Surrey Health Borough Council is planning to dispose of more than 20% of the land at the London Road Recreation Ground, Grand Avenue, Camberley to use as a car park for the redevelopment of the Arena Leisure Centre. This is a significant reduction in open, green recreation space available to the local residents in an area that already has a minimum of such areas. This disposal of land will greatly affect the functionality of the recreation ground, the available space for residents to enjoy green open spaces and cause the loss of a significant environmental habitat for plants and animals.

The chair of the management Committee is leaving in August. The new constitution (brokered in 2013) is not legally binding. Last years AGM was not held in accordance with the new or the old constitution. The Ropewalk Garden is an important community asset which is challenging to run and needs full support from all sections of the cities community to function effectively. An EGM would enable us to change our culture and overcome the factionality which hampers us from engaging more effectively with the public. We need long term committed volunteers to be hands on in both committee and gardening and community liason roles. We need to adhere to the requirements of the covenant with the council and our constitution. An EGM would mean we can move on from the past and forge new connections ensuring the garden has a future.

On May 31st 2019 the Sheffield Star published a letter with a bold headline saying "Man-made climate change is a myth". The contents of this letter have been thoroughly debunked in this article. http://www.lse.ac.uk/GranthamInstitute/news/climate-change-deniers-haul-out-a-daft-conspiracy-theory-about-attenboroughs-new-programme/ Not only did the Star print the climate deniers letter without checking it was factually correct, but they also chose to give it "Star letter" treatment and print a headline that is entirely opposed to scientific fact. The Star must stop misinforming the public and start to educate them about the massive issue of climate and ecological catastrophe. Unless the public understands the dire consequences of continuing "business as usual", it will be impossible for the Government to implement the emergency measures required to prevent mass extinction. Newspapers that actively oppose the measures required to stop climate and ecological catastrophe will be complicit in both genocide and ecocide. The science is clear: It is understood that we are facing an unprecedented global emergency. We are in a life or death situation of our own making. We must act now. “We are in a planetary emergency” Prof. James Hansen, former Director of the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies “Climate change is a medical emergency…It thus demands an emergency response…” Prof. Hugh Montgomery, director of the University College London Institute for Human Health and Performance, Lancet Commission Co-Chair “This is an emergency and for emergency situations, we need emergency action.” – Ban Ki-Moon, former UN Secretary-General “Act now to save our planet and our future from the climate emergency.” Antonio Guterres UN Secretary-General At the end of 2018, the UN Secretary-General warned us: "Humanity and life on Earth now face a ‘direct existential threat’ The world must act swiftly and robustly to keep global warming under 1.5°C and try to avoid utterly catastrophic impacts to life on Earth. Human activity is causing irreparable harm to life on this world. A mass extinction event, only the sixth in roughly 540 million years, is underway. Many current life forms could be annihilated or at least committed to extinction by the end of this century." The air we breathe, the water we drink, the earth we plant in, the food we eat, and the beauty and diversity of nature that nourishes our psychological well-being, all are being corrupted and compromised by the political and economic systems that promote and support our modern, consumer-focused lifestyles. We must act while we still can. What we are seeing now is nothing compared to what could come. Effects on global human society, if the climate and ecological emergency are not addressed, may spiral out of control. Sea level rise Desertification Wildfires Water shortage Crop failure Extreme weather Millions displaced Disease Increased risk of wars and conflicts But our leaders are failing in their duty to act on our behalf. Our current systems of governance are compromised by a focus on profits and economic growth. Politicians can be influenced by lobbies of powerful corporations and the media are hampered by the vested interest of corporate advertisers undermining our democratic values. We have run out of the luxury of time to react incrementally. We must radically and immediately begin reducing emissions and improving carbon absorption, drawing it down and locking it up again. Only a peaceful planet-wide mobilisation of the scale of World War II will give us a chance to avoid the worst-case scenarios and restore a safe climate The task before us is daunting but big changes have happened before. Let’s make a better world. (Thanks to Extinction Rebellion for this text)

There are fewer and fewer 'shops' in Alloa that add value to the town, Poundland stocks everything you need at obviously, a low cost, items you can get at last minute without having to order on line or pay triple for in other shops, poundworld went last year and for poundland to close too would be tragic for the town not to mention the staff that work in Poundland, i would like it to stay, as I'm sure many others would too.

Think its grossly unfair hotels are permitted to add additional charges for single people. My wife died from liver cancer @ 53. As a result I am charged a single room supplement when I have occasion to stay at hotels. Those married folk in the group are charged the normal rate for a double room, receive two breakfasts, two dinners each day. I am charged around £20 per night additional for a single room with one breakfast and one dinner per day. This anomaly makes me feel marginalised by the industry and penalised due to my wife's death. My MP has contacted the Hoteliers Federation and the Minister for Arts, Heritage and Tourism. They state while they are aware of the issue, it is primarily a matter for the industry. It would appear there is no body controlling the industry and they are permitted to implement what they choose. The additional single supplements enforced for travel has discouraged me from doing any form of travel. Great article by Fiona Parker highlighting this issue in Money Mail confirming the ridiculous charges imposed on individuals. Those affected have given testimony to their treatment by travel operators. I feel there needs to be some regulatory control introduced to change the current status, I don't want to be treated as special due to my unfortunate circumstances, just treated fairly.

Disgusting smell pollutes the air residents breathe. It is sickening, so residents are objected - without choice - to the horrible smell in their nostrils, in their homes, on their clothes. Plus, the smell distracts tourists to the area ie: it harms the tourist trade.

One of the ways Judith Kerr was celebrated during her lifetime was with the decoration of a postbox near her home in Barnes. To mark World Book Day in March 2019, the Royal Mail decorated four postboxes across the UK honouring the most popular British children's authors. The transformation of the box only lasted one month but we're campaigning to have the postbox permanently decorated. Judith Kerr was one of the UK's most beloved children's authors. Her books from The Tiger Who Came to Tea, When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit and Mog the cat stories have been read by generations of children across the world. After escaping from Nazi Germany as a child in the 1930s she decided life was not for wasting and she was working as an illustrator and author right up until the time she died aged 95. She is a hugely important figure and deserves a permanent monument. She was thrilled when the Royal Mail decorated a postbox in her honour and it would be a fitting memorial if they were to allow the postbox to be permanently decorated with her illustrations.

This might seem silly to some but to most of us O'Neills Ilford is a little place of freedom away from the normal 9-5 grind of life. We are a wholesome family customers, dj, bar staff and door staff combined and closing the doors early on such an establishment will kill the pub entirely. Some of us are new here, some have been coming 10-20+ years and yet we all come together as a whole. 18 year olds are mixing with 50 year olds singing, dancing and enjoying everything that the pub gives. Please help us get our friendly little pub to stay open like it should. O'Neills is the heart of Ilford and with all the trouble there has been around the local area it's nice to have a place to go where you feel safe but also welcome around strangers.

Single use plastic is a big topic at the moment and eliminating it completely is going to be a massive job. However there are some completely unnecessary uses still about in supermarkets! It should at the very least cost me the same to buy 4 single tins as it does to buy a pack of 4! It’s clearly cheaper to produce single tins as the cost of packaging is less so why does it cost the consumer more to be plastic free?

Many families are suffering and falling into poverty and financial hardship fearing for their futures and suffering stressful discisions forced on them due to caring commitments of two or more.Many care for the disabled more hours than legally allowed to work for free so should’ve helped financially as this is not a choice of lifestyle at all it is a necessity to care for loved ones!

Save our recreation grounds: Seaford in East Sussex has a serious, and recognised, lack of outdoor recreation and sports facilities for its growing population. Our grounds at the Downs Leisure Centre include: playing field, garden and an over 60s club. All at risk of being permanently lost and tarmacked over. It’s accepted by doctors and common knowledge that fresh air and open, green spaces are vital for mental and physical health for all ages. Our green spaces at the Downs site are in constant use by young and old. They're also vital habitats to a host of birds, insects and other creatures in the trees, hedges, plants, grass and soil. As we face a worldwide climate crisis, green space isn’t a ‘nice to have’, it’s an essential part of supporting pollinators and a whole delicate, interconnected ecosystem. These grounds are the last remnants of open space in this part of Seaford. Documents reveal that historic buildings thought to pre-date 1624 are still on what was once rural and common land. In fact, these public recreation grounds were gifted to the people of Seaford for health and leisure since 1964, until now. It's a space where we can come together, kick a ball, picnic, walk and play together. We absolutely do not want to lose this right. Which is why, when we made a formal presentation to the Scrutiny committee at Lewes District Council on 10 September 2019, we asked that the open green space be protected for ever and turned into a public park. Keep doctors in Seaford town: Currently people from all over Seaford can reach the two doctors’ surgeries in the town. Seaford is a one-stop centre for everyone. Patients who visit the surgeries in Seaford also go shopping and catch up with friends in the town’s many cafes. This vibrant town community, and vital trade, could easily be lost if both surgeries are moved to the Downs Leisure Centre site. At a time when the UK’s high streets are under serious threat, we need to be investing in the town centre and keeping it thriving, rather than driving footfall away from the area. Relocating both surgeries to the Downs Leisure Centre and building a supermarket on site will encourage more car use, leading to traffic congestion and pollution which will change the local area beyond recognition. Plus, the development will significantly increase parking demand – and the planned parking is woefully insufficient. There are empty and underused premises in the town centre. No clear reasons have been given about why the NHS doesn’t invest in its existing premises which occupy a large space in the town centre. It is not our Council’s legal or core responsibility to fund NHS facilities. The seizure of green recreational space to build a supermarket and £18 million doctor’s surgery is unprecedented. No other council has proposed this before. As residents of Seaford, we value the fresh sea air, outdoors green space, beautiful natural environment, active lifestyle, vibrant town centre, and sense of community. But if the council gets the go ahead with this development, it will use an £18 million public works loan to finance an NHS project - with no new medical services on offer. We do NOT want a development that builds a supermarket, housing, car parking and medical centre over our green space. The development will degrade the natural environment, increase congestion, pollution and the likelihood of accidents. It will further social isolation, reduce ways of keeping active and seriously affect trade in the town centre. To stop this development, please sign our petition to Lewes District council and Eastbourne, Hailsham and Seaford Clinical Commissioning Group. IMPORTANT UPDATE: There will be a critical public meeting at 6 pm on Wednesday 25 September 2019, when Lewes District Council debate this petition and consider whether or not to build a Health Hub on the Downs Leisure site. We need your support. Please join us. We're meeting outside at 5.30 pm on the 25th at: Council Chamber at County Hall, St Annes Crescent, Lewes. Links: 'Town Centres could become ghost towns', BBC, July 2018 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-44695269 'NHS battle plan to save millions of lives: Lifestyle changes to solve health', The Express, April 2019 https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1116288/nhs-health-crisis-exercise-britain-matt-hancock "Evidence showed that concrete gardens had no effect at all, so you had to have green gardens." 'Top doctor backs green gym idea.' BBC news 2014 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-26871970 'UK parks save NHS more than £111m a year, study suggests. Fields in Trust charity say regular users are likely to be healthier and visit GPs less often'. https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/may/07/uk-parks-save-nhs-111m-year-study-suggests 'Doctor's new prescription: "Don't just exercise, do it outside" '. https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/feb/10/health-prescriptions-doctors-healthcare-fitness-exercise-parks 'One of our key areas of expertise is the interface between green space and health from programmes on the ground to strategic work at national level'. https://sustainablehealthcare.org.uk/what-we-do/green-space-and-health A host of research at https://nhsforest.org/evidence-benefits points to the health of patients, staff and local communities can be dramatically improved by providing opportunities to exercise outdoors and access green space.

Spelthorne Council has published a consultation document which will strip 71 green spaces in Spelthorne of their existing protection as Protected Urban Open Spaces (PUOS). [1] In their consultation document, the Council are proposing very onerous criteria for a new designation as ‘Local Green Space’ which – according to our detailed analysis – only one of the 71 currently protected public urban open spaces in Spelthorne can meet and which would leave our valued Green spaces at risk of development. [2] As an example, the Council proposes that only urban spaces that are at least 0.25 hectares in size should be protected as local green spaces. This requirement automatically leaves 14 (~ 20%) of the 71 spaces (ranging from 0.07ha to 0.24ha) unprotected. The other proposed criteria mean that 56 out of the 57 remaining sites will not be considered as having enough ‘historic significance’ (e.g. because they don’t contain a combination of ancient monuments or listed buildings), “richness of wildlife” (because there currently is no evidence of “observed wildlife on site” and/or closeness to local nature reserves), recreational value (because they don’t possess “good” or “excellent” free recreation facilities) or are not considered tranquil or beautiful enough. It would not only be an immense loss to residents to lose important local green spaces – but a national tragedy when we already know that we only have 12 years to avert irreversible climate change. [3] NOTES: [1] https://www.spelthorne.gov.uk/article/17625/Consultations-and-representations [2] https://www.spelthornegreencllrs.com/news-media [3] https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/oct/08/global-warming-must-not-exceed-15c-warns-landmark-un-report