Council approves to investigate change to Itchen Bridge lights
Much to the disgust of Saints fans, it's currently blue - the colour of footballing rivals Portsmouth
Last updated 20th Dec 2023
It’s good news for Saints fans as Southampton City Council’s cabinet has officially set the wheels in motion for potentially changing the Itchen Bridge lights from blue to red.
The idea to get rid of the Portsmouth FC blue and replace it with a Southampton FC red came from Perry McMillan when he attended Southampton’s annual court leet in October (2023).
Court leet is a yearly tradition in the city, run by the sheriff, where members of the public can make ‘presentments’ to the authority on anything they deem to be important.
Mr McMillan said: “As a born and bred Sotonian and Southampton Hackney Carriage taxi driver of over 25 years, I, Perry McMillan, wish that the blue lights on Itchen Bridge be replaced by red and white lights.
“The reason for this is that blue is the colour of our nearest neighbours and rivals Portsmouth! Hundreds of Southampton supporters travel across the bridge on foot or vehicles and have had a decade of mockery from Portsmouth supporters!”
Court leet ‘presentments’ are deliberated by officers who make a recommendation and then these recommendations go to the city council’s cabinet to be either voted in or refused.
The officer’s response to the light change idea was that officers are ‘investigating the possibility’ of altering the colour of lighting on the Itchen Bridge.
They said: “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.”
Sheriff Councillor Dave Shields, attended the cabinet meeting on Tuesday (December 19) to speak to members about court leet, with a focus on the Itchen Bridge and the national attention it received.
He said: “(Court leet) generated a lot of interest in the Itchen Bridge and the lighting there – and several people have contacted me outside the council whether outside the football stadium, waiting for the bus, or in the pub after the game.”
The Sheriff went on to talk about the concerns, which include financing and safety.
“I’d be very pleased to support the cabinet member in making sure those issues are picked up and are responsive to the various concerns that people have raised in response to that discussion.”
Councillor Satvir Kaur, leader of the council, who chairs the cabinet, said of court leet as a whole: “It was great to see such a varied and vast number of proposals going forward.
“It just shows how passionate people are about the city and people remain ambitious for themselves, for their families and for the city.”
Speaking to Sheriff Cllr Shields, who will hold the Mayoral title next year (2024/2025), she said: “I have no doubt as mayor you’ll be keeping them (the proposals) driven.”
Cabinet voted in the court leet ‘presentments’ unanimously which means work can now commence on the practicalities of changing the Itchen Bridge lights from blue to red.