I don’t have a particular issue with the decision by Southampton City Council to erect Advertising Towers that will overlook Redbridge flyover. I do appreciate that a revenue stream will be welcome in terms of council budgets.

However, with Local Government Reorganisation around the corner and the prospect of Totton and the Waterside being forced into a new arrangement that ties us into the City of Southampton, there will inevitably be a concern that alien structures might later be imposed in our communities.

Such things might be appropriate for the City, but not for the New Forest district. I foresee battles ahead between Councillors who appreciate the different nature of our area and those that don’t.

The Prime Minister in waiting, Andy Burnham, is said to be keen on devolution and due to set out some of his early ideas in a speech later today. I would encourage him to abandon the part of government policy that means they impose structures that local people are so strongly opposed to and give us the power to decide what’s right.

It will save a lot of angst and hopefully the £500,000 that Hampshire County Council intends spending on a late legal challenge.