Too much traffic in the city

Clarendon College is a Nottingham landmark and part of the fabric of society that is Nottingham and a major part of the community. Nottingham College is closing 3 of its sites and building one in the centre of town. We think the Clarendon site is worth saving. It is a safe place for students to study while not having to go to the city centre. It has adequate disabled parking for students and staff plus a nursery for the children of people who want to get back into education and who would not be able to study without it. This in turn encourages social mobility and supports our children to fulfil their potential. It is connected by tram, bus and car which is essential for some of our students and staff with disabilites. Please sign this petition to save Clarendon College, support the future of Nottiingham and give our children the opportunity to study at Clarendon.

Parliament is there to serve the nation, the whole population, not to further the interests of small sections of society to the exclusion of others. It is not new; many countries such as Germany and Denmark have such a system. It has it faults but it is not open to the kind of abuse that is rife in the UK. It's an old adage but still true "He who pays the piper calls the tune". We must reform this corrupt system.

Redevelopment to attract businesses and improve the look and feel of the centre of Newcastle under Lyme

**4 July 2022** Exciting moment: Southwark Council will reveal its new repair design that saves the oaks at online meeting on 14th July. Scroll down to the Updates section for more details. These two, hundred-year old oak trees stand on each side of the west end of Cox's Walk Footbridge, Sydenham Hill Woods. They are like sentinels, welcoming and guarding the bridge, and their magnificent canopy dapples the bridge in green shade. But these trees are due to be felled this autumn, just to make life easy for Southwark Council when they carry out repairs to the footbridge. That would be a loss of hundreds of years of life for these beautiful, healthy oaks and the life they support. • Southwark Council is trying to blame these trees for damage to the bridge but the engineer’s assessment states it is lateral pressure from the soil on both sides of the bridge that is the problem. • There has been some damage to the brickwork by roots, but ivy roots not oak roots. • The abutment walls that need repair were rebuilt in the 1980s (exact date unknown) without needing to remove the trees, so we know it can be done. • No assessment appears to have been done of the impact on the stability of the slope and the water table removal of these trees will have. • Oak trees have a rich biodiversity, supporting hundreds of insect species, birds, fungi, mosses and lichens.

Lowestoft is losing shops in its town centre almost weekly. The latest announcement that Tesco is to close its store in London Road North is the last straw. Although the Tesco store closure may be part of a national strategic re-think by Tesco, we know that town centres and high streets up and down the country are having to deal with competition from out-of-town retail parks and online retailers. We also know that footfall in Lowestoft town centre is discouraged by high business rates and the cost of town centre parking. These issues are compounded by cynical leasing practices: as leases come up for renewal, property owners frequently raise the rents making the businesses unsustainable. Property owners are often living in other towns or countries and have no interest or stake in local communities: basically, they are speculators. On top of all this, seaside towns and former fishing ports like Lowestoft are struggling to replace lost industry and livelihoods. People who don't drive are finding it harder and harder to shop. People with disabilities, older people and families are particularly affected by shop closures, especially those on low incomes. Not everyone has access to the Internet, and many of those who do still prefer to shop in store, for the social interaction and company that it gives them. Loneliness is recognised as a significant social problem for many people: especially the elderly and those with mental health issues. Access to local shops helps to combat the isolation of vulnerable people. Lowestoft Town Council, East Suffolk Council and Suffolk County Council have all backed 'Climate Emergency' motions. This means in part encouraging people to walk, cycle and use public transport rather than drive. Retail parks are aimed at car drivers and they do little to build and support a sense of community. Lowestoft now has several retail parks. Town centres are a community link. A vibrant town centre is necessary for the economic regeneration of this town. But it is more than that: it should act as a hub for our community, something that we can build out from, and build a future on.

The A6/Loughborough Road in Birstall has seen a tremendous increase in traffic flow. This is due to the A46 junction, the introduction of the Park and Ride, and massive housing development seen primarily in Birstall, but also in the surrounding areas of Rothley, Thurcaston, Mountsorrel, Syston and Quorn. It also one of the few residential areas that does not have any form of speed regulation. Consequently, outside of peak times the majority of traffic along this stretch travels at speeds well in excess of the 40mph limit. This is a particular problem in the evening and into the early hours of the morning, when vehicles have a free rein to speed without the risk of being caught. Construction lorries and freight trucks are a grave danger from the early hours of the day; their high speeds also add to noise pollution levels. Despite the increase in traffic, there has been very little done to maintain the A6/Loughborough Road, and this requires review. The introduction of noise reducing tarmac would decrease some of the sound and reverberation that residents living on, and around this stretch of road endure. Furthermore, the speed limit should be reduced to reflect the fact that the A6 is, in fact, a residential area with a playing field/park, children's nurseries and school along its route. Action is required to improve the road surface to reduce noise and reverberation. A reduction in the speed limit to 30mph should be introduced, from entry to Birstall at the Red Hill roundabout, to the junction at the A46. Speed monitoring equipment should also be installed to deter speeding drivers and to punish those making the road a danger. Please now sign on two other important issues for Birstall. 1) A new health and leisure centre for Birstall, see petition: Let's improve Birstall's health and wellbeing. 2) Improvement of Birstall's environment, see petition: Let's make Birstall beautiful again! Please share with your family and friends. Thankyou!

There are currently no publicly funded facilities to aid health and wellbeing in Birstall. The public parks have limited uses that appeal to a minority of people. The swimming pool that was around fifty years old was closed down years ago. Compared to other areas of Charnwood, Birstall has very little to offer residents to improve their health and fitness, despite it being well documented that physical health improves mental wellbeing and can increase life expectancy. The areas of Syston and Thurmaston have easy access to South Charnwood Leisure Centre. In Rothley, Mountsorrel and Quorn they have Soar Valley Leisure Centre whilst the residents of Loughborough and surrounding villages (including Quorn) have access to Loughborough Leisure Centre. See below to see the facilities enjoyed by residents elsewhere in Charnwood! https://www.charnwood.gov.uk/pages/leisure The picture above is the pool at Syston. There is nothing of this calibre for Birstall residents, despite Birstall housing nearly as many people as Syston, and being in the top ten highest contributing villages in Council Tax revenue out of 34 areas, see: https://www.charnwood.gov.uk/files/documents/council_tax_bands_for_2019_20/Council%20tax%20bands%20for%202019-20.pdf Birstall has seen substantial growth with increased housing, which has increased traffic flow. The introduction of the Park and Ride and the A46 have also added to the volume of traffic. Subsequently Birstall has suffered the loss of green land and a gradual deterioration in the facilities available to local people. Birstall folk have received nothing by way of compensation for the expansion their village has suffered. Birstall residents call for a new Leisure Centre to be built with facilities comparative to those elsewhere in the borough. A suitable and central location should be found without the loss of further green field. The facilities and amenities available in Birstall fall far short of those available in other, similar sized areas of Charnwood. Thank you! Now please see two other important matters for Birstall and its residents. 1) Improvement to the area overall, please see petition: Let's make Birstall beautiful again! and 2) Reduce speed limit on A6/Loughborough Road to 30mph, see petition: Let's make Birstall Safer! Thank you, now please share with your family and friends. Because Birstall matters!

Birstall has continued to deteriorate over the last few years. The village centre (Sibson Road shopping area) is tired and in need of refurbishment. Basic amenities such as bus shelters, public benches and public toilets are old, broken and damaged making them unusable and an eyesore. Pavements are strewn with detritus and weeds. Publicly owned hedges are overgrown and unkempt, covering road signs. Road signs are damaged. Graffiti is increasing and is not cleared up efficiently. Birstall is unattractive and uncared for by our public bodies and this is affecting resident's quality of life, and local businesses are struggling. Shops have closed and are left empty, more are closing, and the recent closure of a Bank is reflective of this continuing decline. Compared to other areas of Charnwood, Birstall has been neglected. Other areas of Charnwood continue to thrive and have retained their visual appeal through the years of cuts and austerity. Why not Birstall? At a time when we should be using our vehicles less, attractive, clean and usable bus shelters would encourage people to use public transport, thereby reducing traffic and pollution levels. We want action now to restore Birstall back to the bustling and attractive village that it once was. All the issues above need to be addressed. With definitive action then taken to improve Birstall's visual appeal through such as: wooden bus shelters, floral displays, refurbished shop fronts in a traditional attractive style, restyled parks with gardens and seating areas so that they can be enjoyed by more members of the community. This will bring Birstall back to the standards seen elsewhere in Charnwood. Thank you! Now please see two other important matters for Birstall and its residents. 1) A new health and leisure centre for Birstall, see petition: Let's Improve Birstall’s Health and Wellbeing. 2) Reduced speed on A6/Loughborough Road to 30mph, see petition: Let's Make Birstall Safer! Now please share with your family and friends. Because Birstall matters!

It will help fight the climate emergency.

This is an accident/fatality waiting to happen. The speed limit is 40mph which is often exceeded. Several times cars have broken through the fenced border of Chewton Glenn. The pathway is extremely narrow at the bend approaching Hobourne site. There is no other way to walk across this boundary from Barton on Sea to Highcliffe. This is now a particular problem as Hobourne is/has closed off the cliff walk access to members of the public.

Well, once upon a time, not long ago, slug pellets (or Metaldehyde) was at long last banned by Defra. Hoorah I hear you say and then some people got offended and somehow got the ban overturned. Slug pellets kill all manner of our endangered critters included the much loved hedgehog and as much of our wildlife is threatened, endangered and on critical lists, we need to turn this around NOW. So, please, for future generations to enjoy our lovely beasties, please sign this very important petition. Thank you.