Birnbeck pier was built in the Victorian era and is the only pier of it's kind left in the country. The pier is important to westonians and those who visited the town over the years. Weston is a Victorian seaside town and our heritage needs protecting. The cost of repairing this building is enormous but the cost of the buildings demise is even greater. As many of the Victorian buildings are left to rot and ruin our tourist industry flails. Give the people of Weston back a pier which is dear to hearts of many and give tourists a reason to visit!

Its a human right to have shelter

Defend Our Rich Cultural Heritage West Dorset District Council has shocked and appalled archaeologists by insisting that the controversial Charles Street development be allowed to go ahead without an adequate archaeological investigation prior to the bulldozers moving in. The site lies within the walls of the Roman town, and its archaeology is likely to include vital clues to our town’s history, from prehistoric times to the present. Flying in the face of English Heritage’s advice, and acting against the spirit of the law where archaeology and development are concerned, the Council has decided to squander a major opportunity to explore and enhance the understanding of Dorchester’s past. Instead of a thorough investigation of what remains below ground level, the site is to be destroyed and removed for landfill, after a mere cursory examination. The Council employed consultants to provide a report which assessed the site as being of only ‘medium’ importance, despite the fact that it is bounded on one side by the remains of Dorchester’s Roman bath-house, and on another by a unique and internationally important Neolithic henge monument. This report contains many factual errors and omissions, and its ‘fitness for purpose’ has been questioned by an internationally renowned and respected archaeologist. By their own admission the consultants’ assessment was ‘refined in order to reduce expenditure and maintain the economic viability of the development scheme’. Hardly the statement one might expect of detached, unbiased professionals! Plainly, the Council are determined to see the project through at any cost. So far this has included several millions of pounds of ratepayers’ money – now it seems as if it will also be at the cost of our town’s heritage, and the future opportunity for generations of residents, visitors, students and historians to enjoy, study and understand a vital part of Dorchester’s history. Thomas Hardy only exaggerated marginally when he asserted that ‘It was impossible to dig more than a foot or two deep about the town fields and gardens without coming upon some tall soldier or other of the Empire, who had lain there in his silent unobtrusive rest for a space of fifteen hundred years.’ Prince Charles has written that ‘If you destroy the past, or consistently deny its relevance to the present, man eventually loses his soul and his roots’. In the early nineteenth century, a group of Dorchester residents, led by the poet William Barnes, managed to avert the demolition of Maumbury Rings by Brunel’s Great Western Railway by forming a pressure group and lobbying against the wanton destruction of our town’s priceless heritage. Now we need to act again, to make sure that when development occurs, that heritage is treated with the respect it deserves, and is properly investigated, recorded and conserved. Please support D.O.R.C.H.’s actions to try to make West Dorset District Council change its mind, and ensure that a full and thorough excavation is carried out. Our future as a unique historic town depends on it.

Caewyd y rheilffyrdd yma yn y 1960au gan ynysu ardaloedd helaeth o Gymru. Mae angen eu ailagor i ailfywiogi'r ardaloedd maent yn rhedeg trwodd. Byddai eu hailagor yn helpu pobl leol i gymudo, yn hwyluso mynediad i wasanaethau iechyd, siopa ayyb, ac yn helpu myfyrwyr i fynychu prifysgolion yng Nghaerfyrddin, Llanbedr Pont Steffan, Aberystwyth a Bangor. Fe fyddai’n hwb i dwristiaeth yn yr ardal, ac yn lleihau'r nifer o gerbydau nwyddau trymion (megis pren, cynnyrch archfarchnad ayyb) o’r ffyrdd cul i’r rheilffordd, sy’n fwy diogel a chynaliadwy. These lines were closed in the mid 1960's and have left these areas of Wales very isolated. They need to be reopened to reinvigorate the areas they pass through. The reopening would help local people with commuting, access health services, shopping, improve access to the universities served by the lines in Carmarthen, Lampeter, Aberystwyth and Bangor. New lines will also boost tourism in the area and enable much of the heavy commercial traffic (timber, supermarket goods etc.) to be shifted from narrow roads to rail, which is much safer and more sustainable.

This is across the UK, but our campaign is aimed at Wales. If we group together and help each other, we can have a greater influence, so please support our local campaign and if we can help with yours please do get in touch. Fences are cut and pulled up, gates are left open, animals are let loose, paths and tracks are left impassable, knee high in mud, quagmires, paths rutted and washed away because the surface has been loosened by the heavy and constant abuse of vehicles; A constant stream of vehicles, where once there was peace with only the odd farmer off to check on his livestock, or person walking their dog, or just out with the family. People of all ages are intimidated while trying to stop trespass on their own land, surrounded by circling motor bikes or vulgar shouts from abusive 4 x 4 owners. SSSI (Sites of Special Scientific Interest) are also being abused, where is the support from the Countryside Council for Wales to enforce the protection of their Sites? Police are too slow to turn up and provide little support to stop these law breakers. What is the point in passing the trespass law or designate SSSI sites, if there are no Councillors, Countryside Council or Police representatives who will help enforce legislation. This is across the Wales, so if we group together and help each other we can have a greater influence, so please support our local campaign and if we can help with yours please do get in touch. Currently our group is in the Llangollen / Denbighshire / Wrexham area and we desperately need your support to lobby the Local Council , Countryside Council and Police to help us in our campaign . We have a Facebook page, please join / like it and also sign the campaign. https://www.facebook.com/Saveourpathsllangollen

The provision of a bridge or underpass with lifts will improve access to Sudbury Branch line rail services for those with impaired movement, heavy luggage, wheelchairs, bicycles and children. The current lack of lifts mean many people cannot access rail services and are forced to travel by road instead. Installation costs will be offset by increased passenger numbers as a consequence of investment. To download a poster click here: http://bit.ly/1KGG10B ... or for further details read our Press Release here: http://bit.ly/14nVzW4

THE TIMELINE 2017: • 25Apr: Inquiry into 3 Appeals against Enforcement and Planning Refusal begins. Legal counsels for Parish Councils, WSCC and CDC, with independent experts to take part. • 29Mar: Leon Mekitarian, Director Farm Fuel faces suspension, curtailment or disqualification of operator's licence in new Traffic Commissioner's Public Inquiry. • 27Feb: Appointment of Philip Gerrard (also Director, Eastern Counties Finance 1 Ltd, with whom Crouchland hold a mortgage & debenture) and Andrew Vernau as Directors to Crouchland Biogas Ltd. • 6 Feb: Statements of Case by WSCC, CDC & Parish Councils for remaining Appeals submitted. • 27Jan: Farm Fuel called to new Traffic Commissioner’s Public Inquiry for alleged breaches of timing condition at company’s Woking operating centre and allegations of trailers used during suspension period. • 23Jan: Crouchland submit 405 pages of new documents for Appeals rendering previous documents redundant as they disclose ‘new baseline’ for retrospective planning application refusal. The joint Parish Councils and legal counsel are left just 9 days to respond. 2016: • 14Dec: The government confirms reformed Renewable Heat Incentive subsidy scheme. ‘all new Non-Domestic RHI applicants for accreditation and those seeking registration for injection of biomethane should have all necessary planning permissions in place before they are accredited / registered.’ It’s not implemented retrospectively so Crouchland still claim large subsidy. • 30Nov: Farm Fuel licence suspension begins. No HGVs allowed to leave Woking Operating Centre for 2 weeks. • 10Nov: After Farm Fuel licence suspension, CEO John Morea - Southern Gas Networks (SGN) confirms "We would expect the contractor in question to comply with the suspension and have informed Crouchland Biogas Ltd we won’t be accepting any biomethane from this particular gas transportation source during its suspension." • 3Nov: Traffic Commissioner suspends Farm Fuel HGV licence for 2 weeks (1-15 Dec). The unauthorised use has been extensive, prolonged and the operator sought to conceal the extent of this. • 30Sep: Crouchland Farms fined. • 22Jul: Crouchland Farms plead guilty to illegally discharging polluting material to River Kird on 02Dec2013. No announcements yet on significant pollution events in 2015 & 2016. • 18Jul: Ofgem respond to a FOI request and advise Crouchland have received £4,359,537 in RHI subsidy from financial year 2014/15. • 22Jun: The Planning Inspectorate publish Appeal decision re: the Certificate of Lawful Use granted by WSCC. The appeal allowed in part. The Inspector concludes that WSCC’s refusal to grant a certificate of lawful use or development in respect of the two metal containers to aid gas conditioning for the biogas plant, attached to the LDC and the conditioning and exportation of biogas was not well-founded and that the appeal in respect of these items and activity should succeed. In respect of the separator and the flare, attached to the LDC, and the importation of waste and any other materials for anaerobic digestion from land outside the boundaries of Crouchland Farm, the Inspector concluded that WSCC’s refusal to grant a cert. of lawful use or development in respect of these items and activity was well-founded and that the appeal should fail. (APP/P3800/X/15/3137735). • 27May: Crouchland seeks adjournment to EA legal case. • 17May: Traffic Inquiry reconvenes. • 11-12May: Appeal against Cert. of Lawfulness is heard. • 29Apr: The Environment Agency announce legal proceedings against Crouchland Farms for Dec2013 pollution of River Kird. • 29Mar: P.O.R.E receives letter stating “The Gas Alliance Group (including Gas Bus Alliance) no longer take any Biomethane from Crouchland Farms Ltd or Crouchland Biogas Ltd.” and threatening legal action should villagers “communicate any information to any Bodies or Persons which is contrary to this statement”. Tony Griffiths is signatory, former General Manager of MAN UK bus operations. • 29 Mar: Barry Evans resigns from Crouchland Biogas. • 16Mar: Another significant pollution incident occurs and while cleanup in progress SGN disassociate themselves stating Crouchland is separate and they have no corporate responsibility for the actions of this autonomous company. Contrary to CEO John Morea’s 2013 Annual Report that Crouchland was SGN's partner; and from an email to WSCC 28Aug2014 supporting the retrospective planning application, stating "Our pioneering partnership with Crouchland Biogas..." and though SGN have a fixed / floating charge on the property / undertakings of Crouchland Biogas. • 4Mar: Crouchland apply to substantially vary EA environmental permit (EPR/CB3208XJ/V002). • 12Jan: Farm Fuel called to Traffic Commissioner enquiry for breaches to Operator’s licence ie. using the farm as an unauthorised Operating Centre. 2015: • Nov: Parish Councils launch planning fund for expert / legal counsel. • Oct: Crouchland lodge Appeals against Enforcement Notices (to dismantle all equipment installed without planning permission & to stop operating as a commercial biogas plant); retrospective planning refusal and Cert. of Lawfulness. • 1Sep: WSCC issue Cert. of Lawfulness excluding conditioning & export of gas, importation of waste & other materials for anaerobic digestion and many items of development. • 16Jul: CDC issue 2 Enforcement Notices with staggered compliance dates for cease of use of land and 6mths for remaining requirements (PS/13/00015/CONCOU). • 23Jun: The EA attends pollution incident on adjoining farm’s watercourse with significant impact on ecology & ability to water livestock. • 16Jun: CDC inform WSCC they strongly object to granting Cert. of Lawfulness. • 2Jun: WSCC pass CDC responsibility to investigate & serve Enforcement but are clear multiple planning breaches have occurred. • For events prior to 2Jun15 contact PORE.

Over the last few years we have seen an enormous increase in the building of new residential units in Wormley and Turnford. All of this has meant that there is a huge increase in the amount of people living here but no increase in any facilities. There has always been a paucity of community facilities in Wormley and Turnford and this has become even more noticeable with the increase to the population. The New River Arms has always provided a big welcoming space for local people to meet in, to eat or drink and to mix with their neighbours. If we were to lose this important local resource there would be even less opportunity for residents to meet up. Community spaces are extremely important for local people to come together and to build a sense of belonging to the area in which they live. This in turn contributes to a feeling of connectedness and interest in the local area which can mean that residents become involved in taking care of the place in which they live and in each other.

People who live and work in London are being priced out of their own city. Something must be done to give London back to londoners.

We have critical levels of pollution, congestion and obesity in London. Our children have the highest levels of obesity in the EU. In Holland and Denmark where more than 50% of children cycle to school they have less than half the obesity levels. Children and adults are also suffering from health issues caused by dangerous chemicals from car exhausts. At present cars dominate our roads in Central London even though the large majority of households do not own a car (69% in the city, 63% in Westminster). Many more people would like to cycle and walk but find the number of deaths and injuries from motorised traffic off putting (tragically 1,216 fatal and serious injuries in London the year ending June 2014) Please help us make this radical change in London's transport system and reclaim the streets for pedestrians and cyclists to enjoy without fear.

Curzon Soho is one of London's flagship arthouse cinemas. Recent announcements revealed that it may be knocked down to make way for the Crossrail 2 development. The West End Extra newspaper originally broke the story about a possible demolition and it was taken up by the Daily Telegraph. The Guardian and many other publications have also picked up the story. On 17 April 2016, The Observer published an excellent and detailed article outlining why the battle to save Curzon Soho matters. Read it here http://gu.com/p/4ta6b/stw - West End Extra article: http://bit.ly/1zOGIfQ - Daily Telegraph article: http://bit.ly/1Bgvjrw - The Guardian: http://bit.ly/1PrZK4W In the recent past, Curzon Soho has been named the best cinema in London by readers of the listings magazine 'Time Out'. However, this unique, lovely and important cinema is under threat as it has been named a "surface area of interest" by those organising the £25 billion Crossrail 2 project. Losing Curzon Soho would be yet another nail in the coffin for the arts in London for the sake of the commercial and financial gain of the minority. Any proposal to demolish this wonderful cinema would be yet another example of the rampant 'beigification' of London. Londoners should unite and reject any proposals to destroy our cultural heritage. Those of us who want to save Curzon Soho from such a destructive and shameful fate need to fight for its wellbeing right now. A petition signed by 1000s of people whilst the open consultation process is ongoing may just make developers think twice about demolishing our arthouse cinema. We need the power of signatures to help us convince developers that the cinema is worth keeping and important to many people.

Mark Durkan, Northern Ireland Environment Minister, has granted Canadian gold mining company Dalradian exploratory mining rights in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in Gortin, Northern Ireland. This allowed the company to commence a 20,000 metre underground drilling programme and to extend a 700 metre tunnel to 2,100 metres. We are concerned at the potential consequences for the local community, the environment and the local economy which relies on small-scale agriculture and tourism. If the Minister allows mining operations like Dalradian’s without first fully assessing the environmental impact that sets a precedent for other types of major environmental development. In 2011 the DETI granted a petroleum licence to Australian company Tamboran Resources, which planned to use ‘fracking’ to extract gas from shale rock in County Fermanagh. ‘Fracking’ involves hydraulic fracturing of rock to release gas and is not used in mineral extraction. Tamboran’s plans were recently blocked following protests from environmental campaigners. Below are a list of links about Dalradian and Tamboran’s activities: http://www.northernireland.gov.uk/news-doe-041213-durkan-announces-gold http://ulsterherald.com/2013/12/05/gortins-golden-opportunity-for-job-seekers http://ulsterherald.com/2013/12/05/gortins-golden-opportunity-for-job-seekers/#sthash.S5QeER4x.dpuf http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-foyle-west-28848826 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-25575879 http://rt.com/uk/179784-fracking-proposal-rejected-protest A damming indictment of Dalradians method of doing business from Friends of the Earth Northern Ireland. http://www.foe.co.uk/sites/default/files/downloads/10-concerns-about-dalradian-gold-mine-75430.pdf