A LANDLADY concerned about illegal parking in Southampton has taken to the streets calling out bad drivers. 

Pub owner Mary Thornton-Smith has printed out cards asking motorists in Shirley to “please park more considerately in the future".

The 59-year-old, who runs the Witch's Brew in Shirley Road, said the city council “just don’t want to take responsibility.”

It comes after the Daily Echo revealed pensioner Tony Weafer was stickering cars in Shirley High Street after growing frustrated with the problem.

Mary said: “It is getting worse, especially with that new school that is going to open up.

“There are loads of cars and lorries parked outside of that new school, and it occurred to me that it’s an accident waiting to happen.

"It needs to be nipped in the bud before the school opens."

Mary said the issue has been going on “for years”.

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She said people with pushchairs, wheelchairs, and scooters are forced into the road.

She said: “I saw that there was no one doing anything about it so that’s how the cards started. I wanted to get to the root of the problem.” 

Residents of Freemantle and Shirley are asking for a permanent traffic warden for Shirley.

Mary said that she was “doubtful” that would happen anytime soon.

She said: “The council say that they don’t have the money but the money they would make from the parking would pay the wages and more.” 

Mary is now trying to organise a community meeting at her pub and has asked council members to attend.  

She said the authority declined a planned date on July 5 and Mary is now asking for another date.

The leader of Southampton City Council, Councillor Satvir Kaur, said:  “I'm looking forward to working with local ward councillors... in Shirley and Freemantle to ensure that people feel as though they can leave their homes and use our pavements in a safe way.” 

The city council is currently reviewing the policy on pavements and will be releasing new action plans later this year.

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