Horizontal hydraulic fracturing, ‘fracking’, is a way of extracting oil and/or gas. Water, sand and toxic chemicals are injected at high pressure into underground rocks to shatter them. This releases the gas/oil which can be collected. But investing in carbon-intensive fossil fuels is a distraction from the need to decarbonise our electricity supply. And it's hazardous. Studies show that fracking pollutes water supplies (with arsenic and lead), causes earthquakes, and spoils local communities. And there are nightmare stories coming form the States. Like in the town of Dimock, PA, residents have reported their water turning so brown that it stains crockery. Their water was later found to contain methane, and a host of toxic chemicals. But it gets worse. "My son had sores up and down his legs from the water." " My daughter... would have to get out the of the shower and lay on the floor." Those are the words from Greg Saunter, a local resident, whose water supply was shut off for his own good. He cannot shower in his own home. Or drink water out of his taps. Fracking has ruined his life. It cannot happen here. We call on the council to preserve the quality of life of it's residents, and reject all planning applications for fracking.

Horizontal hydraulic fracturing, ‘fracking’, is a way of extracting oil and/or gas. Water, sand and toxic chemicals are injected at high pressure into underground rocks to shatter them. This releases the gas/oil which can be collected. But this process is often hazardous. Studies show that fracking can pollute water supplies (with arsenic and lead), cause earthquakes, and spoil local communities. And investing in carbon-intensive fossil fuels is a distraction from the need to decarbonise our electricity supply. We call West Sussex Council to protect the quality of life of its residents and reject all fracking applications.

***PLEASE READ & SIGN *** 'Anaerobic digestion', the sanitised label given to a facility that proposes to 'digest' 45,000+ tonnes of household waste, food waste, farm sewage, and other nasty pathogen laden waste into household energy. This proposal so far has only given the reasons that it will provide 'green' energy and jobs! Firstly: it will only provide 5 full time jobs for Ramsbottom in a site that will be largely automated. Secondly: It can become a health hazard as it will be plagued with bad odours and pathogens that will be carried over the Ramsbottom valley and in close proximity to heavy populated areas with many schools and areas of natural beauty. Thirdly: The traffic generated by hundreds if not thousands of HGV lorries full of waste and tankers full of toxic sludge rumbling through Ramsbottom, Edenfield & Shuttleworth will create, every year (for many years), a problem that is in itself not 'green' and will cause untold damage to the road network in and around Ramsbottom. A road network that is already creaking under the pressure of new housing estates Bury council seem to think fit to cram into an already over populated and under-resourced town. Fourthly: Ramsbottom is a thriving small market town whose businesses and consequently many jobs depend on visits by tourists and produce from local farms. A permanent stink and threat to health could very well put all this at risk. A public exhibition on the proposed plans by Peel Environmental and Marshalls to build an anaerobic digestion facility at Fletcher Bank Quarry, Shuttleworth will be held at Ramsbottom Civic Hall on Wednesday the 26th June between 3.00pm and 8.00pm though I doubt this will be an opportunity to question or complain, more a PR exercise by 'Peel Environmental' !!!.....rather an oxymoron if I've ever heard one! PLEASE READ & SIGN if you believe Ramsbottom should stay a town of natural beauty and a haven for tourists.

Moorbank Botanic Gardens are under threat. In October 2012, Newcastle University revealed they were withdrawing support from the site that they have occupied for 90 years. Since then, the 50 garden volunteers, the Friends of Moorbank, have been working hard to save the garden and keep it open to the public. We have put forward plans to take over the care of the gardens but these have been rejected by the Freemen of Newcastle who are the landlords. They are planning to close the site to the public and relocate the plants of botanical interest. Thousands of visitors have taken the opportunity to enjoy Moorbank and learn more about plants, since the Friends of Moorbank was formed and volunteers opened the gates 10 years ago. Moorbank holds collections of rare plants not found in other UK botanic gardens. Losing this vital resource will have significant damage to the UK’s plant collections. There is a huge amount of public support for the gardens, please help us save this wonderful local resource by signing our petition.

Hampshire Energy Group supports the Bullington Cross Wind Farm, but on the understanding that there will be substantial degree of local ownership; we have suggested 10% . We believe this ownership should be via a community owned, controlled and managed co-operative that benefits the Hampshire community. We are in negotiation with EDF Energy Renewables to ensure that will be the case. Most people in Hampshire support Wind Farming. Nationally, 64% support wind farms and only 11% are opposed to on-shore wind farming. In Hampshire, there are only about half a dozen places that are suitable for wind farming. Each needs to be windy, away from homes but close to roads and not in areas of outstanding national beauty or in national parks. Bullington Cross is isolated, windy and, being at the junction of two of Hampshire’s busiest roads, is noisy. The nearest large village is 3km away from the site. There are no nearby areas of natural beauty nor are they any national parks. The site is made up of open arable farmland, in between areas of woodland. Part of the site is used as an organic farm; and will continue to be used for that purpose. Hampshire Energy Group (HEG) believes that the benefits of wind farming should be shared fairly and equitably. We think it is fair that the financial benefits should be shared with the local community. These benefits should not just go to the large multi-national developers and the big global banks. We also think that local people should have a say in how our wind farms are operated. We can have a more equitable share if part of Bullington Cross Wind Farm is owned by the local community. We believe that the best way of doing this is via a co-operative. You can find out more about co-ops here. Co-ops are owned by their members; work on a strict one member one vote basis and are democratic. Co-op members will be asked to invest in the Co-op; and receive an interest payment on the money invested. HEG – and our negotiating partner, Energy4All – are negotiating with EDF over the financial terms for a 10 per cent community investment. We expect that the return on investment will be substantially greater than rates from building societies!

Eric Pickles recently announced his intention to introduce new planning guidance allowing communities to block windfarms (http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/damian-carrington-blog/2013/jun/06/wind-farms-shale-gas-fracking-energy). While any move to increase local democracy should be welcomed, it appears the government has no intention of granting similar powers to communities threatened with fracking projects. Fracking – the process of extracting gas from rock such as shale – is highly disruptive to nearby communities, poses a very significant threat to groundwater and human and animal health, is extremely energy-intensive and has huge implications for climate change. Furthermore, even optimistic estimates suggest the UK has only enough shale gas to keep the country going for a few years. Whatever your views on fracking or windfarms, there can be no conceivable justification for allowing communities to block windfarms – which generate clean, infinitely renewable energy far into the future – but not fracking projects. If anything, communities should have greater powers to block fossil fuel projects than renewables, given that we’re edging ever closer to the point at which climate change becomes irreversible and entirely out of our control. Alas, this is another clear example of the present government’s relentless pursuit of gas, and its ambivalence towards renewable energy; the announcement has come just days after the government voted against introducing stringent new targets to decarbonise our electricity supply by 2030. The recent revelation that a third of government ministers have strong links with the fossil fuel industry and the finance sector that bankrolls it (http://www.wdm.org.uk/climate-change/one-third-uk-government-ministers-linked-uk-companies-fuelling-climate-change) may begin to explain their refusal to place any barrier in the way of their dash-for-gas. This is not a petition to stop communities from blocking windfarms; it is a petition calling on the government to recognise the gaping inconsistencies in any planning guidance that allows communities to block windarms – whose impacts are, after all, reversible – but not fracking projects, which, conversely, will leave an appalling legacy for our children and grandchildren of contaminated aquifers and a climate spiraling out of control. By signing the petition you are sending the government a clear message that vested interests cannot be allowed to influence planning policy, especially when so much is at stake. Communities must be given the power to block fracking projects.

The South Downs National Park is in under threat from a massive development by Durand Academy. Durand Academy’s proposed new school for 600 teenagers and 86 staff is the size of three superstores with almost the same population as the nearest villages. Its scale is totally inappropriate for such an important area of outstanding natural beauty. What’s at risk? The development will permanently damage the local environment – the night skies, tranquillity, landscape, flora and fauna - which the SDNPA has a statutory duty to preserve and protect. The development is only 60 metres from a protected Site of Special Scientific Interest. What will happen? Durand Academy’s children and teachers will be bussed in and out from London in convoys of coaches down narrow country lanes which are dangerous for such high levels of traffic. The only two approach roads are single track. The school is not accessible by public transport. All people and goods will have to access the site using their own vehicles. Who else is concerned? The Council for the Protection of Rural England and South Downs Society. The National Trust opposes the development saying that it is ‘contrary to the fundamental National Park purpose to conserve the landscape and scenic beauty of the area.’ The National Trust is ‘particularly concerned about the impact of an average of 40 HGV movements per day for an 86 week build period and the impact on highway safety and the amenity of the National Park.’ What about the future? Durand Academy has not demonstrated that it can afford to sustain the project and has significantly underestimated the costs involved. We do not believe the project is workable without significant additional support from taxpayers and fear that we will end up with an abandoned project in the heart of one of the most beautiful areas of Britain which may be the gateway to further development. What do we want? We fully support the proposal to give inner-city children access to the countryside and the best educational opportunities possible but not in this place, not on this scale and not in this way. The 600 teenagers will be confined to a small site with space for only one football pitch and under strict curfew in a development that will cause irreversible harm to the precious environment they are meant to be able to enjoy. The South Downs National Park needs to be protected for all Britain’s children for all generations to come. It is time to say NO. Durand Academy claims that it has support from local people. We need to demonstrate that there is strong public opposition to the proposal. We don’t have much time. Please sign this petition and circulate it to your friends. For further information please see www.woolbedingwithredford-pc.co.uk/home/st-cuthman-s-development “Costs of running ‘Eton of state sector’ hugely unrealistic – West Sussex villagers object to boarding school for inner-city pupils, saying Government has got its sums wrong.” http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/costs-of-running-eton-of-state-sector-hugely-unrealistic-8585245.html The Independent, 24 April 2013: “National Trust is latest to object to inner city academy’s ‘Eton of state sector’ in West Sussex countryside – Body says site is not suitable for a school with more than 600 pupils.” http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/national-trust-is-latest-to-object-to-inner-city-academys-eton-of-state-sector-in-west-sussex-countryside-8586432.html?origin=internalSearch The Daily Telegraph, 22 April 2013: “The inner city and the village school – Proposals to site a south London boarding school in a leafy Sussex village have divided opinion.” http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/secondaryeducation/10010485/The-inner-city-and-the-village-school.html The Daily Telegraph, 22 April 2013: “Auditors investigate race row school – Plans for state-run boarding school at the centre of a Conservative race row face a Whitehall investigation after an intervention from a Labour MP.” http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/10011449/Auditors-investigate-race-row-school.html The Daily Telegraph, 22 April 2013: “Boarding school row: It’s about planning, not race, local insist – Plans to open a new state boarding school for poor children from south London in a rural beauty spot are an “experiment” which will turn the pupils into “political footballs”, a local councilor has claimed.” http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/secondaryeducation/10009729/Boarding-school-row-Its-about-planning-not-race-locals-insist.html Image of Woolbeding Common © Copyright Chris Gunns and licensed for reuse under Creative Commons Licence.

As you are probably aware; Navitus Bay Wind Park (1) will be located off the Dorset and Hampshire Coasts, to the west of the Isle of Wight, and also visible from Bournemouth, Poole and Swanage. I understand this development could produce the equivalent energy to power 800,000 homes and reduce carbon emissions by up to 1,125,000 tonnes per annum. This will be a tremendous contribution to our country's energy needs and carbon reductions. It will also help towards our renewable energy target of 15% which in the past few years has been behind plan and behind the progress rates of many other EU nations (2). I am very concerned however that a small group of local activists are using information that has little to no scientific backing to discredit this development and are creating fears about the impact on tourism and jobs in the area. I would urge you to balance any of their views against the report produced by The University of Edinburgh, presented to a Committee of the Scottish Parliament (3) in which there is clear consensus that there has been no measurable economic impact, either positively or negatively, of wind farms on tourism and concludes that “while some strongly held localised and anecdotal opinion exists, the Committee has seen no empirical evidence which demonstrates that the tourism industry in Scotland will be adversely affected by the deployment of renewable energy projects, particularly onshore and offshore wind” I appreciate the turbines will be visible from the coast on a clear day but believe this to be a small and perfectly acceptable compromise for the benefits delivered. Furthermore, I personally confirm that this development will not any way restrict the frequency or manner in which I enjoy the beach and coastal areas in the effected locations. 1. www.navitusbaywindpark.co.uk 2. http://ec.europa.eu/energy/renewables/reports/doc/com_2013_0175_res_en.pdf 3. www.scottish.parliament.uk/S4_EconomyEnergyandTourismCommittee/Reports/eeR-12-07w-r.pdf

In our village, farmland is under threat by many large developers. They obviously find fields an attractive proposition as they can just clear away the trees and hedges and build and this is more profitable than using brownfield sites however this is NOT the answer. Apart from homes, more importantly we need food that is safe to eat. I am sure this problem is an issue all over England since the government decided it was fine to build on green spaces which have previously been protected. Farmland is not just beneficial for providing food, it also helps with absorbing water and giving space to wildlife all of which assist our own health and well being.

Potash is a vital source of potassium which is an essential nutrient for plant growth that strengthens cell walls, increases disease resistance and aids the absorption of nitrogen and phosphorous. The York Potash Project will mine polyhalite, a unique source of potassium, magnesium, sulphur and calcium, which can play a key role in balanced fertilisation across the world. With growing world populations it is vital for food security that the UK has a long term supply of this mineral. The York Potash deposit is the largest and highest grade deposit in the world and a new, deep mine with infrastructure that is below ground or hidden behind extensive landscaping can set new benchmarks for sensitive development, whilst creating thousands of jobs and giving a major boost to local and national economies.

It is much more sensible to convert the wood which will be used in biomass energy generation into wood into everyday useful products like building materials and furniture that can last for tens of years rather than going up in smoke in seconds. Because of the payment of carbon credits, traditional users of this resource are not able to compete fairly. Energy generators are able to pay more than double the price paid by UK manufacturers who traditionally use wood to make their products. This has driven up prices by 60% in the last five years and, inevitably, these costs are passed onto all of us. Wood used in manufacturing ensures carbon is locked in for up to 35 years, then recycled and only then the remaining unusable scrap timber is burnt for heat generation instead of going to landfill sites. Whereas burning trees directly from the forests will release tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere now. Here’s the science: when wood is burnt, C02 is emitted – one tonne of dry wood burnt in a power station will emit 1.8 tonnes of CO2 which goes into the atmosphere. The DECC (Department of Energy and Climate Change) has ignored these emissions; they argue that the carbon released is offset by the carbon absorbed by the growing forest so they assume that wood used as biomass fuel is a ‘carbon-free asset’. This means that they can completely ignore the very real carbon emitted by the smokestacks of power plants, on the assumption that it is offset by the growth of trees. Unfortunately, this dismisses the fact that forests are already growing and already storing carbon. When the trees are harvested and burnt, that carbon storage is reduced and the carbon that was in the tree is released into the atmosphere. So the energy companies are being paid to increase carbon emissions now. And, to add insult to injury, the environmentally disastrous results of burning wood for energy is subsidised by almost a £1billion a year, with households providing the money for this subsidy via their energy bills – that’s you. If only half of the planning permission applications for biomass power stations are approved, they will have the capacity to consume many times the entire annual UK sustainable timber harvest. This subsidy has the potential to result in many negative outcomes: increased C02, loss of British jobs and manufacturing, unnecessary increased prices of wood-based products and also the possibility of endangering already fragile eco-systems across the world. As the price increases for items such as wood panels, builders may consider plywood instead from sources such as China. This raises more environmental issues as timber from these sources may have come from threatened rain forests and illegal logging. Timber from threatened rainforests in Brazil, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea is used in making plywood and it is still imported into the UK with the WWF estimating that around £712million a year is spent on illegal wood. This year the EU has at least passed a new directive to address this problem but it’s likely to be some time before the legislation is rigorously enforced. Meanwhile, more and more vital habitats for threatened species are being destroyed. So the knock-on effect of the government’s subsidies will have repercussions around the world, not only increasing C02 emissions produced by the energy companies but also indirectly adding further danger to the fragile ecosystem of the world’s dwindling rain forests. It can be stopped.

The RSPB have asked the question, "when was the last time you saw a lapwing tumbling through the sky or a heard of turtle doves gently purring as you walked through fields" The loss of 44 Million Nesting Birds is hard to comprehend and is a direct result on the irresponsible actions of Human Beings! We must act now and care for these beautiful creatures in every way we can!

The North York Moors is one of the UK's most beautiful landscapes. Its wild beauty inspired generations of writers, poets and artists. It has many rare species and is a vital habitat for many more. The North Yorks Moors National Park Authority has received an application for a £1.7 billion potash mine in the heart of the North York Moors National Park. York Potash proposes to mine potash under an area of 253 sq kms. York Potash proposes to mine potash over a 253 sq km area underneath the Moors, ruining a beautiful landscape with a huge industrial mine. The visual impact on one of our most precious landscapes could be damaging. The construction of the mine will cause disruption for local people by cramming thousands of lorries onto the local road network especially during construction. The North York Moors could face pressure for further development associated with the mine, new roads, new homes for workers and processing facilities. The North York Moors sits on the largest untapped reserves of potash in the world. By consenting to the construction of an industrial mining operation, the North York Moors Authority won't only damage the Park, but will deplete a vital and diminishing resource. The Park Authority should reject the planning application, preserve the park and preserve this resource for future generations. The North York Moors Authority describe the Moors as, "hugely popular with the public – in a poll undertaken in December 2009, 82% of people felt National Parks were important to them personally." They continue "The North York Moors National Park is the place where nature and history inspire each other. Ancient trees, towering coastal cliffs and rolling heather moorland provide habitats for a wide range of wildlife and its wide open spaces and breathtaking vistas bring a sense of peace and tranquility." Once damaged, the landscape and natural beauty of the North York Moors will be hard to repair. It is vital that the application is turned down to protect the North York Moors and preserve it for future generations.

Please consider carefully before closing any allotment in Britain. Other allotments in Britain are also in danger. Once gone they are gone forever. It is important to stress that allotments provide people from varied ethnic origins from all walks of life with exercise, vegetables, friendship, and good health. These are exactly the ingredients required to keep people out of hospital. We need more allotments, not less. There is constant pressure on these spaces and it's easy for the Council to push these proposals through. But once built on, this public land is gone forever. We have people from all ages and social backgrounds who take advantage of the allotments to grow their own food. Our allotments are a vital part of our community and we need to save them for future generations.

There are alternative ways of dealing with our waste apart from land-fill. Incineration is an out of date method - an Aerobic digestor or composting would deal with food waste which forms a high percentage of household waste. . Cornwall Council are not trying to encourage separating easily biodegradable waste and have ignored a commissioned report by Eunomia Waste Experts, SITA is the waste giant Contractor who will make millions of pounds (rate payers money) over the next 30 years once they have erected their Incinerator. For more detail please Google St. Dennis Anti Incinerator Group.

Many agricultural chemicals are harmful to insect pollinators and other wildlife, but people typically think those intended for use in the garden are safe. However, many of these products contain ingredients that are known to be toxic to bees and other beneficial insects, as well as important soil bacteria. Safe alternatives are available and there is no need to use poisons in your garden. We encourage you to create a 'Bee-Friendly Zone' in your garden, where pollinators can safely live and forage. See www.beefriendlyzone.org for more.

We are local people, determined to prevent the environmentally disastrous white-elephant that is the “Bexhill-Hastings Link Road” from devastating one of Hastings’ and Bexhill’s most amazing natural treasures.We demand an affordable, sustainable transport system for our area, that improves the quality of all our lives without costing the earth.

I’ve been skating at Highfield Park for over ten years. It’s the only place that provides an outdoor space for families and young people to enjoy. We’ve raised funds that have enabled us to install skating facilities and floodlights so we can use the space in the winter. But now we have 13 years left on the lease. This makes it hard to apply for any other funding to improve the area – benefactors will only invest in something they see being around for the foreseeable future. Lease needs to be over 25 years for funding. It also makes us concerned that the next generation of families and young people won’t be able to enjoy the space that we have. If it wasn’t for the park there would be nowhere in the area for young people to go – we’d end up back on the streets or sitting indoors playing computer games. We already have the support of Councillors, Thompsons of Prudhoe, James Dolan and Bespoke Concrete. – who often helps with digging and putting in new facilities – but we need you to grant us our wish to extend the lease. Highfield Park is a great place for the family and if we continue investing in it then it could be even better. Please help us save Highfield!

We now know that the setts/ Yorkstone pavements, kerbs and gullies in Saturday market will be retained as part of the ERYC's revised scheme for Saturday Market. We have to be thankful that unlike so many councils in this country, ERYC listened to its residents and reacted appropriately. Beverley is a wonderful town and our campaign has shown it has some wonderful people living in it; a true community effort. Let's hope that with goodwill on all sides the future for the town as a whole, will be decided in the same co-operative spirit and will evolve into the vibrant, place we all want it to be, without losing sight of the things that made it "One of the most beautiful towns in England". Thanks to all of you! Adrian Stokes, Richard Armstrong, Barbara English

* Aesthetic reasons- not to cramp the historic site of the Abbey itself. * Historic reasons - there has always been an hotel there for centuries. * Archaeological - the hotel is in the grounds of the historic Abbey complex. * Social and Economic - UK tourism began in this area and it continues to attract tourists from all over the world. The first part of Tintern they see is the Abbey and the hotel.

Corruption in planning is rife, the system can be very biased. Currently there is no recourse to reports and advice that is clearly against the planning law, except by a very expensive legal route that the majority cannot afford.

A very big thank you to everyone who helped in our fight against Tesco. Now we need to fight Round 2!! This green lung, just to the east of Halstead High Street comprises woodland containing 9 Trees under Tree Preservation Orders and natural springs that provide a wetland environment for amphibians. There are also 16 WWII air raid shelters, 9 of which are listed: as a group this is a very rare thing. Braintree District Council plan to ‘regenerate’ the site, to build more roads, properties and shops and demolish all but one or two of the shelters. We want this land to be conserved for present and future generations, to be a green haven, a heritage site and something that the town can be proud of. Thank you again for your continued support - let's see if people power can win again!!! Eileen Penn Halstead 21st Century Group 'Preserving our past for the future' This is a large area of natural woodland, with several very mature trees, full of wildlife: deer, bats, owls, hedgehogs, squirrels, rabbits, newts, frogs etc. It is also home to one of the largest collection of Air Raid Shelters in the country, sixteen in total, which are of a huge historical importance. The many bats are also known to roost in them. These shelters were for the use of the mill workers (Courtaulds Mill was nearby) in Factory Lane East and the Mill Managers who lived in cottages in Vicarage Meadow. It would be lovely if this could all be retained for the people of Halstead and others to visit. All the mature trees could be retained and some of the grassy areas made into parkland, with the rest being maintained as a nature reserve.. Each air raid shelter could have an information board, with likely items from the war years on display. And the many deer and other animals could be allowed to continue roaming free. Alison shea

The independent documentary that was screened on BBC 2, "You've been Trumped" made the case that land belonging to the residents of Menie has been stolen by Donald Trump by way of forceably taking over land that does not legally belong to him. The documentary showed the bullying tactics that were used and that the local council, Grampian Police force and the Scottish Government allowed this to happen without any intervention. Nobody, regardless of how much money or influence they may have, should be allowed to forceably take over anybodies land or property.

Bees and other insects rely heavily on our roadside verges for their food and habitat. There is very little meadow land left and the verges should be providing much needed food. I notice that the cutting goes as far back to the banks or hedges as far as possible, often twelve feet or more. I cannot see a reason for this. One cut in would be sufficient for any motorist to see the edge of the road. I have no doubt that it costs a considerable and unnecessary amount in council tax, not to mention the pollution entailed by the cutting machines.

Lead is highly toxic. We have removed it from fuel, from paint, but it is still used for shooting in the UK. A single shotgun cartridge sprays up to 300 pieces of lead shot across the countryside where it is eaten by birds. It only takes a few pieces of lead shot to poison a bird, causing suffering and death for thousands of birds each year. Non-toxic alternatives are readily available, yet many UK shooters still choose lead. In 1983 a Royal Commission recommended phasing out lead shot, but that hasn’t happened and it is still poisoning our wildlife. More details can be found at: www.wwt.org.uk/stop-lead-poisoning-our-birds/ SIGN THE PETITION TO STOP THE USE OF LEAD SHOT.

Communities, like Renton in West Dunbartonshire, have recreated themselves and regenerated their social, economic and physical environments through community-led development. We believe that the people of Irvine can do the same. We do not believe that the developments currently proposed by North Ayrshire Council and Irvine Bay Regeneration Company will achieve anything, other than to accelerate the decline of our town. They propose to destroy elements of our built heritage, compromise the setting of our historic Townhouse and slash the sports and leisure provision available to the people of the town and the West of Scotland (which will have significantly negative economic as well as health and social effects). We have a far better idea as to the actions which require to be taken. Irvine Action, a social enterprise based in the town, propose to help the community to develop its own development plan for the town. We wish the Scottish Government to review this plan in due course and, if acceptable, allocate resources to assist in its implementation.

(1) BEES ARE VANISHING FAST! Over the past few years one in three bee colonies has gone from the UK, and worldwide there has been a massive drop in numbers. We could be heading towards a global disappearance of bees. The mass decline corresponds closely to the release of a group of insecticides called neonicotinoids: http://www.soilassociation.org/wildlife/bees?gclid=CNSJosP50LICFSTKtAodRwwAMQ (2) BEES ARE ESSENTIAL TO THE UK ECOSYSTEM AND FOOD SUPPLY. A UK without the buzzing of summer gardens and meadows is a terrible thought, but the idea of losing our most important pollinators is truly chilling. Without bees, fruit trees and many other flowering plants could no longer reproduce naturally and would die out. One in every three bites of food in the UK is the result of bee pollination. The loss of such an integral player in our natural cycles is likely to result in unpredictable and far-reaching negative repercussions, and may risk a total collapse of our native ecosystems and food supply. (2) STRONG EVIDENCE LINKS CERTAIN INSECTICIDES TO BEE DISAPPEARANCES. There is a growing body of scientific and anecdotal evidence linking neonicotinoid pesticides to Honey Bee Colony Collapse Disorder. This evidence has been deemed sufficiently potent by German, French and Italian Governments to ban the use of neonicotinoids, and for many pressure groups, including Friends of the Earth, to push for their worldwide suspension pending a satisfactory assessment of their impacts. For a highly watchable overview of the evidence check out: http://youtu.be/oVuFvxjBbig (3) WHILST OTHER EU GOVERNMENTS HAVE IMPOSED BANS IN RESPONSE TO THIS EVIDENCE, OURS HAS DISMISSED IT AS INCONCLUSIVE! Astonishingly, in a report last week DEFRA dismissed this body of evidence outright, stating that there would be no ban until 'unequivocal evidence' was presented that neonicotinoids WERE harmful to bees: http://www.fwi.co.uk/Articles/23/09/2012/135352/DEFRA-dismisses-study-linking-bee-deaths-to-pesticide.htm#.UGBH-hySw0I.facebook DEFRA's priorities are unnervingly back-to-front. It is plainly obvious that to dismiss ANY evidence, however small, which links an operational pesticide to the potential for the collapse of natural / agricultural systems is completely insane. DEFRA need to be made to realise that the people of the UK value bees and long-term environmental integrity above a minor economic / agricultural inconvenience, and that we demand their decision reversed with immediate effect. We also call for DEFRA to implement clear policy that ensures the burden-of-proof of the harmlessness of new pesticides to our native ecology rests upon the manufacturer prior to release, and not upon the public and independent bodies whilst they are already in use. The vital importance of these issues cannot be overstated. For more detailed information about this issue and for other things you can do to help, please check out: http://bees.pan-uk.org/what-can-you-do

Local people want to be able to communicate their negative response to the extra planes more easily. The way the trial requests the community to respond does not work with the way people live today. People are in and out of their homes, busy with their lives etc and most aren't even aware of the quiet times presently. If BAA has a low response to the time trials and there are more planes more of the time, we know then the community will regret they didn't say more and it will be too late to reverse.

It is important to keep this site that has been used by and has been integral for the local community for many years. It has been a green space and been used since 1890 by the local community for various sports activities, including tennis, football, rugby, athletics, cricket, hockey, bowls, and even a rifle range.

Primary school places have increased significantly. Before too long these children will be at secondary school. In the spirit of the post Olympics let us preserve our children's right to access school playing fields that can accommodate them all.

The part of the High Street playing field Oldland Common adjacent to Victoria Road that South Gloucestershire Council intend to sale with the permission of the Secretary of State for the development of 13 dwellings. We, as rate - tax payers and the rightful owners, request that this land be officially designated an open space for all in perpetuity. In the memory of the late Sir Bernard Lovell, 31st August 1913 - 6th August 2012 who was born and lived in Oldland Common and never forgot its green spaces and in line with the Bitton Parish Local Plan. This application is yet to be approved and can be viewed at http://developments.southglos.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=dates&keyVal=M6MNCYOK05500 This field has been used for generations by the local people for recreational use and if sold would leave the children with no playing field and force them onto the streets.With your help we can stop it !! PLEASE SUPPORT THIS NATIONAL ISSUE.

With Olympic/ Paralympic Spirit reaching fever pitch, and the Government & Sporting Bodies hoping to 'Inspire a Generation', the future of Sport & Community Recreation looks rosy... but what if there are too few facilities left for people to use? Over recent years Local Authorities across the country (including Birmingham) have all too often bowed to the financial pressure and sold or leased Community Recreation Space to private organisations. If this trend continues, there will be no Olympic Legacy and future generations will have no facilities to enjoy recreation and leisure/sport activities.

This area is vital to the local community. We have a shortage of sports pitches and community open space on the Western side of the town The Council should be putting the local community before profit.

For four months, during the high season there are frequent two mile tailbacks with traffic crawling in first gear and when there are accidents - which are unfortunately way too frequent - the whole of Fort William grinds to a halt for hours on end. This is having a terrible effect on the local economy and on tourism. It could easily be rectified with the addition of an alternative route to Caol. If money can be found to build a second road bridge over the mighty Forth then surely money can be found to build a bridge over the humble River Lochy.

The safety of our children

This is a national problem driven in part by developers with their land bank areas of green belt. The north of Bristol is no exception, where South Gloucestershire Council have proposed to build a total of 22,000 houses at central government behest, and 3,200 will be in Stoke Gifford/Winterbourne, 1,200 of which are being built at Harry Stoke and 2,000 are proposed on the green belt East of Harry Stoke ref: LEOHS. Filton Airfield and Cribbs Causway are brown field sites, more than capable of accommodating the majority of this requirement. There is serious vehicle congestion in and around Stoke Gifford and the proposal will only bring more traffic estimated to be around 6,000 vehicles onto the all ready congested road network

Shotts Royal Bank of Scotland Branch has been part of the high Street for over forty years, now it is due for closure in August which will cause hardship and inconvenience for many people. This is happening less than 2 years after the Airdrie Savings Bank closed. The alternatives given for bank transactions are the Post Office , which is hard pushed dealing with its own matters, to travelling to Wishaw or Whitburn branches, which will mean expensive bus fares for the majority of people.Now Shotts high street is reduced to an increasing string of fast food outlets,which is very sad. Please sign this petition and share.

The Theatre has been in New Mills since it was opened in June 1911 and has served the local community since then. The theatre provides live entertainment on a regular basis and provide home to the local operatic society, who have performed in the building since 1922 and our newly formed youth theatre Take Part in the Art which provide theatrical training and performance skills for 5 - 18 years it also showcases every year for the last 30 Yrs New Mills Dance and Theatre Centre who have just won the AKA Seniors Ballet Competition for the 7th Year in a row. Without external funding to support the buildings upkeep and urgent repair bills sadly the theatre future looks uncertian

This is important because it would bring many more visitors to the area..It would also mean that those of us that travel hundreds of miles to watch music and stage shows would maybe no longer need to and would be able to spend their money in locally.

The site is 50 metres from the river Thames in a peaceful part of the river in Walton-on-Thames. Between the site and the waters edge sits the Weir Hotel, a public house that was built in 1856 and is frequented by many on a summers evening. The floodlighting will delete the night sky, causing so much light pollution , the bats that use the Thames Corridor for navigation will become confused. A noise survey was carried out in 2012 by the Weir Hotel proving the bats are here. The constant noise from 6 football pitches, 4 rented to the public until 10pm every night will cause noise pollution and destroy the ambience of this area. This proposed site is Council land and Elmbridge Borough Council are applying for planning permission for themselves. Please help us stop them.

This is prime tourist land and the proposed building is totally inappropriate. The design in no way represents the quality of the building that was previously there and it does not fit in with the Victorian style buildings on either side. The proposed usage is also totally unsuitable if we are to attract tourists and regenerate the Seafront area. To even consider retirement flats and a Co-op supermarket opposite a newly refurbished South Parade Pier and on such prime tourist land is beyond comprehension and if McCarthy & Stone have one ounce of intelligence and care about the local economy and the people of Portsmouth, they will withdraw the application themselves. We already have an example of their work with the shockingly out of place "Homeheights" development next to the the Queens Hotel in Southsea that demonstrates their catastrophic failure to fit in with the surrounding area or build something of any substance and even that is allegedly 4 floors higher than was originally agree by planning. For the people of Portsmouth and in the name of common sense the answer has to be NO. We deserve better. Our Seafront deserves better and our City deserves better.

6,840 motorists use the bridge every day, (feasibility study Nov 2012) East Farleigh is a charming, quaint village with the added treasure of a boating community. The anomaly is the difficulties motorists suffer on the medieval bridge. The traffic congestion is compromising the 14th century medieval bridge and footpaths. Creating noise pollution, damaging a restored converted Victorian train house, exhausting the residents, reducing the value of house prices and house sales, stressing the daily commuter, vulnerable road users, emergency services, local businesses and school children. The visibility either side of the single track ancient bridge is limited, so cars will begin to cross the bridge and meet in the middle, causing traffic jams and aggravated assaults where motorists are unable to reverse off the bridge to allow the other to proceed. There is an alternative bridge which should be considered in reducing the traffic flow. The unnecessary

From what we know, there is no need for the helibase to move from Filton to Almondsbury. The Almondsbury location is green belt land and requires very special circumstances to be considered for building. Not only are there no special circumstances in this case but there is no fundamental reason to move the helibase. There is no apparent risk to the helicopter services and it is understood that the current location of the helibase is secure, hence no need to move.

'The old Hereford Working Boys Home in Bath Street which gives so much visual identity to the area includes the work of three of Hereford’s most characteristic Victorian architects – George Haddon, who designed the original building, William Cheiake, who more than doubled the size of the establishment in 1885-6, and George Godsell, who made later additions including the ‘Meadows Memorial Hall’, the most recent use of which was as the local register office. The Working Boys Home was opened in 1877 for ‘orphans and other voluntary cases of boys from 9 to 14 years of age in a state of destitution, or growing up uncared for, under evil influences’. The boys were cared for, trained, and where possibly placed with employers. They were paid for their work and Post Office savings accounts were opened for each boy. In 1891 there were 109 boys aged between 9 and 15. Of these only thirteen came from Herefordshire, the rest came from all over the country, the largest number, 29 being from London. By 1904 there was accommodation for 400 boys. The Home closed in May 1933 & buildings sold to Herefordshire Council

IN Werrington there are over 500 Properties built since 1987 and over 270 Properties in Peakirk that will be within the Noise , Vibration , & Air Polution Para- -meter's of the New GN & GE Freight Railway Line with no Migation Measures such as Acoustic Fences , Earth Moulding , Landscaping Trees Evergreens , Bushes , Shrubs , Soundproofing to Houses Similar Measures have been installed to other Property Areas in Peterborough

As Yorkshire Wildlife Trust’s first ever nature reserve, Askham Bog has special significance. In fact in 1946 the Trust was created with the purpose of looking after the site which was bought to save it from development. A brief summary of the issues relating to the proposals is as follows: Askham Bog supports an exceptionally high biodiversity with healthy populations of numerous nationally rare species, and the only regional populations of many others. Particular rarities include gingerbread sedge carex elongata (largest population in England), numerous water beetles and the fen square-spot moth diarsia florida. Askham Bog has been recognised as an exceptional habitat for two centuries. It is highly valued both by the population of York and by a national and international community of naturalists and ecologists. Just two miles from the city centre it offers a peaceful place to walk and enjoy nature. The importance of the site is entirely dependent on the integrity of the local water table and it is exceptionally sensitive to any disturbance of that. We are concerned that these housing proposals will irreversibly damage the hydrology of Askham Bog and its special interest will be lost. There has been no information presented to indicate that this will not be the case. We are also concerned about the huge increase in recreational access on to the reserve. There is highly likely to be unmanaged access from a range of locations, particularly from dog walkers and young people. Whilst we welcome large numbers of people on to many of our sites, Askham Bog is too small and fragile to cope with this high volume of unregulated access. We therefore consider that the site should not be allocated for development and that doing so would result in significant loss of the important wildlife features of the site. This allocation is therefore contrary to the Council’s own policies regarding the protection of biodiversity and Sites of Special Scientific Interest. http://www.ywt.org.uk/news/2014/06/12/help-save-york%E2%80%99s-wildlife http://www.ywt.org.uk/York

More houses on Sheppey means more people on Sheppey. It is obvious that these ‘new’ people need jobs, medical services, pre-school and school places, better transport to get on and off and around the island, and many other facilities. Despite promises from previous developers, the considerable amount of new housing which has already appeared has not been accompanied by any such new infrastructure. Sheppey people are therefore unhappy at the expansion of Sheppey so far; traffic congestion, in particular, is truly awful. Bus and train services are not good enough to persuade residents to abandon their cars. There is not enough work for the existing population, most of whom commute on and off the island every day, compounding the traffic problems. This is all very bad for the environment and, ultimately, for the economy. The Facebook page “Sheppey NO more houses” offers photographic evidence for this congestion. It also demonstrates considerable disquiet at the way Kent County Council, Swale Borough Council and developers are perceived to see the Isle Sheppey as a profitable ‘dumping ground’, especially for London overspill.

Because the notion of accessible OPEN SPACE in Wales used for sports, recreation and pastimes for over 20 years, should be protected and enhanced in the Public interest for the citizens in Wales.The guidance and Law should reflect the importance of TOWN and VILLAGE GREENS to the many communities in Wales.

This couple have spent five years building a fully sell sufficient home on which they play to run workshops on Eco-living. These people are examples to us all and should be supported. Please sign and share!

The World Health Organisation's Declaration of Human Rights talks about everyone having the right to clean air. This development thus infringes upon the basic human right because it will have a 24/7 burn-off of gases. With Stocks Hall Nursing Home not 100 yards away, football pitches where hundreds of children play right next door, and houses looking onto it, vulnerable people, children and families are under threat of losing this basic human right, not just in the surrounding area but further afield too because of prevailing winds and underground water courses and extensive old coal mine workings. Strange odours already exude from the existing tip and can be smelt in the area, so obviously these emissions, with an unknown cocktail of chemicals, will adversely affect public health. People in the area have not been notified because of a loop-hole in the law as it is a national infrastructure plan rather than a local plan the latter of which would go through normal planning application processes with proper consultation. So local people have not had much time to raise objections before the dead-line of 11.59 p.m. on Friday, February the 28th, 2014, but the feeling of opposition is strong that there is a rising tide of protest.