Having been reassured during July, when the leader of Essex County Council, David Finch, publicly announced that no libraries would close in the next 5 years, the truth came out at the Cabinet meeting. We now know that Essex County Council wants its libraries to be run by volunteers in community buildings. They have asked for groups to put in expressions of interest in running the libraries and have promised the miserly sum of £18,000 over 3 years to resource them. So dedicated library buildings will go, as will the store of books, computers, resources and trained staff. In will come well meaning volunteers working from a shared venue, where there will be no computers and books will need to be packed away at the end of the session. Librarians presently employed by the council, will either be redeployed or lose their jobs. Of the libraries threatened with closure, we know that some 80 groups have expressed an interest in running them. These are developers, parish councils, churches etc, but ALL will be run by volunteers in a non dedicated building. Very little funding will be available with just 250 books per community library, changed every 12 weeks and the hours of opening will be dictated by whenever the community building and volunteers are available. However good the volunteers are they cannot replicate the skill, expertise and professionalism of the present paid library staff. So we ask you to sign our petition to Save our Librarians and ensure that Essex County Council continues to provide the library service which it is legally obliged to. Essex needs fully staffed libraries. The people of Essex have and continue to pay for this service. They deserve a properly funded, properly resourced and properly staffed local library. You can find out more here: https://38d.gs/essex-libraries https://www.facebook.com/SaveOurLibrariesEssex/

There are currently no publicly funded facilities to aid health and wellbeing in Birstall. The public parks have limited uses that appeal to a minority of people. The swimming pool that was around fifty years old was closed down years ago. Compared to other areas of Charnwood, Birstall has very little to offer residents to improve their health and fitness, despite it being well documented that physical health improves mental wellbeing and can increase life expectancy. The areas of Syston and Thurmaston have easy access to South Charnwood Leisure Centre. In Rothley, Mountsorrel and Quorn they have Soar Valley Leisure Centre whilst the residents of Loughborough and surrounding villages (including Quorn) have access to Loughborough Leisure Centre. See below to see the facilities enjoyed by residents elsewhere in Charnwood! https://www.charnwood.gov.uk/pages/leisure The picture above is the pool at Syston. There is nothing of this calibre for Birstall residents, despite Birstall housing nearly as many people as Syston, and being in the top ten highest contributing villages in Council Tax revenue out of 34 areas, see: https://www.charnwood.gov.uk/files/documents/council_tax_bands_for_2019_20/Council%20tax%20bands%20for%202019-20.pdf Birstall has seen substantial growth with increased housing, which has increased traffic flow. The introduction of the Park and Ride and the A46 have also added to the volume of traffic. Subsequently Birstall has suffered the loss of green land and a gradual deterioration in the facilities available to local people. Birstall folk have received nothing by way of compensation for the expansion their village has suffered. Birstall residents call for a new Leisure Centre to be built with facilities comparative to those elsewhere in the borough. A suitable and central location should be found without the loss of further green field. The facilities and amenities available in Birstall fall far short of those available in other, similar sized areas of Charnwood. Thank you! Now please see two other important matters for Birstall and its residents. 1) Improvement to the area overall, please see petition: Let's make Birstall beautiful again! and 2) Reduce speed limit on A6/Loughborough Road to 30mph, see petition: Let's make Birstall Safer! Thank you, now please share with your family and friends. Because Birstall matters!

For over 700 years the name William Wallace has brought about pride in who we are... In that time we have created monuments to his name seen films made about his life.. But have yet to celebrate the man with a day dedicated to his life and the selfless sacrifices he endured to protect and safeguard Scotlands future and sovereignty pay in the end with his own life....

Inverness has a thriving music scene which would be adversely effected if the Ironworks was to be demolished to make way for a hotel. There is nowhere else that caters for large, touring bands and it would be a great shame to lose the venue and all the opportunities that come alongside it. It's completely unacceptable for a London based company to monopolise on the increasing tourism in the Highlands to make a profit that will never help the local community, instead lining the pockets of hotel corporations.

This landmark farm bears the name of the local housing estate the Strone and the farm has a wonderful history and has had many owners from Gabriel Dunlop to R Gardiner and the Bowes stretching almost 200 or more years back into history where adjacent was the Auchmountain Glen a Victorian garden which is now being restored. This is our heritage and the last few years have seen Greenock communities gentrified including schools and historic buildings. This is on my doorstep and I worked alongside Johnstone ( Last Farm Owner ) when I started the campaign to save the Auchmountain Glen and if I had my dream fullfilled The auchmountain Glen project could maybe have purchased this farm if it where not for red tape.

St Stanislaus RC Church, Dulverton and its adjoining 'Residential Centre', a Hostel, share the same site, with narrow access and restricted parking. One property is not usable without the other. The Hostel needs some expenditure on the exterior for which the Diocese is unwilling to pay. According to professional estimates obtained by the Parish, the cost is no more than £50K, which, given the chance, the Parish and Diocese could source between them. Most groups staying at the Centre are from schools, colleges, universities and youth organisations who come for canoeing and kayaking on the rivers Exe and Barle, rowing on Wimbleball Lake or cycling and hiking on Exmoor. Many groups had already expressed an interest in booking for 2020 before closure was suddenly announced by the Diocese in June 2019. The Hostel is in a prime location in the National Park and conveniently situated in a town with shops and services. Loss of the Hostel will bring further significant loss to local businesses, to young people and to community life in Dulverton and the surrounding area which have already been hard hit by other recent closures. Loss of the Hostel will also inevitably mean closure of the adjoining Church of St Stanislaus which is a spiritual beacon not only for local parishioners, but also for town people of all faiths or none, who drop in for moments of quiet contemplation, for tourists, family and friends from across the world visiting Exmoor. Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, former President of France, used to worship there when staying with friends locally. It is a little gem of a church with features designed by Sir Albert Richardson and adorned with glorious stained glass and interesting statues including St George and the Dragon by Septimus Waugh and a fine crucifix by Eric Gill. See more about the Residential Centre at http://www.exmoorhostel.co.uk/

To provide safe swimming facilities in a place where they currently do not exist

To protect Crossbones Graveyard and Memorial Garden as a key heritage, cultural, community and spiritual asset.

Due to public pressure, Sky agreed to make the Cricket World Cup Final available on Channel 4, this meant live cricket was on free-to-air TV for the first time since 2005. In most countries, the entire world cup was available on free-to-air television, yet only the final was shown here! The "England cricket team" represents England and Wales in international cricket. As a consequence, in stark contrast to the women’s football World Cup which drew record viewing figures, this has been a World Cup of missed opportunities for cricket in attracting future generations of fans and potential players, as well as meaning people who couldn't afford Sky miss out on watching international cricket. I grew up on free-to-air cricket and my parents couldn't afford Sky Sports. The next generation shouldn't miss out.

Cambridge City Council's Open Space and Recreation Strategy 2011 and Local Plan 2018 designate St Albans Road recreation ground as 'protected' from building. The Open Space and Recreation Strategy 2011 states Arbury ward 'has the lowest levels of Protected Open Space in the City.' Knowing this requires that we preserve it as free from building for generations to come, in perpetuity. It is a vital natural open space and green lung serving the community who come from at least 20 minutes walk away in all directions to exercise, walk their dogs, play with their children and link with the community. It provides a valuable access to nature, wildlife and biodiversity for all generations. Green spaces are vital for our physical and mental well being. The rapid increase of building in the area which has taken place on many other former open spaces make it vital that we keep the recreation ground building free before it is lost forever. A green space is not an empty space. We also request a full council meeting on this matter.

Since April 2019 Swansea Council has reduced Brynhyfryd Library's opening time by 10 hours per week. These changes have had an effect on children, families and senior citizens who use the library services. Libraries are a vital public good. People of all ages can enjoy borrowing and reading books, DVDs and CDs, using the internet, reading newspapers and speaking and spending time with others. Libraries are part of the public domain and we should be encouraging people to use them more often, not cutting opening hours.

Chelmsford Council have had to close the public toilets in Lionmede park. They need to repair the underground waste pipes that have become damaged by the roots of nearby trees. But they've told us they won't do this unless they see public support. It is the only park nearby with toilets. It also has a kids play area, tennis courts, benches, picnic tables, goal posts and dog waste bins. Access to clean, hygienic toilets fulfils an important requirement for health and well-being, social inclusion and public decency. So many people locally benefit from those toilets being open including parents and children in the neighbourhood, older people living nearby, local people with a disability or health conditions such as IBS and prostate issues, pregnant ladies, dogwalkers, local childminders and local holiday clubs. The Lionmede park toilets are also used by people on their way into town from further afield if they're on foot or cycling. Knowing there are facilities on the way into town can make people feel more confident about using sustainable travel rather than getting in the car. The toilets at Lionmede Park even have a parking space, which is useful for local taxi drivers, ice cream van drivers and delivery drivers who spend a lot of time in their vehicles and struggle to park in the city centre for a quick break. 6 of the 13 public toilets across Chelmsford have been closed by the Council in the since 2012.