Extinction Rebellion have shown how Waterloo Bridge could function as the people's Garden Bridge. Without traffic the bridge turned into a venue for cycling, walking, gathering, talking, singing and eating. Let's make it permanent.

Southampton airport wants to fell and reduce the height of trees at Marlhill Copse in order to allow shallower take off to the south. This will cause increased noise and nuisance to the whole of Southampton. In 2019 there was a High Court injunction protecting Marlhill Copse from any tree-works, but solicitors from both the airport and city council managed to overturn this on 2 July. The airport were due to submit a planning application to demolish around 20 large pines and hope it could be approved by a single Council officer with the minimum of formal public consultation. The planning panel has effectively agreed to a total of 219 trees having their height reduced - 93 trees by more than 10 metres. Marlhill Copse is a conservation area with Tree Preservation Orders. It is vital that any request for felling or crown-reduction is subject to the utmost scrutiny and that decision-making is absolutely transparent. There should be the fullest public consultation as it would be absurd to demolish the very carbon-capturing organisms that a Green City should be cherishing . The fate of Marlhill Copse is too important to be delegated to an officer or the planning panel. Marlhill Copse is a whole-city issue. It needs a whole-city response. If you can pledge to a fighting fund please email: [email protected] For updates please visit: https://sites.google.com/view/protect-marlhill-copse/home

Insect numbers have plummeted by 60% in the last 40 years. Biodiversity has reduced through poisoning with pesticides and the over-management of grassland areas. Kirklees owned land could become a haven for insects and other wildlife. Citizens could be made aware of the positive approach to biodiversity that has been adopted by the council and, as a bonus, it would save money by reducing the amount of times areas are mowed and ceasing the purchase of pesticides. There are other methods to control weeds where this is absolutely necessary, such as hot foam application and manual cutting. Hundreds of councils are already pesticide free, including Wadebridge, Lewes and Hammersmith so there is a precedent.

Glyphosate-based herbicides such as Round Up and Touch down pose a real risk to the public, our environment and horticultural workers. Calderdale’s Wildflower areas have all been treated with glyphosate to prepare for new seeds. This is irresponsible towards our people and insects. Roundup kills beneficial insects, it has been proven to cause mortality of live beneficial species including bees, thrichgramma, predatory mites, lacewings, ladybugs, and predatory beetles. Glyphosate in soil takes 140 days to break down to half its toxicity and will continue to be taken up by plants from the soil for 2 years and longer. It’s toxic to earthworms and inhibits mycorrhizal fungi. Mycorrhizal fungi are essential for tree health, collecting nutrients and water to feed their host plant and protecting tree roots from harmful fungi and root rot diseases. Research on Cancer (IARC) concluded that it was “probably carcinogenic”. Recently a break through court case against Monsanto was won by a man who developed cancer after using Roundup. He was awarded $289 million in damages. We know that in Hebden Bridge, Calderdale Council have sprayed Glyphosate each year on the following sites: Calder Holmes Park - wildflowers lawn Stubbings wharf – Heptonstall Turning circle wildflowers microsite Oldgate – wildflowers lawns In 2016 Calderdale Council announced a plan to reduce the use of glyphosate by 15% year, however figures show that in 2017 the amount used increased. Other councils now use the eco-friendly alternatives such as non-toxic Foamstream.

We want to safeguard our public spaces and local wildlife for all generations and encourage biodiversity in our environment by eliminating the use of pesticides in the Wychavon District. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that over 350,000 people die every year from acute pesticide poisoning. Moreover, this figure does not include deaths from cancer or other chronic diseases caused by pesticide exposure. Glyphosphate has been identified and declared by the WHO to 'probably' cause cancer, but it has also been linked to infertility problems, respiratory issues and birth defects. Whilst Glyphosphate has more publicly been subject to scrutiny, in the most recent UK-wide survey, there were a reported 38 different types of pesticide used in the towns and cities of the UK. Pesticides can also easily contaminate the air, ground and water having a devastating effect on our local wildlife (insects, birds, animals and aquatic life) and the environment. Pollinators such as bees and butterflies are also suffering severe population losses too. There is a wealth of information and research available from other controlled studies to show that it is possible to control unwanted weeds and pests with pesticide-free methods. One of these adopted by other UK councils is the use of Hot Foam. This has been put into place by Lewes District Council, Wadebridge town, Glastonbury council and Hammersmith and Fulham. So, why not Wychavon, too? We want our children, families, pets and visitors to our local parks and public places to be able to live, work and play in these areas safely without the risk of exposure to potentially harmful chemicals. More information can be found on the Pesticide Actions Network UK website: http://www.pan-uk.org

Noise from motorcycles and sports cars have increased in London over the last decade. Leaving your window open on a sunny night is no longer an option for people who don't want to be woken up by someone who has intentionally made their motorbike/car noisier than it needs to be. Motorcyclists with loud exhausts wear especially designed ear plugs to protect their hearing from their own exhaust pipes. But pedestrians, cyclists, children and old people simply have to put up with with it. You may know the feeling, as you walk along the street, suddenly the loud bang of a motorbike or sports-car revs up right behind you from nowhere. That feeling is the stress hormone cortisol being released into your blood stream. Research from universities including Oxford and Imperial College has found that that unnecessary stress from traffic noise has become one of the country's most significant urban health threats, increasing the prevalence of heart disease, stroke and even diabetes. This is all the more frustrating because the motorbikes and cars that are making the most noise were built to regulation with mufflers, and then illegally modified to make them as noisy as possible. This is not just an avoidable problem, it's a problem that has been deliberately created just because a few people like it at the expense of everybody else's mental and physical health.

A number of cities, counties, states and countries throughout the world have taken steps to either restrict or ban glyphosate the active ingredient in weed killer (such as Roundup). Glyphosate has been designated as a probable human carcinogen by the World Health Organization (WHO). It has also been linked to the decline in populations of the honey bee and other insects. Some of us remember when driving our windscreen would be covered with insects. It is now well documented that we are facing an enormous loss of insect life in the UK, some estimate an 80% loss in the last 30 years. This is due to pollution, loss of habitat, global warming and particularly to the over-use of pesticides/insecticides. The glyphosate used in weed killer has been linked to a decline in insect populations including our pollinators. We understand that on average four times yearly, Reading Borough Council sprays glyphosate weed killer around our park benches and at the base of many of our parkland trees and trees around our town. We, the undersigned would like Reading Borough Council to cease the use of Glyphosate products and allow weeds to grow around the base of trees as have they have for millennia as part of natural biodiversity and to use the money saved by doing this to use alternative methods for cutting back grasses close to park benches.

To protect the health of those who do not smoke

Ban All Five Pesticides Linked To Bee Deaths! France Becomes The First Country To that put this into action. In May 2018 the EU banned three of the significant pesticides implicated in the collapse of bee populations. Clothianidin, imidacloprid and thiamethoxam are now prohibited for use on crops. We need to go a step further and set a high bar in the effort to save the bees. Given the importance of pollinators to nature and the survival of the biosphere, this could not happen too soon! Studies have reported that the neonicotinoid pesticides attack the central nervous system of insects, leading to loss of memory and homing skills, in addition to reduced fertility. Bees that cannot find their way back to the hive quickly die. However the pesticides have also been shown to affect butterflies, birds and other pollinating insects. There is a reason why France is ahead of the field in this regard: The “bee killing” pesticides were tested first on French fields in the 1990’s – and the French farmers witnessed first-hand the catastrophic effects that occurred in 1994; describing “a carpet of dead bees”. 400,000 bee colonies died within days – yet the story was buried under a layer of corruption and distorted science. Since that time, activists and manufacturers have battled to control the situation. Full stories Overwhelming Evidence Linking Neonicotinoid Insecticides To Massive Die-off Of Bees And Songbirds The new move is certain to be celebrated by ecologists and sets an example of protection of nature that the rest of the world needs to follow. ..... We must also follow this! Please help me, put this into action.

Allowing people to breathe oxygen freely, finish off your line of trees (approx 16 and furthermore, plant trees in the neighbourhood NOW! We have a right to look after our environment-please give us OUR TREES NOW, after nearly 13 years of denial! Blue prints (Planning Dept.) show trees. Why have you not provided a barrier and protection, for a wheelchair unit- bungalow!

All governments (UK, Wales and local) have a duty to limit the negative impacts of climate breakdown, and local governments that recognise this should not wait for their national governments to change their policies. It is important for the residents of Newport that our council commits to carbon neutrality as quickly as possible. Humans have already caused irreversible climate change, the impacts of which are being felt around the world. Global temperatures have already increased by 1 degree Celsius from pre-industrial levels. Atmospheric CO2 levels are above 400 parts per million (ppm). This far exceeds the 350 ppm deemed to be a safe level for humanity; In order to reduce the chance of runaway global warming and limit the effects of climate breakdown, it is imperative that we as a species reduce our CO2eq (carbon equivalent) emissions from their current 6.5 tonnes per person per year to less than 2 tonnes as soon as possible; Individuals cannot be expected to make this reduction on their own. Society needs to change its laws, taxation, infrastructure, etc., to make low carbon living easier and the new norm; Cities are uniquely placed to lead the world in reducing carbon emissions, as they are in many ways easier to decarbonise than rural areas – for example because of their capacity for heat networks and mass transit; The consequences of global temperature rising above 1.5°C are so severe that preventing this from happening must be humanity’s number one priority. Here in Newport we need to be working to protect our city from the effects of flooding that are made more severe by rising temperatures. Bold climate action can deliver economic benefits in terms of new jobs, economic savings and market opportunities (as well as improved well-being for people worldwide and in Newport). We the undersigned want to see Newport Council declare a climate emergency, and question why the council haven't declared one already giving the severity of our risk.

There is consideration of a fish farm in the waters around Bute, along the West Island Way, near Glen Callum Bay, centred on Hawk's Neb. We would like your help opposing this, for its impact on the Views, Land, Waters, Tourism and Industry of the island. For more maps, and source documents, please visit the ButeifulCoasts website, link below the share buttons at the bottom of the page. Views Bute is an island noted for its Areas of Panoramic Quality, and is designated as such by Argyll & Bute Council. The proposed site for the fish farm would greatly impact the views of the Cumbraes from the south end of the island, and be a great impact on views of the island from the Cumbraes and the waters. Land Fish farms aren't contained at sea. They require shoreside support, and their waste products and chemical washes come ashore. This particular proposed site, is right on the shore, meaning all the faecal matter, feed, medicines, and other chemicals would be right on shore for those using the West Island Way to encounter. On top of that, that part of the shoreline is designated a Very Sensitive Area to Development, meaning that it has a very limited capacity for new development without compromising the area. Waters The waters around Bute are of varying quality, according to SEPA and other bodies. The proposed site would sit on the boundary of one of the grading regions, where the water quality declines. The site would also be on top of several Prominent Marine Features, such as natural oyster beds and specific clam species. The Sea Lice clouds that fish farms generate would also spread out into the Clyde, affecting the migratory fish species that pass through the waters. Tourism The Isle of Bute is a designated Tourism Development area, with good reason. We have many excellent activities focused around the proposed fish farm site, that would be impacted by it. Sailing boats navigate all around the island, and the Cumbraes. Motor Boating, kayaking and canoeing, sea boat angling, and more are all noted as being prominent in the area. Diving in the area is well known, and there are nearby ship wrecks. There are many who come to the island to Birdwatch or wildlife watch, and use the West Island Way to do so. Industry The fish farm would have a detrimental impact on the island's industry. With it getting in the way of already established commercial activity in the proposed site area, and cutting into tourist spend as they go elsewhere, the site's 6 local jobs are at risk themselves to automation progress in the fish farm industry. The proposed site is also right in an extremely high traffic volume region of the Clyde, with all manner of commercial shipping passing by, including Cruise Ships. If it doesn't pose a navigational hazard, the customers will surely want to avoid going to the island with the fish farm right on its shore.