The Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act (2006) requires all public authorities to have regard for conserving biodiversity in the exercise of their functions. Planning policies and decisions should minimise impacts on and provide net gains for biodiversity. Artificial grass holds no biodiversity net gains. Burrowing insects, such as solitary bees can’t get past the membrane, and worms beneath the soil are compromised and unreachable by consumers within each habitat community. This is likely to have a negative impact on local bird populations and other consumers, as the food source within the food chain is being reduced and/or removed. Britain’s bees are in trouble with 35 UK bee species under threat of extinction. The implications of this on human food sources, are colossal. We need to be enhancing bee’s habitats and feeding ground, not destroying it. The health of each planter ecosystem is threatened, as a plastic environment is not life sustaining. Though seemingly small, this could have far reaching, negative impact. Harrogate Borough Council’s Carbon Reduction Strategy highlights the damaging effects of climate change and refers to the UK Climate Change Act 2008, which sets the legally binding UK-wide carbon budget. The removal of living flora has removed carbon sequestration and biodiversity. The use of artificial grass provides no biodiversity benefits, furthermore its production and degradation add to carbon emissions. Though this artificial grass may be possible to recycle, the financial and environmental costs of this have not been considered. Though it may be long-lasting, the threat to human health via micro plastics washing into local drainage systems; carcinogenic substances present, and possible burn hazards in hotter temperatures, has not been considered. Key points within the HBC Carbon Reduction strategy include: ‘The council has a corporate responsibility both as a large employer and a community leader to take action to reduce emissions.’ The removal of flora, use of plastic and lack of community consultation and engagement has directly contradicted this point. Priority 4 states to ‘eliminate all single-use plastic from their premises where possible.’ The use of this plastic grass was completely avoidable. Had the council consulted with the public, many alternative options could have been explored, supporting community involvement and well-being. With much research on nature supporting emotional well-being, and considering the current lockdown and rise in mental health concerns, engaging community with outdoor, nature-based activities should be a priority for our council. We believe in community and unity. Together, we are capable of truly wonderful things. We need a council that works with the community and supports community engagement. Considering the legally binding aspects mentioned above; biodiversity net gain and carbon reduction should be a priority for our council. The natural world provides us with water to drink, air to breathe, and food to eat. Everything is linked and everything we do matters. We must protect the environment for moral and economic reasons. We need more habitats, not more plastic.

Never before has our high street been in such a fragile state. Shops and other businesses depend on attracting customers both locally and from afar. They will arrive by different means - on foot, in cars, on public transport, taxis, by bike. Removing easy access by car and taxi removes a percentage of those customers and will effect the town's businesses. Why would the council want more pedestrianised streets when under their own admission they can’t maintain the existing ones?... “Inevitably, this means the beds end up being visually dull and nothing more than a magnet for cigarette butts, empty coffee cups and fast-food takeaway packaging. They look a mess and prompt almost as many complaints as we’ve had about the artificial grass.’’ We believe customers should be able to park close to our town centre shops just like they can at St James’ retail park. Please remove the planters to enable our high street to survive. Thank you for signing.

Residents of Strawberry Island Allotment Society (100 years) are experiencing ongoing access and parking problems due to Strawberry Island Boat Club refusing vehicular access and parking on adjacent land Our allotment is on an island and we’ve been there 100 years this year. 50 yrs ago, a boatyard and clubhouse were built and now boats surround the island and allotment. The present Committee of the boat club have, as of today taken away all vehicular access and parking. An initial agreement consisting of 6 spaces and any overflow to park in the club car park was rescinded the next day. No overflow and no access to emergency entrance at the back of the allotment for deliveries, with out 7 days notice in writing. Our fobs to the main gate have been deactivated. We no longer have vehicular access and can only enter through a side gate. No means of bringing plants/equipment/compost unless we carry it in from the road outside. Their lease clearly states that we are allowed vehicular access at all times. The land is actually owned by the local council, but they have passed us back and forth saying there is absolutely nothing they or their legal team can do. They drew both our leases up which could quite easily be amended to make it equal

Many vulnerable road users, such as walkers both adult and children, runners, cyclists and horse riders, regularly use the unclassified roads that link villages and public rights of way. Since the national speed limits were set in the mid 60's there has been a massive increase in car ownership consequently the original speed limits are no longer fit for purpose. Country roads need to be safe for everyone to use.

Too many incidents have happened on this section of Woodmill Lane; most recently a Nissan Micra crashed into the mill building causing serious damage and closing the road for an indefinite period (1). Previous major incidents have included the injury of a 64-year-old man, who was struck by a van as he was walking his dog (2) and a collision and altercation between motorists that involved the Police (3). Other incidents include an 11-year-old cyclist being driven at as they left the activities centre with the driver claiming that they had ‘skipped the lights’ as well as cars running into the bollards - costing the council in repairs to the pavement - and numerous near-misses as cars and vans mount the curb. This is a historic site (4) that, rather than being enjoyed, is blighted by air and noise pollution and the ever-present risks posed by unwary and dangerous drivers. Whilst many drivers have learned to take care passing through this bottleneck, there are always those who either don’t care or are unaware of the hazards on this stretch of road. For too long we have hoped that all drivers will take more care at this location and yet, despite efforts by Southampton Council to improve traffic flow, collisions and near-misses continue to occur. Additionally, during a time of pandemic, social distancing is impossible with the path narrowing to less than a metre at some points and with two blind corners making it risky to step out and create safe space for other pedestrians. Fears of congestion at other crossings of the Itchen are no reason to keep this route open; research shows that the only way to reduce congestion is to provide alternatives to driving - including making active travel both safe and attractive - and demand management such as reducing access to roads (5). If Southampton City Council wants to encourage healthier travel to benefit the city, what better way than to implement a safe crossing of the Itchen for active travel at Woodmill? In time, drivers will opt for other transport modes that mean they can enjoy this safer route. 1. https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/19296021.closed-woodmill-lane-remains-shut-car-smashes-southampton-building/ 2. https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/18483049.hit-run-woodmill-bridge-southampton/ 3. https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/17918044.police-called-woodmill-bridge/ 4. http://sotonopedia.wikidot.com/page-browse:woodmill 5. http://www.internationaltransportforum.org/jtrc/infrastructure/congestion/CongestionSummary.pdf

Combatting climate change is not just an issue for politicians and industry. It requires changes in behaviour by everybody in their everyday lives,. Although most people will have heard of climate change and enjoyed David Attenborough's documentaries, they need to be made aware of what they need to do to contribute. Why should they eat less meat, drive an electric vehicle, replace their gas-fired heating with a heat pump etc. The government's "Together for our planet" campaign is not reaching people. We need a TV and social media campaign as was done for Covid 19. Climate change is even more of a global crisis than Covid 19 and we have the means to mitigate its impact if governments, local authorities and the people all work together.

We, the undersigned, call on Liverpool City Council to take all actions available to it to press the ACC Liverpool to cancel the AOC Europe, an arms fair, to take place in a council-owned venue, effectively owned by the people of Liverpool. From 11-13th October 2021, international arms companies are due to meet up with delegations from a range of repressive states at the AOC Europe 2021, at the Exhibition Centre Liverpool. The event is an exact replica of the Electronic Warfare Europe, which was cancelled last year after pressure from a large coalition of Liverpool civil society groups. In response to their pressure, the then Mayor of Liverpool, Joe Anderson committed to develop “an ethical charter for LCC and the ACC” in order to “set restrictions on what events we can and should have.” It is therefore deeply concerning to see an arms fair attempt to return to the city, in a venue owned by Liverpool City Council. Arms merchants, including Elbit Systems and Leonardo, whose weapons are used by repressive states are due to attend the fair. The City Council must take action to press ACC Liverpool to cancel the AOC Europe and ensure that no further arms fair is allowed in a City Council owned building in future. We are also outraged to know that the Merseyside Pension Fund, holding local government workers pensions, invests heavily in arms companies including firms mentioned on the AOC publicity for the Liverpool arms fair. We call for sustained efforts to divest MPF holdings from the arms industry.

The fence has to go!

Recently, it was announced that every adult in Northern Ireland would be eligible for a £100 voucher to spend on the high street. The voucher is being introduced to help retail and hospitality outlets, which have been badly affected by lockdown measures. The voucher cannot be used online. The Northern Ireland Government believes this voucher scheme will have a “multiplier effect which will help bring many more customers back through the doors of local retail, hospitality and other sectors.” A huge petition could persuade Boris Johnson to introduce a £100 voucher scheme in England and give retailers a helping hand when they need it the most.

The Labour Councillors in Southampton originally created this safe space for pedestrians. This is a vibrant area for entertainment and shopping. The opening up of the space for outdoor use for everyone has been hugely beneficial during the pandemic. The continued use will provide some health security for the new-normal and gives safe transit for cyclists and scooter users towards the City centre; and directly promotes a greener, cleaner and safer environment for all. Please don't let this be taken away.

According to the Highway Code, reducing the speed limit from 30mph to 20mph reduces stopping distance by almost half, from 75ft to 40ft and if a driver stops in time, a lower speed will reduce the force of impact. There is a 2.5% chance of a collision being fatal at 20mph, compared to 20% at 30mph (sourced from www.driving.co.uk We all know of someone who has been affected by speeding cars in our local area: from car crashes to people (and animals) being run over to high noise levels of speeding vehicles in the evenings. We are working hard to teach people in our school and community about how to carefully cross roads but we feel drivers need to also take some responsibility of people's safety. Across the country, the number of 20mph roads has increased in the past decade and we hope to achieve the same in our area. We want to: *Stop speeding *Protect the people of Ormsgill *Save lives

Community activities should be increasing not reducing. The Library is a lovely venue for all age groups and should expand activities for promoting mental health and relaxation which are needed even more as a result of Covid. The Argyle Centre has the potential to grow its activities too. New groups are developing and there is great potential to expand not reduce access when a library service is moved in. Library resource would have to reduce.