Reducing congestion inside the toilets, supports better hygiene practices, and is a more convenient and accessible solution to washing your hands before and after a climbing session.  

Bridge Park isn’t just part of Brent’s story—it’s part of Britain’s. We, the undersigned residents and supporters of North West London, write to express our collective support for the listing of Bridge Park Community Centre (formerly Stonebridge Bus Depot) as a site of national historic and architectural significance. Bridge Park is far more than a building. It is a powerful living testament to what can be achieved when communities are given the freedom to lead, build, and transform the environment around them. Born out of the Harlesden People’s Community Council (HPCC) in the early 1980s, Bridge Park is Europe’s largest Black-led community enterprise centre, developed in direct response to the 1981 uprisings. At a time of intense racial tension, poverty, and social unrest, a group of young Black Londoners took ownership of a disused bus garage and turned it into a centre for training, sports, cultural activity, and childcare—a model of hope and healing when it was most needed. 1. Historic Significance Bridge Park was a radical, community-led response to structural inequality. It reflects the lived experience of marginalised urban youth and the strength of grassroots leadership. The project stands as a rare example of sustained Black civic enterprise and self-determination, directly recognised by the (then) Prince of Wales in 1988, who called it “one of the most important developments I have seen in this country for a long time.” It offers a vital counternarrative to the dominant histories of decline and disorder. It shows a people-led vision of Britain’s urban and multicultural future. 2. Architectural Significance Bridge Park is a pioneering example of adaptive reuse. A former bus depot reimagined by local people into a multi-purpose civic space. Its design directly reflects the values and needs of the community that shaped it. It is a monument to democratic architecture—where vision was born from lived experience, and the building’s function served real social purpose. 3. Inclusion, Diversity, and Equality Listing Bridge Park would demonstrate Historic England’s commitment to its Strategy for Inclusion, Diversity, and Equality, especially Action 2: recognising more representative and diverse heritage. It would protect not just bricks and mortar, but the memory of a movement that redefined public space, ownership, and community agency—especially for those too often excluded from the official record. 4. A Call to Honour Our Shared Heritage Bridge Park’s story is not only Black history or Brent history—it is British history. A national story of resilience, creativity, and pride. To deny its listing would be to erase a critical chapter in the story of modern Britain. To grant it would be a courageous act of historical justice. We respectfully call on Historic England and the Secretary of State to: • Grant listed status to Bridge Park under application reference 1493686; • Recognise its special historic and architectural interest; • Acknowledge its critical role in shaping inclusive national heritage. Bridge Park must be protected—not just for what it is, but for everything it represents.

Restoring our village hall will bring substantial benefits to our community.   • Preserving our Heritage: The hall holds historical significance and contributes to local identity.   • Community Hub: A restored hall fosters social connections and provides a space for community events.   • Inclusivity: Renovations can improve accessibility, welcoming people of all ages and abilities.   • Increased Usage: More local groups and organisations will engage, strengthening social cohesion.   • Economic Boost: A well-maintained hall can attract visitors, supporting local businesses.   • Community Pride: Restoration encourages local involvement and a sense of ownership.   • Health & Wellbeing: The hall can support fitness, mental health, and social programs.   • Intergenerational Engagement: A shared space for different generations to connect and collaborate.

The Assumptionist Order has indicated that Our Lady of Grace parish must vacate its historic church and presbytery in Charlton, placing this thriving Catholic community at risk. Our Lady of Grace Church and Grade II listed Highcombe House represent irreplaceable heritage dating back to 1903. The church, built in Neo-Romanesque style by French architect Eugène-Jacques Gervais in 1905-1906, stands as testimony to the Assumptionist Order's mission in England. The integrity of this site depends on preserving the church, Highcombe House, and gardens as a unified property, including the historic pathway connecting the church to Our Lady of Grace School. This pathway has a history dating back over 200 years—originally part of Eastcombe farm's orchard paths, adapted by Sir William Congreve around 1820. The gardens contain a historic mulberry tree of significant age requiring protection. This tree forms part of the site's living heritage and contributes to local biodiversity, warranting dedicated conservation. The path has been used by generations of residents including General Sir George Whitmore's family, the Barlow family (1862-1902), followed by the Assumptionist community and schoolchildren, creating a living timeline connecting today's community to centuries of local history. Any subdivision would compromise the site's historical significance and the vital connection between parish and school community. The newly formed Our Lady of Grace Buildings Preservation Trust is ready to work with the Assumptionist Order, local council, and experts to develop a sustainable plan that respects the Order's interests while preserving this site for future generations. Once lost, this shared heritage can never be restored. We believe collaborative dialogue can find solutions that honour the Assumptionist legacy.

Basingstoke is at a crossroads. Our town centre, once vibrant and full of promise, is now marked by empty units, tired infrastructure, and regeneration plans that haven’t yet delivered real change. While we support Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council’s long-term vision — especially around green space and multi-purpose use — let’s be honest: it’s not enough.  The Town Centre Masterplan lays important foundations, but the reality is delivery has been slow, and existing plans still treat Basingstoke's shopping centres as if both can be revived. That simply doesn't reflect the scale of the challenge - or the opportunity.  We face a drastic oversupply of retail space. Trying to breathe new life into both Festival Place and The Malls - while expanding into Top of Town - risks diluting investment, scattering footfall, and missing the chance for true transformation.  The Malls are owned by the Council. That means the future of this critical part of the town centre is in their gift. And with Festival Place having gone into receivership in 2023, the second floor now sits largely empty. How can we expect to attract new businesses and investment when our retail core lacks purpose and momentum? This proposal puts forward a bold but practical solution: • Relocate the businesses currently in The Malls into the vacant units in Festival Place and Top of Town. • Demolish The Malls and create a modern, people-centred green space that supports business, culture, sport and wellbeing — all in the heart of Basingstoke. There are currently around 22 businesses trading in The Malls, while Festival Place has at least 27 vacant units — ranging in size from large anchor spaces like the former Debenhams, to smaller units suitable for the majority of shops in The Malls. Festival Place alone has the capacity to absorb the existing businesses from The Malls — and that’s before even considering the additional space available at the Top of Town. A vibrant high street will attract new business and investment — from bakers to butchers, cafés to co-working spaces, bookshops to barbers. It’s about creating a place where independent traders thrive alongside well-known brands, where families can spend the day, where culture, convenience and community meet. A successful town centre should offer more than just shopping — it should be a destination, a meeting place, and the beating heart of local life. This is a win-win-win — for businesses, who will benefit from increased footfall and investment; for our community, who gain a modern green space and cultural venue; and for Basingstoke, which can once again be a leading example of local regeneration done right.  Let’s be ambitious. Let’s take control of our town’s future. Let’s reimagine Basingstoke — together.

Social media apps have been shown to be a huge danger to children over and over again. It's time to pass a law to force the makers of the apps to take responsibility, and ensure that no-one under 16 is able to use social media apps in the UK.  Let's hold the likes of Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg to account, and cut them off from access to our children.  The dangers of how children interact on social media currently being highlighted in Netflix show Adolescence.  Young, impressionable minds are being driven to dangerous places by profit-hungry social media companies. Children are being exposed to huge harm, from online bullying, to toxic characters like Andrew Tate, or even algorithms that promote eating disorders and more, social media has become a dangerous unregulated wild west for our children. 

Ravenscraig Castle is an historically important castle for Scotland and the United Kingdom: - It was the home of Mary of Guelders Queen of Scotland, the wife of King James II of Scotland. After her husband's death, Mary ruled as regent for their son James III of Scotland from 1460 to 1463.  - It is the only castle in Scotland the building of which was commissioned by a woman. - Ravenscraig was built in volatile times for King James II and Scotland, as a last resort refuge for the Royal family with Falkland Palace deemed not entirely safe and Stirling Castle having been subjected to siege by the waring Douglas Clan following King James II stabbing William, 8th Earl of Douglas to death at a banquet in Stirling Castle. - In 1471 in a very important transaction for Scotland and ultimately the United Kingdom, castle ownership passed from Scottish royalty to William Sinclair, Earl of Orkney and Caithness in return for surrender of Sinclair’s Orkney title.  This exchange was part and parcel of the dowry in the marriage of King James III of Scotland and Margaret of Denmark (the daughter of King Kristian 1, King of Denmark and Norway). Ultimately the terms of the dowry lead Orkney and Shetland becoming part of Scotland rather than Norway.    - It is the first example of a castle built in Scotland, and one of the first in Europe of a castle built with artillery fortification to defend against gunpowder siege artillery and firearms. The high and massive round fronted tower house has a maximum thickness of 4.4 metres. This is the only Scottish pre-1513 gun looped work with an extraordinary reinforcement of wall thickness against bombardment threat. - Kirkcaldy is also an economically challenged area (as recognised by the Scottish government). The restoration of the castle would restore the jewel in Kirkcaldy’s crown and could bring jobs to Kirkcaldy and potentially specialist apprenticeship opportunities, and post restoration tourism jobs.  - As recently as 1905 the castle was used in local customs as an important focal point for the gathering of townsfolk for Hansel Monday and New Years Day celebrations. As recently as 40 years ago the public could visit the rooms in the castle however the rooms are no longer open to the public. Indeed there is no access at all to the castle at the moment. - The Castle is not currently in a good state of repair. The approach of Historic Environment Scotland to the castle appears to be one off managed decline or curated decay ie just a pile of stones to look at from the outside, rather than to preserve or restore.  Given the historical and military importance of Ravenscraig Castle it should be restored and preserved for future generations, like Edinburgh and Stirling Castles.

The latest casualty of the exorbitant retail rents charged by Greenwich Hospital is the excellent vintage shop Joli, closing down this week. We understand Greenwich Hospital has to make money for its charitable concerns but, with imagination, this can be done without destroying the livelihoods of small local businesses and without ignoring its responsibility as custodian of a special part of London. Pricing out independent shops is counterproductive. Greenwich is a place valued by locals and visitors for its heritage and unique character. That will be lost if it goes the way of most high streets in the UK and becomes an identikit mass of chain stores. We call on John Healey, Deirdre Mills and vice admiral Martin Connell, respectively the trustee, director and advisor of Greenwich Hospital, to stop this happening.

This petition to rename America to its indigenous name, Hah-nu-nah, is crucial in the context of recent governmental actions that have altered significant geographical names, such as the Gulf of Mexico and Denali. These changes have been implemented without substantial consultation with indigenous communities, highlighting a pattern of disregarding the original names bestowed by the native inhabitants of these lands. By advocating for the restoration of the name Hah-nu-nah, we aim to honour the rich cultural heritage and historical significance of indigenous peoples. This act serves as a step towards reconciliation and acknowledges the deep-rooted connections between the land and its first inhabitants. In light of the recent renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America and Denali back to Mount McKinley, it is imperative to address the importance of indigenous nomenclature. Restoring the name Hah-nu-nah not only rectifies historical oversights but also fosters a more inclusive and respectful recognition of our nation’s diverse cultural landscape. Supporting this petition is a meaningful action towards embracing and preserving the indigenous identities that form the foundation of our shared history.

The future of the iconic Prince Charles Cinema in London’s West End is under serious threat! We are beyond disappointed that our landlords, Zedwell LSQ Ltd and their ultimate parent company Criterion Capital, have demanded the inclusion of a break clause in our new lease. This could leave us homeless with only 6 months’ notice should they receive planning permission to redevelop the cinema. Losing The Prince Charles Cinema would mean losing not just an iconic cultural institution, but also an engine for the economy of the West End that brings people from all over London and the surrounding area to watch films, shop and eat and drink.  This would have repercussions way beyond the building itself. The Prince Charles Cinema was opened in 1962 as a live theatre before becoming a cinema in the mid-sixties.  Under our stewardship the cinema, which receives no public subsidy,  has become known for its unique range of programming spanning the history of cinema. At a time when cinemas continue to close throughout the world, we are happy to buck the trend with our thriving and fiercely independent offer. We feel that this demand amounts to a clear attempt by Zedwell LSQ Ltd and their ultimate parent company Criterion Capital to use their significant financial resources to disregard our legal entitlement to a new lease, and bully us out of the building once the existing one ends in Sept 2025.  We can’t let that happen.   ‘The Prince Charles has a place in my heart. It’s the people, the programming, the accessibility, feeling, texture... you cannot go wrong. You also know that on any given day, you can close your eyes, press your finger to the programme, and you’ll hit something great. It’s like tuning into your favourite radio station.’ - Paul Thomas Anderson  #SaveThePCC  

1. A Safe Space for Children • It provides a safe and welcoming environment for kids to play, learn, and build friendships. • Without it, families lose access to affordable, local resources for after-school activities and community events. 2. A Hub for the Neighbourhood • The Centre brings people together, strengthening bonds between neighbours and fostering a sense of belonging. • It supports local initiatives, events, and activities that benefit everyone, from children to seniors. 3. Protecting Our Heritage • The Soanes Centre is home to a historical graveyard, preserving a vital piece of Tower Hamlets' history. • Losing the Centre means neglecting an irreplaceable cultural landmark tied to the area's identity.

It’s important because community-driven initiatives address local needs in a way that top-down approaches often cannot.  By empowering residents, charities, and CICs, these projects foster a sense of ownership, collaboration, and pride in the community.  Leveraging the Tower Hamlets Social Value Levy and matchfunding amplifies the impact, ensuring that resources are used effectively to create tangible benefits, such as housing solutions, green spaces, and cultural enrichment.  This approach not only improves quality of life but also builds a stronger, more resilient Tower Hamlets.