John Denham accompanied residents from Ocean Village to meet City Council Cabinet Member for Development Royston Smith today (15^th May).  John secured the meeting to discuss the future of the once attractive and prestigious Ocean Village. 

John said “Ocean Village is no longer the vibrant and attractive area we remember from the days of Round the World Yacht Races.  The downturn in the housing market has left hoardings surrounding abandoned building works, unsightly containers are stored on the Promontory and the lightship is in a sad state (although I am working with Hampshire Probation Service to get it repainted by offenders on community sentences). 

“I held a well-attended public meeting a few months back to ask residents what they want to see happen and have since held a further meeting with residents’ leaders.  I offered to meet Councillor Smith, on a strictly non-party political basis, to discuss how we can all work together to make Ocean Village the asset to Southampton that it once was.We need commitment from the Council to devote officer time to coordinating improvements in the area and in getting developers interested.  Councillor Smith has undertaken to look into this possibility."

Ward Labour Councillor Sarah Bogle also attended the meeting.