The Lake District is a National Park, renowned for its outstanding beauty worldwide. It would be a travesty & contravention to many LDNP operatives, set back in 2007, in a document named LAKE DISTRICT NATIONAL PARK LANDSCAPE CHARACTER ASSESSMENT AND GUIDELINES, between the LDNPA, National Trust, Friends of the Lake District & Natural England, all of who are responsible for looking after the English Lake District. There might well be room for a new Zip Wire Development in the Lake District, but beautiful Lakeland Valleys should not be part of this plan. There are already 3 or more zip wire developments in the Lakes, which are based in new woodland, planted for growth, where noise generated is muffled by the surrounding environment. Should such an idea be considered, then surely this type of location is more suitable than a quiet & tranquil valley such as Greenside above Glenridding. The National Park themselves have already stated in their planning advice statement issued to the company concerned in April 2014 that they have significant concerns, including • The impact of development upon the landscape and character of the area • Access, traffic, travel and safeguarding the rights of way network • The impact of development upon the Scheduled Ancient Monument • The impact of development upon contaminated land • The impact of development upon ground stability and conditions • The impact of development upon the residential amenity of nearby dwellings (e.g. as a result of noise) • Ecological impacts (particularly impacts upon the SAC and the SSSI) Given that the land on which the starting point of the Zip Wire is proposed is owned by the Lake District National Park authority it is surely sensible for them to stop this idea now before it develops any further. Glenridding is supported in its entirety by the tourist trade - walkers, climbers, runners, mountain bikers, day trippers, and wedding parties - this list is not exhaustive. All of these people come to this area of the Lakes due to its peace, tranquillity and beauty. To introduce a THRILL seeking ride would change drastically the appeal of this area of the Lakes. Undoubtedly it can be argued that some new visitors would arrive in the valley & village, but many other existing visitors would be turned away. However it is not the perceived economic downfalls or benefits that should be the controlling factor here, it should more so be the reality that Glenridding & the English Lake District is one of the most beautiful mountainous areas in the world. People travel from all over the world to come & see it for its natural beauty, peacefulness, manicured farmland & raw nature that is & has been preserved by organisations such as the National Trust, LDNPA, FOLD etc, funded many years ago by people, such as Beatrix Potter & others, to keep this beauty & way of living for all to enjoy. Add this to the fact that many of the local people do not want such a development & there are also houses at the bottom of the valley who would be greatly affected. There are a house & hostels at the top of the valley who would also be directly affected (4 zip wires running directly over or within 25m's of their properties at a frequency of every 5 to 10 minutes as quoted by Mike Turner of Tree Top Treks). It is also worth mentioning the charity organisation who brings under privileged children from city environments to teach them about respecting nature and which may well face eviction from its current home to make way for the Zip Wire. Then there are all the other walkers, climbers & other valley & mountain users who will be affected. There is also the obvious issue of the massive amount of extra traffic to be generated on a stated bridleway (not road) - at least one large mini-bus/land-train every 20 to 30 minutes – this on a bridlepath the National park themselves have been looking to reduce traffic on with local residents in the last few years. Then there is the massive noise disruption and pollution to the valley, the people who live in it & use it, and the bird & animal populations. The list of practical and tangible issues and objections is endless. Overall though the fundamental point remains - such a proposed development is certainly not in keeping with any of the surrounding environment & it is on these grounds & these grounds alone that ANY zip proposal, let alone a Mile long set of 4 parallel Zip Wires should never be considered for Glenridding, or any other such Lakeland Valley or area.

The Government proposes to widen the A303 trunk road to the south west. This road crosses the iconic Stonehenge World Heritage Site (WHS), which has been called “the most archaeologically significant land surface in Europe”. The whole site, extending to beyond the horizons around the famous stones themselves, is c. 5.4 km across. All of it makes up a “huge ancient complex” that holds many secrets yet to be discovered. The proposal is to put the road into a tunnel where it passes the stones, but the tunnel would be at most only 2.9 km long. This would result in at least 1.6 km of above-ground 21st-century road engineering within the WHS, consisting of new dual carriageway descending in massive trenches to the tunnel portals and possibly a new underpass with slip roads on the western WHS boundary. Archaeology in the construction zones would be destroyed and the A303 would become the largest ever human intervention in an area fashioned and revered by over a hundred generations of our ancestors. The whole Stonehenge landscape has an outstanding universal value that is of immense significance for all people for all time, and this transcends any consideration of sorting out a 21st century part-time traffic jam. ------- International visitors who want to support the campaign, please visit the campaign website here: http://stonehengealliance.org.uk/our-campaign/petition/ where you will find the running total. ------- The photograph of Stonehenge in its landscape setting is courtesy of Jon Westra

Whilst Dartington Hall Trust care for their historic estate and undertake many worthwhile arts and social projects, they are going against the wishes of almost all the people that they share the parish with. Their stated aims of 'social justice ' and'sustainability' are being ignored locally. We challenge DHT to LIVE YOUR VALUES in Dartington Parish - and not to sell our countryside for cash. Once their proposals are included in our district's plan, our village will be surrounded by houses and destroyed forever.

Editorial control of Scottish newspapers should reside in Scotland to ensure that these editors are well placed to understand the views and perspectives of the Scottish People and can therefore reflect this in the news items articulated in items or issues presented.

Only 49% of current MPs were born in the area they represent and very slightly more (51%) completed their secondary schooling in their constituency. In England those born within their constituency stands at just 43%. There are many MPs elected via a so-called "safe-seat" who have had nothing to do with the people and the area they seek to represent. We should all be represented in parliament by someone who has solid links with the people and place he/she purports to speak for. Clearly many people leave their town of birth to live elsewhere, and politicians are no different. However, a minimum residency ruling would help create a better understanding by our MPs of the needs and concerns of local people and therefore a more repesentative parliament.

The Council are close to entering into a contract to outsource the running of all of the borough’s leisure centres. We are very concerned about the secrecy surrounding this process and the lack of consultation which has taken place. Requests to Councillors for information have been met by statements that the information is “commercially sensitive’. This information is crucial so that residents and users can understand what is being planned. We challenge the refusal to answer our reasonable questions. We request that, if necessary, the Council seeks the agreement of the preferred bidder to waive any restrictions on the release of information which is stated to be “commercially sensitive”. it is impossible to know what the outcomes may be. I have therefore posted a petition on the RBWM website- please see link below- and would be most grateful for your support by signing it and encouraging any other residents you know to do the same. This matter is urgent. We understand that the Council may make a decision committing to sign the contract before the end of October 2014, so we welcome your support now. NB when you do sign up you’ll get an email and you need to click on the link they send so as to activate your signature!

Without our brave Services we would not be here and Ladbrookes are being very disrespectful.

For the Importance of freedom of speech this kind of petition is not conducive to modern day Britain, it is restrictive and at most Insulting to peoples Intelligence and sense of fun. Will Richard McKenzie next be asking UB40 to be banned from performing in Public just because Ally Campbell is singing also in the Afro-Caribbean style?

The planning officer originally made a mistake in allowing the amendment through without having the authority. He then over-turned it but was over-ruled by the Chief Executive. This has opened the door to TESCO to open a TESCO Express 100 yards from an existing local CO-OP without any public say on the matter. Over 500 people have signed a petition already and we want to recruit more supporters. Many have said they would like to sign a petition online, hence this campaign. If you have signed the paper copy you don't need to sign this one as both will be presented to the Council in due course. Please spread the word via social media.

Lancashire Day was recently on the agenda at a Bolton Council Meeting with a request to reintroduce Lancashire to road signs and street furniture. This was quickly dismissed by the council leader, Cliff Morris with the response of "I wish you would get over it", he told Cllr John Walsh. "Bolton has been part of Greater Manchester for 30 years." This is not what the people of Bolton want to hear with an overwhelming 97% in favour of ending their association with Greater Manchester and restoring Bolton's Lancashire heritage.

We are a growing group of families in North Bristol who want our children to grow up as fit, healthy and confident cyclists. At present there are very few opportunities for safe traffic-free cycling in this area; currently we need to load bikes on to cars and drive to places such as Festival Way or Ashton Court. Cycling on the Downs is forbidden due to a bylaw which was made in 1861. The Downs Committee (7 Merchant Venturers and 7 Councillors) has permitted a short stretch of cycle path near the Water Tower. Apart from that, this uniquely beautiful and flat parkland can only be explored on foot or via the road. Temporary closures of Circular Road on the Downs would create a brilliant car-free loop of over 3km, which children of all ages and cycling abilities could enjoy. It would also open up the Downs to people with disabilities who don’t feel safe cycling on the road alongside cars. Our campaign has support from Sustrans, The Bristol Cycling Campaign, CTC Bristol, LifeCycle, Travel West, Bikeability and Bristol Public Health. We want you to help us show the Downs Committee that there are many, many people who feel that the Downs should be a place where children can enjoy cycling in safety. By signing this petition and pledging to join our rides during Bristol Green Capital 2015, you will help to convince the committee that children should indeed have the freedom to ride on the Downs, and that this can be arranged in a way that accommodates the interests of all users of the Downs.

As above too dangerous