Running out of patience
An open letter to Cllr Lorna Fielker (Leader of Southampton City Council) and Cllr Eamonn Keogh (Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport)
Dear Cllr Fielker and Cllr Keogh,
Disruption to waste collections across the City has now been going on for three months. Residents in some parts of my ward have not had their recycling emptied for at least five weeks. Complaints reach me via email, text, phone and when out and about in the city. Some reports indicate that there is a growing problem with rats.
Residents’ patience with the situation has understandably run out.
Yet there is no end in sight to the crisis. Indeed, from my perspective the situation appears to be deteriorating.
As an opposition leader I believe in being constructive. As such I have refrained from calling for political resignations as I feel this would have been a performative gesture. However, if you are unable to resolve the situation at what point do you change course? And when do you, as those bearing ultimate responsibility, decide to make way for people who can sort the situation out?
The current situation has become intolerable for many residents across our city and is becoming untenable for your administration.
I would therefore be grateful if you could explain why so many problems remain after three months, and how you intend to rectify the situation as soon as possible.
Yours sincerely,
Cllr Richard Blackman
Leader of Southampton City Council Liberal Democrat Group
and on behalf of Southampton Liberal Democrats
My patience has run out
Do you agree with Richard that enough is enough? Add your signature here to show your support. (Signatures will not be published, but we will present the list of signatures to the council if there is strong support.)
