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Stop Fracking in South Bristol and North SomersetThe government has already issued Petroleum Exploration and Development Licenses to fracking companies. These licenses cover the whole area surrounding Chew Magna and the reservoirs which provide Bristol’s water supply and they extend as far as Parson Street in Bedminster ! At present fracking companies need to lease land (or seek agreements to drill) from public or private landowners and they need to obtain planning permission from the local council. However, the coalition government has already drafted an energy bill which proposes abolishing the requirement for planning permission. UK Methane has put on hold its plans to extract shale gas using fracking close to the Hicks Gate roundabout on the A4 near Keynsham and the company has relinquished the license covering Chew Magna (PEDL 226). However, that work may start again at any time and the license can be renewed or taken up by another fracking company. http://www.frackfreesomerset.org/ Why should we be concerned? Fracking uses huge amounts of the local water supply and toxic chemicals such as Benzene, Toluene, Phenol and Formaldehyde to fracture impermeable rock and release shale gas or to obtain methane from coal seams underground. It involves drilling first vertically and then horizontally for up to one kilometre or more in both directions. Numerous wells are drilled to ensure continuing production, and this not only disfigures the landscape but also carries the risk of long-term contamination of water sources because all wells leak and degrade over time. Toxic slurry stored in holding ponds also causes air pollution and contaminates the land, especially during heavy rain or flooding. A report for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency states that exposure to chemicals used in fracking may result in headaches, nausea, insomnia, gastric disturbances, blurred vision and blindness in humans; may affect the brain / nervous system, the kidneys and the immune and cardiovascular systems, and may cause cancer (Colborn, T., Kwiatkowski, C., Schultz, K, and Bachran, M. 2011. Natural gas operations from a public health perspective. Human and Ecological Rick Assessment, 17: 1039-1056. In the UK, Medact has described fracking as an “inherently risky” practice, and 18 leading health professionals state: “The arguments against fracking on public health and ecological grounds are overwhelming. There are clear grounds for adopting the precautionary principle and prohibiting fracking” (British Medical Journal (1st April 2015) Health Professionals call for urgent halt to fracking because of public health concerns). Fracking can also cause subsidence and has been associated with earthquakes in Lancashire. Moreover, it makes climate change worse by increasing greenhouse gas emissions. To understand what fracking could mean for individual households, look at the film Gasland on YouTube. You could also take a look at The Truth Behind the Dash for Gas, a DVD produced by Frack Free Somerset.813 of 1,000 SignaturesCreated by Howard Purse
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Burton on Trent Road surface problem!!!!this is important because a good road surface will keep the residents of Burton safer will cause less damage to our cars vans & motorbikes. Also to stop any injuries to cyclists who have to use the roads too. We deserve better roads and we will campaign to get it done!384 of 400 SignaturesCreated by Alex Eaton
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We need Housing for ALL - Stop Social CleansingEvictions are at a record high. Council house building is being destroyed and sold off with waiting lists growing. Housing has become insecure, often unsafe and unaffordable Companies are exploiting workers in homeless organisations and Housing Associations, organisations which are often seeing surpluses, yet cuts to pay and important services are being cut. Companies who have blacklisted workers in trade unions are being contracted for public contracts, we say NO. All of this and sadly, too much more, are reasons for our manifesto demands at this key time: 1. Stop the cuts - Austerity for the 99% ! 2. Build and repair over 300,000 Council houses per year, incorporating improved accessibility and environmental standards. 3. Stop the transfer of council stock to housing associations. Stop the social cleansing 4. End the right to buy - We lost over 44,000 homes in 2013-2014 5. Bring in Rent Controls and establish a national register of private landlords to protect tenants 6. End unfair benefit caps and other benefit cuts such as the Bedroom tax and cuts in council tax benefit. Restore and increase the Independent living fund. 7. Protect Supported Housing - Stop the cuts and ring fence services which are vital for some of the most in need of specialist support 8. Decent Pay and conditions for workers in housing and social care 9. Bring in an £10ph National Minimum wage 10. End the Blacklist - restrict commissioning of social housing and maintenance services to providers who have signed up to the Joint Industry Board National Agreement for Engineering Construction. Act to remove approved providers found guilty of blacklisting. 11. Nationalise the Banks - Taking over the banks on a permanent basis would enable investment to be planned in line with democratically decided priorities including housing that working people can afford. We must put a stop to the disaster of austerity and build secure homes for the 99% The full manifesto can be found here - http://www.housingworkers.org.uk/readnews.html?con_id=172 Please cut and paste the full manifesto or add the link and ask your MP's and councillors to pledge their support. https://www.writetothem.com/ And if your looking to find out candidates for local or general elections please use - https://yournextmp.com181 of 200 SignaturesCreated by Unite Housing Workers
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London: Sheikh's super-car park or affordable housing?Wandsworth Council have approved an application by the ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum to build a six-story car park in Battersea for over a hundred luxury cars. At a time when the need for affordable housing has never been more urgent and pollution levels in London are making headlines, we ask that you overturn this decision and make a powerful, symbolic statement which shows that you really care about London. There is an urgent need for affordable housing in the UK, particularly in central London. You have a golden opportunity to make a meaningful statement. Rather than encouraging pollution, obscene riches and the exacerbation of extreme social inequality in central London, you have a superb opportunity to highlight the urgent need for more social housing and move London in a positive direction by publicly rejecting Wandsworth's decision. Homes for hundreds of Londoners, or hundreds of cars for one billionaire? Boris, this is a real chance for you to prove to us that you care.1,050 of 2,000 SignaturesCreated by Michael Solomon Williams
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Listen to the Peoples Voice on PlanningWe want the Government to amend the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) to: 1. ensure that development is preferred and prioritised on brownfield sites. 2. protect green areas of special value to local areas. 3. allow all permissions to be counted as part of the 5 year supply definition. 4. give greater weight to heritage, ecology, and culture 5. ensure that developments are sustainable and that adequate infrastructure (roads, public transport, schools, health facilities and leisure facilities) are built in time to meet the needs of the first resident as well as the last. 6. give communities the same rights of appeal as developers in planning law. 7. accept that the expectations for the production of Local Plans in the allotted time-scale were unrealistic and allow a further period of grace to those local authorities that are still struggling to achieve this.1,281 of 2,000 SignaturesCreated by Julie Mabberley
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PETITION FOR AN INDEPENDENT HEALTH REVIEW OF THE EARLS COURT REDEVELOPMENTResidents are concerned about the effect on their health and wellbeing of demolition and construction work on the site taking place over the next 20 years. In particular, we note that there is asbestos contained in Earls Court Exhibition Centre One building and that its removal (particularly from the roof and external walls) could represent a major threat to residents' health. It is particularly important to carry out a review now, as there are reports of plans for increased density on the Earls Court and West Kensington Opportunity area which will have a major impact and have not been assessed. The assessment should consider all the risks to health and wellbeing which include pollution, traffic congestion, noise and vibration, air quality and asbestos removal. Local residents, business owners, workers, trade union branches and tenants associations must be consulted on who carries out the independent assessment and its terms of reference. The health review should be: completely open, transparent, independent and comprehensive with all documents made public. Kensington and Chelsea and Hammersmith and Fulham Council to hold public hearings where local residents can present their own evidence about the health risks and decisions on the findings of the assessment take place in public. Campaign created by Guy Rubin, Green Party candidate for Chelsea and Fulham, David Akan, Green Party candidate for Hammersmith, Robina Rose, Green Party candidate for Kensington.1,593 of 2,000 SignaturesCreated by David Akan
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Superfast BroadbandFiskerton-cum-Morton has been left out of the NCC broadband programme despite significant local demand and a real need for decent connectivity for the farmers, local businesses, families and school children who live and work in the village. We have forced BT to review their designs and they have confirmed they have a technical solution. We have challenged NCC on their programme and they have confirmed that our scheme compares will with other locations that have already been upgraded under the Better Broadband for Nottinghamshire programme. However neither BT nor NCC are willing (or even apparently interested) in confirming when, or if, we will be upgraded - either with the underspend in the existing BT contract or within the next round of funding.70 of 100 SignaturesCreated by Chris Horne
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Action on Caerphilly Town Air QualityIn 2008 parts of Caerphilly Borough were designated as an Air Quality Management Area due to high levels of nitrogen dioxide, which is associated with lung disease and respiratory problems. Caerphilly town centre is a specific problem area. In 2014 the Council approved an Air Quality Action Plan, which included traffic management measures designed to address the problems. Measures include short term steps and longer term strategies, such as reducing the amount of traffic passing through narrow town centre streets by building a south eastern by-pass. There is no evidence that such a measure will increase traffic or pollution; rather it will re-route traffic through non-populated areas. Modelling carried out to date suggests the measures set out in the action plan will significantly reduce pollution levels in the town centre. To date there has been a lack of action. The action plan suggests further work is subject to further modelling and further funding. The residents of Caerphilly derserve action, not words. Our health and the health of our children is at stake. We call on the Council to take action.123 of 200 SignaturesCreated by John Sweeney
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Keep Winchester's roads free from litter!Our city is surrounded by beautiful countryside yet the quality of the environment is seriously compromised by the level of litter that is allowed to build up on our roads. Enough is enough.339 of 400 SignaturesCreated by James Miller, Dirty Money Campaign
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Put speed camera on hallfields road1.cars do 50mph down here 2.A49 has speed cameras59 of 100 SignaturesCreated by Mary Leigh
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Demand an outright Ban on Fracking in Northern IrelandFracking causes devastating effects, affecting every sector of public life, from health to agriculture, to tourism and the environment. Places such as the USA, or Australia where Fracking has already happened have seen a complete degradation of normal life; taking a shower brings your whole body out in a painful red rash, you can light your water on fire, you can't sleep for the noise of the machines and worse, the division of communities due to the manipulation of the Fracking companies. The effects of Fracking are truly endless, with long term effects still being uncovered. We want a ban on Fracking because we love our families, our friends and where we live. Many people have become seriously ill when Fracking companies have started drilling near them. There are many stories of heartache, from someone's wife who has cancer to a mother's young son with severe asthma. Under no circumstances is it acceptable to put communities through the ordeal of Fracking for the sole reason of extracting fossil fuel from the ground. With the effects of the Climate Change becoming worse, this is not the time to invest in Fossil Fuels. If we do not change our habits the repercussions of Climate Change will affect every single person on this earth. We should therefore be investing in renewable energy, not in polluting practises such as Fracking. By signing this petition we make it the duty of our politicians to ensure that Climate change is curbed and Fracking never happens in Northern Ireland.803 of 1,000 SignaturesCreated by Maeve McCann
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Ensure the ARTches project is implemented in accordance with the approved Planning ApplicationThe financial success of such an endeavour depends on delivering a quality design that can attract users and provide real, long-term benefits to the city. To eat away at the key features in order to preserve a budget is a false economy which will result in a cheap-looking, lacklustre development that will absolutely NOT befit a much-loved and historically significant structure, and would offer little to attract tenants or visitors. The proposals include a creative quarter for artists, and refreshment and leisure facilities for visitors, with the intention of generating income to support the continual preservation of the Grade I listed monument. This generated much local interest and debate between both supporters and detractors, and following public consultations, the Planning Committee approved the scheme. The features noted above were APPROVED, not only by the Council Planning Department and Conservation Officer, but also by English Heritage and the vast majority of Portsmouth residents who responded to the consultation. As a Grade I listed monument, Point Battery shares the same designated status as Porchester Castle, York Minster and the Palace of Westminster as a building of exceptional interest. It is therefore sensible to assume that Planning Permission granted on such a building would require an intense level of scrutiny to ensure that the submitted design is appropriate and sympathetic to the structure, and that only work essential to the realisation of the proposal is carried out. Deviating from the approved documents would be considered a breach of planning control under section 171A of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1990/8/section/171A, which can result in enforcement action being taken against the property owners. This is ESPECIALLY critical when those unauthorised changes are carried out on a nationally important historic structure such as Point Battery. As an example, the opening of the gun ports are clearly an integral part of the design, allowing essential light and warmth into the interior of the spaces and providing a more authentic historic appearance from the outside. Failure to implement this and other design elements would be hugely detrimental to the overall scheme, and could very possibly harm its economic prospects in the future. This would be an insult, not only to the many people who supported this project and the aims expressed through its design, but also to the objectors, who may now be faced with the failed development they always feared. Both these groups are taxpayers who put their faith in the democratic principles that underpin the planning process. Enforcement action would be an appropriate measure when dealing with breaches of planning control concerning a Grade I listed monument, as expressed in paragraph 207 of the National Planning Policy Framework: "Effective enforcement is important as a means of maintaining public confidence in the planning system. Enforcement action is discretionary, and local planning authorities should act proportionately in responding to suspected breaches of planning control." If the Council wish to "maintain public confidence in the planning system", then we suggest they implement the scheme they agreed to in the first place, the approved documents can be found here: http://publicaccess.portsmouth.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=MTA36TMO5G000 Portsmouth City Council: please don't let this unique opportunity end up a victim of penny-pinching bureaucracy.113 of 200 SignaturesCreated by Eric Blair
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