Anger as Millbrook is treated as a 'no go area' in Southampton

To some Millbrook is the place they call home, that they “love to live in”.

But the perception of Millbrook by some others in the city has been brought into focus after a heated meeting held to discuss plans to overhaul parts of the estate.

As previously reported, up to 500 new homes, as well as new businesses, could be built in Millbrook, Maybush and Redbridge as part of the biggest change in the area for decades.

Labour’s plans, first unveiled two years ago, have been criticised by some who say it is simply “infilling” some areas while not providing larger-scale improvements.

During the meeting, Conservative councillor Steve Galton said that some people view parts of Millbrook as “no go areas,”, which drew an angry response from some residents.

The comments, which he says echoed his maiden speech as a councillor when he spoke about estate regeneration, were criticised by Labour opponents who have called on him to apologise.

Cllr Galton has accused Labour of “smearing” him, saying that “it is obvious by my work and actions I care strongly for Millbrook and nowhere is a no-go area for me personally,”, but says others have painted a different picture.

He says that while growing up in the city he would hear some people refer to the area as “Millbronx”.

“Everybody wants to think they live in a great area and that can mean saying it’s better than other areas – it’s like the rivalry between Southampton and Portsmouth”, he says.

“I think that’s something you can get on a smaller scale in Southampton.”

He says he wants to challenge that view by fighting to improve the area, pointing to the fact that parts of Millbrook are among the most deprived in the city according to official statistics, although he says they also show issues in other areas that can only be resolved by citywide improvement.

Redbridge ward, which contains large parts of the area residents would know as Millbrook, has the third highest level of child poverty in the city according to a council report, while Millbrook comes seventh.

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The debate over estate regeneration has led to a bitter spat between Labour, who say the Tories neglected the area, and the Conservatives, who have accused Labour of causing unnecessary delays to regeneration and not having the funds to carry out work.

Labour councillor for Millbrook ward Mike Denness says that “regeneration of parts of the ward is welcomed but it needs to be about improving the area for existing residents, not just building more homes”.

He added: “I don’t think Millbrook is perceived as a ‘no go area,’ the Tory councillors’ comments were misguided and inflammatory and demonstrate at best a naivety and lack of knowledge of the ward he represents, he needs to apologise.

“I really don’t see it, Cllr Furnell and I are out every week speaking to residents across the ward and it’s not something we hear. Of course residents tell us areas that need attention and jobs that need doing, that’s what we’re here for, however, residents are proud to live in the area.

“We have great communities, great schools and great residents who genuinely want the best for their neighbourhood and I am proud to live in the ward with my family.

Andrew Pope, independent English Futures ward councillor for Redbridge, agrees with his former party colleague that the area “does not deserve that reputation”, but has accused Labour of using the row to mask shortcomings in their estate regeneration plans.

“My experience in coming to the area, working and then living here, is that it’s a good area to live.

“There are some issues, but there are issues in other areas. There’s no way I’d agree it’s a no-go area.”

Some of the residents in Millbrook itself fiercely reject any suggestion it is a “no-go area”.

Millbrook Towers resident Mo Simmonds said: “I’ve lived in Millbrook about 37 years, I love it where I live and I wouldn’t want to move. Some people have said to me ‘why don’t you move?’ but why would I want to?

“I’ve got no worries about Millbrook. We have had some problems with kids in the past, but it’s just like any other area of the city.

“I love the park and the people, especially those in my block but also around the whole area.

“I don’t think it’s fair to say that parts of Millbrook are ‘no-go areas’, it’s not like some people make out.”

John Clark, from Windrush Road, said: “I know it can get a bad rep from some people. I don’t really know why that is but I don’t think that’s based in reality.”

And resident Michael Keenan said: “All parts of Southampton have their issues, to be honest I just treat it as a joke as I haven’t got a problem living here.”