Calls to change colour of Itchen Bridge lights
Southampton fans aren't impressed
After more than a decade of being blue, there's a campaign to change the lights on Southampton's Itchen Bridge to red and white.
Saints' fans say the switch is long overdue having being mocked by rivals Pompey for many years.
In 2011, when the blue LED strips on lampposts were being installed, red wasn't deemed safe by aviation or port officials.
Southampton taxi driver Perry McMillan is leading a campaign to get the lights changed.
He said: "Our cousins down the M27 would never stand for red and white on any of their buildings, so why have we put up for it more than 10 years in Southampton?
"It's about time it was red and white. You've got St. Mary's Stadium in the background with fans walking to and from.
"Let's have a red and white Itchen Bridge."
He's submitted a presentation to Court Leet, where residents can present matters of local interest that wouldn’t normally come to the attention of Southampton City Council.
A panel will review the idea on Tuesday 3 October.
A Southampton City Council spokesperson said: "The original design proposals for The Itchen Bridge included red LED finials, and strip arrays on each column, as this was to promote the City, and our links to Southampton Football Club.
"However, the colour was deemed not safe or acceptable, following consultation with the local port and aviation authorities, therefore the blue arrays were selected and approved following further consultation with the relevant stakeholders."
In 2015, Portsmouth City Council made a u-turn after an angry reaction to the proposed red and white colour scheme for the Spinnaker Tower.