Millions of people from across the UK could be owed hundreds of pounds in refunds from their energy provider. The refunds are linked to direct debit payments on fuel costs, which often result in customers overpaying in summer months. And some suppliers are using the money to fund "otherwise unsustainable business practices." It’s just not good enough. That’s why energy watchdog Ofgem is consulting on introducing an auto-refund system in which consumers are automatically refunded on a yearly basis rather than building up credit on their accounts. If thousands sign the petition, Ofgem will know how serious the public are taking this issue, and even the big energy companies could change the way they do things before they are forced to.

It’s been 2 years since the UK declared a climate and environment emergency. The government says it is making progress towards reducing carbon emissions, but without more significant and sustained action from the richest countries, the world is set to exceed the Paris Agreement’s critical 1.5°C limit between 2030 and 2040. And the UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries in Europe. The costs of failing to address these crises will far outstrip the investments required to prevent it. Investing now will bring many benefits in the form of good jobs, breathable cities and thriving communities. Limiting heating to 1.5°C may still be possible with ambitious action from national and sub-national authorities, civil society, the private sector and local communities.  Worthing Borough Council has declared a Climate Emergency and it is playing an important role in the UK taking action to achieve net zero. We want it to support the CEE Bill because all their efforts will not be enough unless there is new ambitious and effective national legislation. The CEE Bill (published as the “Climate and Ecology Bill”) binds the Government to develop an emergency strategy that: - requires that the UK plays its fair and proper role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions consistent with limiting global temperature increase  to 1.5 degrees C above pre-industrial temperatures; - ensures that all the UK’s consumption emissions are accounted for; - includes emissions from aviation and shipping; - protects and restores biodiverse habitats along overseas supply chains; - restores and regenerates the UK’s depleted soils, wildlife habitats and species populations to healthy and robust states, maximising their capacity to absorb CO2 and their resistance to climate heating; - sets up an independent Citizens’ Assembly, representative of the UK’s population, to engage with Parliament and Government and help develop the emergency strategy. We want the Council to resolve to: - Support the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill - Inform the local media of this decision; - Write to local MPs, asking them to support or thanking them for supporting the Bill; and - Write to the CEE Bill Alliance, the organisers of the campaign for the Bill, expressing its support ([email protected]). You can read more about the CEE Bill here: https://www.ceebill.uk

Why is this important? Small and large cities throughout the UK are being choked both environmentally and economically by car traffic. The only ones that have reversed this trend are those that have installed trams - Birmingham, Croydon, Edinburgh, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham, Sheffield, and the Docklands Light Railway. Find out more about how buses and trams together cut congestion, pollution, emissions and revitalize cities - whereas buses on their own never have: https://tinyurl.com/54z4eeud. Bath and Bristol Area Trams Association - BABATA - website: https://bathtrams.uk/ contains well referenced research which demonstrates the truth of all our statements, and which apply to almost any crowded British City. Note: we are a friendly social group with regular meetings - please - join us as there are many small fun tasks that need doing to make this happen - could be writing a letter to the paper, or the WECA mayor, proofreading a letter or leaflet, keeping a Facebook post up to date, booking a social get together, or simply posting on social media, etc. email us on [email protected] if you want to attend our regular Thursday fun meetings up stairs in a Bath Pub. Our task is twofold: 1. to convince the West of England Combined Authority, WECA, Mayor which has the authority and ability to access the necessary capital. (And to assist other appropriate authorities in other non-tram cities) (We understand very well the bureaucracy and politics that have to be negotiated to improve all transport, not just trams in our area). Thus, we are pushing for the WECA mayor to take his ITA - Integrated Traffic Authority Powers as have e.g., Birmingham Manchester etc. which powers they have used to install their splendid tram systems. 2. To inform the inhabitants and national and local politicians of Bath, Bristol, Radstock and other areas nationally of the credible, proven reasons why trams must be reinstalled in all our cities allied with planning policies to locate all new buildings - offices and housing along tram lines; Trams in town centres (but integrated with buses for peripheral and rural areas) work because enough previous car drivers will use the tram so it is not stalled by the previous car traffic. The reasons for this are: People like the fact they are not crammed together staring at the back of someone’s head. Children etc. are not trapped next to strangers due to bench seating on a tram and can easily move around. Ultra-rapid boarding and de-boarding - through multiple large doors, not possible on buses Trams inherently are able to operate more frequently than buses for unalterable technical and economic reasons. Are ultra-reliable. Faster through traffic, in even through crowded narrow streets due to Green Wave Traffic Light Prioritization https://bathtrams.uk/green-wave-traffic-light-pre-emption-work-tram-coming-bathford-via-batheaston/ ( not generally applicable to buses). Two tram cross town trips are acceptable, due to the low wait between connections and the reliability. This means parents will trust their children to trams. Also: Overall fare costs are cheaper than buses. Have about 1/3 the lifecycle energy consumption of buses due to much lower rubber tire friction. Have zero emissions, i.e. no toxic tyre dust due to steel wheels Do not need separate segregated routes, i.e. share exact same road as cars. And: Trams can negotiate all the narrow streets and steep hills in Bath There are systems which avoid having overhead wires Bath is certainly not too small for trams - there are many cities much much smaller than Bath with trams, and we are talking about connections to Keynsham, Bristol and Radstock. https://bathtrams.uk/cities-with-small-population-tram-systems/ Bath And Bristol Area Trams Association meet every 2nd Thursday 2. Email [email protected] for details. We have 3 tram supporters lists you may wish to join: 1. for members, absolutely no spam, just one monthly mail / newsletter to advise of meetings and events. 2. Local Bath and Bristol tram supporters - lots of chat about the issues pertaining to Bath and Bristol. Can be set to every email, or periodic summary. 3. National list for technical experts, those who want technical chat, or to know about national campaigning (we work closely with the national LRTA the Light Rail Transit Association https://www.lrta.org/). Can be set to every email, or periodic summary. 4. Very infrequent about 4 times a year list. Email [email protected] advising of any lists you would like to be on.

There have been numerous collisions along Shirley Drive in recent years and it is indefensible that Brighton and Hove council refuse to install a pedestrian crossing anywhere along this road. There are four primary schools and two secondary schools close by, as well as all the foot traffic going to and from Hove Park and Hove Rec. This means there's nowhere safe to cross for a large number of school children, young families, the elderly and disabled - who all have to try and navigate a 30mph road with no crossing. The speed limit should also be reduced to 20mph to increase safety and reduce noise pollution. From the seafront up to the start of Hove Rec there are eight pedestrian crossings and a 20 mph limit. I do not understand why Shirley Drive is exempt from these safety measures when it is an extension of the same road. Please sign and help make our environment safer for the whole community.

Red listed kittiwake are on the brink of extinction. This is a valuable nest site that has been used for years by these birds.

To block access surrounding the outter part of the estate and stop people from entering factoring forestry land, breaking the plants and trees and being able to vandalise people's homes.

Residents & taxpayers have a right to feel safe within their own homes & community. The local authority has a duty of care to help in these matters.

General Practice is facing unprecedented demand after years of failing to address a mismatch between workforce and workload. If urgent action is not taken, GPs are in danger of burnout, and patients may be unable to access medical care.

The Nursery School team have spent 20years building the safe and nurturing environment. Mrs Mulea and her team have worked tirelessly to deliver outstanding care to local pre school children in the local community. They have been served notice to vacate the Salvation Army hall by July leaving no nursery provision for children in the local community. We are appealing to the Salvation Army to reconsider their decision and allow the nursery school to continue to use the space.

East Street's pavements are too narrow to allow for social distancing, especially with queuing systems operating to be able to enter many shops and banks. We do not want to see a rise in coronavirus cases again in Taunton Deane that crowded pavements would likely cause. The shops have also benefited from an increase in footfall since reopening and really need that to be maintained in order to recover from the terrible year they had last year. East Street without cars has created a pleasant and safe environment for all, including those people with mobility issues who previously struggled to negotiate the parked cars and dense traffic. SWT’s consultation on the project received approximately 2000 responses, with a significant majority in support. There are also wider environmental concerns. We all know that we are in a climate crisis, one of the best recommended actions we can do as individuals is to walk, cycle or take the bus more and leave the car at home. We would appeal to people to consider these options, and many others, if at all possible in order to reduce the traffic going through the centre of Taunton. This would have huge benefits for the residents of both roads affected as traffic pollution is known to cause asthma and cancers, whereas cycling and walking have great benefits to our own health. In addition, increasing road space available to traffic will only increase the traffic using it - many studies show that traffic simply increases to fill the space available to it. Conversely traffic will reduce when roads are closed, so we would expect traffic to gradually ease over the next week or two as people get used to the new restrictions and find other ways of completing their journeys. Increasing road space now, is simply increasing the amount of traffic able to use the road, which will increase pollution and greenhouse gas emissions now and for the future. Some very informative links on this subject are here: How increasing road space doesn't solve congestion! and here: New Roads Create Traffic – Faith the Green Way (wordpress.com) The value of spending from increased footfall is often underestimated. See https://www.livingstreets.org.uk/media/3890/pedestrian-pound-2018.pdf There are many examples of public realm improvements increasing footfall and spending in retail centres. So please, we appeal to David Fothergil of SCC and Mike Rigby of SWT to keep East Street closed to vehicular traffic for the sake of our local economy and our children's futures!

Boston Manor Park in West London was recently fortunate enough to receive £3.6m from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and National Lottery Community Fund to improve access, ecology and facilities at Boston Manor Park. Unfortunately, following a limited initial consultation, poor communication and flawed management the park looks like it’s been swept by a cyclone. Over 100 mature trees have been felled, hedgerows removed, and wildlife habitats destroyed. Local residents and visitors to the park alike have expressed their considerable upset and confusion over the damage done.

Thousands of workers across the UK are at risk of being held to ransom by their employers through a practice known as ‘fire and rehire’. Companies can force their staff to accept pay cuts and poorer conditions, or face the sack. And the worst thing? At the moment it’s legal, so soon many others could follow suit. Countries like Ireland and Spain have already taken decisive action to outlaw fire and rehire, but our government hasn’t. The longer we wait, the longer people’s livelihoods remain at serious risk.