Residents are campaigning to save their last remaining local green space in the city. 

They are angry at proposals to close a park and play area behind Maytree School in Newtown, affectionately known as The Venny, due to anti-social behaviour and criminal activity. 

Southampton City Council have launched a consultation into whether they should enforce a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) at the park and next door footpath on Northumberland Road, as well as another footpath alongside Mount Pleasant School.

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Residents, while appreciative of the council's concerns, say the park has been neglected and left vulnerable to antisocial behaviour. 

They are urging civic chiefs to work with the community to deliver alternative solutions which won't deprive them of The Venny, so named thanks to its legacy as the fondly remembered Newtown Adventure Playground on the same site. 

Campaigner Sarah Imran explained: "The Venny has been the centre of our community for decades. This used to be my safe place as a child. We were able to explore, play and learn a lot of life skills. It was like my second home.

"Taking away this park will leave children with nowhere to go. There is nothing left here now for our children. If this is taken away, where do they go? Please help us to stop our children’s futures from being ruined further."

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The group Southampton National Park City is supporting residents with co-ordinator Rae Turpin saying "the closure of this space would send a disheartening message, implying that those in certain areas are undeserving of the same amenities readily afforded to others in our city”.

All are invited to attend a protest, which will take place tonight (Wednesday January 17) at 6pm at YMCA Newtown Youth Centre.

A Southampton City Council spokesperson said: “The footpath alongside Mount Pleasant School, and the footpath and park alongside Maytree School have long standing history of anti-social and criminal activities.

"The Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 gives Southampton City Council the power to make Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs) to control activities which have a detrimental effect on the quality of life to those living and working in a locality.

"As a result, we are proposing that two PSPOs are put in place to close these footpaths and park."