Councillors have claimed Portsmouth100 projects overlook the north of the city

Claims Portsmouth100 has become ‘Southsea 100’ have emerged after councillors criticised a promotional film and the Lion Trail for overlooking the north.

Councillors have raised concerns about Portsmouth’s centenary celebrations, arguing that the promotional video and the Lion’s Trail fail to represent the north of the city.

This year marks 100 years since Portsmouth was granted city status. The anniversary has been marked with a programme of activities, events and projects designed to celebrate and promote the city.

Two of these initiatives include a 12 minute promotional film and the Pride of Portsmouth Lion Trail, which invited residents to hunt for 45 lion sculptures across the city.

However, the Lion Trail did not include any sculptures in the Drayton and Farlington ward.

Conservative councillor Spencer Gardner, who represents the ward, said: “Residents are understandably asking why some locations have multiple sculptures while our ward has none.

“If this is intended to be a city-wide attraction, then every part of Portsmouth should have the opportunity to participate and benefit from it.

“Unfortunately, this reinforces a perception I hear repeatedly from residents: that the north of the city is too often treated as an afterthought when major events, attractions and investment decisions are made.

“It’s not as though there was nowhere suitable. We have Drayton Park, the Drayton Centre, The Parade shopping area, Farlington Playing Fields, Farlington Marshes and the iconic setting of The George on Portsdown Hill.

“When Victoria Park can accommodate two lions within around 100 metres of each other, it is difficult to understand why there was no place for even one in Drayton and Farlington.”

Reform UK councillor Russell Simpson, who represents Hilsea ward, also raised concerns about the Portsmouth100 film. The full 12 minute version is due to premiere in September, although a one minute 15 second trailer is already available on the Visit Portsmouth website.

He said in the 12 minute video has “as little as 30 seconds of the north of the city is featured. Even in those 30 seconds much of it is without context”.

He said when he raised his concerns with a council director, they “didn’t believe including important characteristics of the North of the city had much ‘mileage’.

“This includes the Portsmouth Music Hub and scenic Chalk hills in Paulsgrove, the Hilsea lines featuring the Victorian Bastions and secondary natural forest with an array of birds such as Herons and Kingfishers, Copnors’ WWI Musuem and Farlington Marshes to name a few.

“Some residents that have seen the film have dubbed it, ‘Southsea 100’ which isn’t hard to argue with.

“The Corporate services team that produced the film are clearly not familiar with the whole city which is why they didn’t notice two miles of secondary natural forest was missing.

“For almost £20,000 a Portsmouth 100 video should be inclusive, and everyone should be ‘part of the story’ as is said at the end of film.

He said he would like the council to produce an inclusive film “that represents the whole of Portsmouth”, but added he was “not confident they have the footage underlined in the brief”.

“In the future, the corporate services team should be reaching out to grassroot groups around the city, not just groups that operate in Southsea.

“Overall, I feel the north of the city has not had the same opportunities as the south and this can be seen throughout the year where there is no longer any local annual event. The last being the KGV fireworks which is now held in Southsea.”

In response, a council spokesperson said: “Portsmouth100 is a celebration of 100 years of Portsmouth having city status, bringing communities together to celebrate the city’s heritage, creativity and future, with a wide-ranging programme of events, exhibitions and activities provided by organisations from across the city.

“The Portsmouth100 film is designed to illustrate the city’s rich and diverse culture and history, as part of the celebrations, and includes interviews and footage from events, landmarks and locations across the city, from Portsdown Hill to the seafront.

“Similarly, the Pride of Portsmouth Lion Trail is designed to encourage residents and visitors to explore the city, with lions located across Portsmouth, from Paulsgrove, Cosham and Hilsea in the north, through Baffins, Copnor and the city centre, to Old Portsmouth, Southsea and Eastney.

“Trail locations were chosen in partnership with the sponsors who made the project possible, creating an engaging and accessible experience for residents and visitors alike. The trail has already proven hugely popular, with participants using the app to collect lions more than 100,000 times.

“We recognise that people will have different views on representation and welcome feedback, but we are proud that Portsmouth100 has already involved thousands of residents, schools, community groups, businesses and cultural organisations from across the city, helping ensure that everyone has the opportunity to be part of Portsmouth’s centenary celebrations.”