bitternepark.info podcasts

In this brief piece, traders and others reflect on the Christmas Fayre this year (2011).

In this extended audio, we find out about the Woodcraft Folk, “a movement for children and young people, open to everyone from birth to adult”. ‘Woodies’ meet locally in Bitterne Park and in central Southampton, and, contrary to popular belief, not that much craft with wood is actually involved! We talk to parents and children to find out what really goes on, and learn a little about the organisation’s history, too.

Unions came together in Southampton on Wednesday lunchtime to demand fair pensions for all. Teaching unions, including the traditionally moderate ATL, joined a range of other public sector unions to protest. Organisers estimated the turnout at around 3,000. We recorded an interview and speeches by representatives of the teaching unions to find out why they decided to take the action they did. For more click here.

School closures are likely across the city on Wednesday (November 30) as teachers, support staff and perhaps even head teachers join other public sector workers in nationwide industrial action. Already Bitterne Park Infant, Bitterne Park Junior and St Denys Primary have said they will be closed. A rally will assemble at Hoglands Park at noon. Read more on bitternepark.info and hear our interview with Sam Cutler from Sholing Technology College, who is in the moderate ATL union, at the last protest in June.

Traders aim to bring the community together for a bigger and better Christmas fayre on Friday, December 16, 2011 from 5.30 – 8pm. Hear Karen Evens from Tiger Lily florist talking about the event.

Sofa City Bands Collective is hosting a charity gig at Talking Heads with a raft of local bands performing in aid of Jail Guitar Doors – a charity founded by Billy Bragg – and the Society of St James. Listen to our interview with organiser Colin McAllister. Full story on portswood.info.

As the Southampton City Council’s deadline of July 11 approaches, when workers who fail to accept pay cuts will be sacked, and following on from our coverage of UNISON General Secretary Dave Prentice’s speech in the city, we spoke to Jeremy Moulton, Deputy Leader of Conservative-led council, to find out why he believes pay cuts and dismissals are necessary. For the full article go to bitternepark.info

portswood.info was pleased to attend a 'social media surgery' at the Shooting Star Pub, Bevois Valley Road on July 2, 2011, where social media enthusiasts were on hand to share what they know with people from community organisations who want to learn about the benefits of using these tools. We spoke to organisers Gavin Barker and Jackie Booth to find out more.

Dave Prentice, General Secretary of UNISON, dropped in to Southampton at a rally of public sector workers, who joined striking teachers in Guildhall Square, with a message for council leader Royston Smith: “there is an alternative to pension and job cuts”, he said. Hear his speech in full below. Please consider supporting us by using our online shopping links: this helps fund the sites and keep us going! Thanks.

Our in-depth audio report about the plan to sell Westridge Road car park in Portswood, Southampton so another supermarket can be built, features interviews with traders, residents, Portswood councillors and MP Dr Alan Whitehead. There is also a poll about the issue on the front page of portswood.info Please consider supporting us by using our online shopping links: this helps fund the sites and keep us going! Thanks.

Vineyard Church took over the Old Chemist in Bitterne Park Triangle in December 2009. In this feature we talk to Matt Hyam, Senior Pastor, and various other people, about why the Church decided to take over the building, and what goes on there. For community news about Bitterne Park and nearby areas, check out the bitterne park community news website here ... Please consider supporting us by using our online shopping links. Thanks!

This piece features interviews with parents mainly from around the St Denys, Bitterne Park and Portswood areas in Southampton, who choose to 'home educate' their children. They talk about why, and how they do it. It also features interviews with several of the children. A version of this also appears on the St Denys Community Show. For more info about home education, try the Education Otherwise website which includes links to local groups. For community news about Bitterne Park and nearby areas, check out the bitterne park community news website here ... Please consider supporting us by using our online shopping links. Thanks!

In this third clip Mary Long talks about: Before the clock tower; leaving children while mothers shopped; Triangle today; before Rverside Park; homework in Cobbett Road Library; playing; Sandringham Road.

In this second clip Mary Long talks about: Local shops; buying a bike; shop in Hillside Avenue; Xmas savings club; Southampton Lido;

Eighty-year-old Mary Long has lived in Bitterne Park for most of her life – and loves it. In these audio clips you can hear how her father bought their house for £500 cash, about shopping at the Triangle, where she used to play, and why she wasn’t allowed to go to what is now Sandringham Road (but did anyway!). Clip 1: 1925-1940; unemployment; her house; childhood; playing; school; the war; bomb in Bond Road;

Ann Ridley’s drawing of the Triangle is progressing apace, she reports. She hopes she’ll be able to display her work at Cobbett Road Library and at the Civic Centre. Read our previous story here

Around 150 people gathered outside the Copsewood Road school gates to show their opposition to a ‘PlayFootball-style’ football pitch and clubhouse development going ahead at Bitterne Park Secondary School. They’ve collected around 700 names on a petition against the development idea. See also: All weather pitch & “clubhouse” scheme on hold, meeting told

The Thekchen Buddhist Centre has been near Bitterne Triangle for over 15 years. We've now updated Matt Koumis's article about the Centre with an audio interview and meditation demonstration, recorded just before a lunchtime drop-in session at the Art House Cafe, Bedford Place.