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.

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.

(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

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.

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.

Because we want to build a post-colonial London

The shopping centre is obsolete and unviable and will be demolished and redeveloped. We want to ensure the development includes a viable neighbourhood town centre with a range of local traders, cafes, library/community space, cinema/theatre, ensuring a vibrant sustainable hub for the whole community, and continued employment for local people. New accommodation will provide future customers to ensure viability.

Minehead is a busy seaside resort on the north coast of Somerset. The town's architectural landmarks are as vital to its economy as it's many other attractions. Many of these buildings are formally recognised period properties. Without Minehead's unique history, the town would not hold as much of a draw to the tourists on which the local economy predominantly depends. The Somerset Historic Environment Record includes every one of Minehead's landmarks and should be safeguarded at all costs. But it is now under threat from developers! 11 Blenheim Mews is one of the buildings on this list and is currently in danger of becoming redeveloped beyond recognition. The stable building is one of the last of its type in Minehead still in its original condition. The Victorians built these stable buildings to serve the imposing Victorian houses of Blenheim Road and are part of the Wellington Square Conservation Area. However, the application intends to remove all original features that make this building unique. The design involves building an extension right up to the front boundary, installing a large, metal bi-fold door and fibre cement sheet cladding to the front aspect, laying a patio area directly outside, installing painted metal windows, three dormer windows and as many skylights. The application also proposes the extensive use of bricks, which is an entirely inappropriate material compared to the stonework of the neighbouring buildings. The building is in the centre of town amongst Minehead's highest-profile landmarks and heritage assets. The proposed application would fail to preserve or enhance the character and appearance of the conservation area, endangering the historical integrity of the current building and compromising the Somerset Historic Environment Record. Any works should preserve the original facade of the building. If developers lay waste to 11 Blenhiem Mews, the Somerset Historic Environment Record will not even be worth the paper it is written on. The original features of this building deserve better than being consigned to the scrap heap. The planning application is available to view on the Somerset West and Taunton planning portal. The application is entitled "3/21/22/041 | Conversion of residential garage and first floor workshop, with erection of a single storey extension, into 1 No. dwelling with parking | Garage to the rear of Blenheim Mews, Minehead, TA24 5QZ" Please sign this petition today!

Absolutely noone wants public funds wasting on this project. This would be a similar waste of money, like that wasted on concrete balls outside the council buildings

Management companies can charge any fees they choose to cut grass and repair play areas. This can lead to excessive costs for homeowners and can increase unfairly over time. An older nearby estate will be maintained by the council through the rates, leading to a completely unfair system.

The planning has been submitted to turn the area into a commercial 3G football pitch and academy. Meaning large floodlit artificial pitches being used for commercial gain. This deprives the area of a much loved green space and negatively impacts quality of life for residents on the estate In the middle of a housing estate this would cause noise, light and traffic pollution