needs to publish their minutess and our campaign was formed ten years ago
by the amalgamation of
the remaining supporters of the two
groups that closed down when residents started fleeing the Polygon.
If you want to start a group then a pressure group has less problems with paperwork and the legal aspect as now residents associations have to have huge insurance cover for meetings, calling at houses or collecting donations from supporters.
Many groups are run by Internet and telephone contact with each person taking on a specific task, i.e Planning
objections, Refuse, Environment,Tree
Preservation, Crime, the Night Time Economy.
A good way to start is to contact your
local Police Community Support
Officer and they may be willing to meet up with you and your neighbours in a local hall to talk about problems in your area, then you could ask those attending if they want to form a group. Pick specific subjects that impact on your lifestyle, i.e
Take aways, criminal damage, too many flats,fast traffic,
pubs and bars, or vandalism.
More important would be to form a Neighbourhood Watch Group, the police would support you and there would be no
administation costs, or paperwork and legal problems that hinder residents associations.
Either way ask at the police station for contact with your
local officer.
Only an association needs to publish their minutess and our campaign was formed ten years ago
by the amalgamation of
the remaining supporters of the two
groups that closed down when residents started fleeing the Polygon.
If you want to start a group then a pressure group has less problems with paperwork and the legal aspect as now residents associations have to have huge insurance cover for meetings, calling at houses or collecting donations from supporters.
Many groups are run by Internet and telephone contact with each person taking on a specific task, i.e Planning
objections, Refuse, Environment,Tree
Preservation, Crime, the Night Time Economy.
A good way to start is to contact your
local Police Community Support
Officer and they may be willing to meet up with you and your neighbours in a local hall to talk about problems in your area, then you could ask those attending if they want to form a group. Pick specific subjects that impact on your lifestyle, i.e
Take aways, criminal damage, too many flats,fast traffic,
pubs and bars, or vandalism.
More important would be to form a Neighbourhood Watch Group, the police would support you and there would be no
administation costs, or paperwork and legal problems that hinder residents associations.
Either way ask at the police station for contact with your
local officer.
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