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Save Hog's Back and the Surrey Hills AONBThe Hog's Back is a steep chalk ridge that runs between the towns of Guildford and Farnham in Surrey. It is 154m above sea level at its highest point and provides far reaching and dramatic views across open countryside to the north and south. The ridge is a nationally important and much loved feature of the North Downs, formed during the last Ice Age and one of England's oldest known roads. Four farms (Blackwell, Wildfield, Chalk Pit and Manor) lie at its eastern end and are under threat from development. Guildford Borough Council has earmarked Blackwell Farm for a 2,250-home development and expansion of a business park in its draft Local Plan - a move that would burst through, and enclose, an area of ancient woodland, which forms the green belt boundary on the west side of Guildford. This sprawl would open up the floodgates for a ribbon development along the slopes of Hog’s Back. The University of Surrey, which owns the land, is already pushing to increase the development to 265 hectares (3,250 homes). This is despite promises to open up this area as an informal recreational space - promises made when the University took 64 hectares out of green belt in 2004. The farmland under threat lies on the boundary to the Surrey Hills AONB and provides views into, and out of, the Hog's Back ridge. Part of site lies within the AONB. It also includes a designated Area of Great Landscape Value, areas of ancient woodland, areas of Grade 2 and 3a farmland, medieval hedgerows, and remnants of 18th century parkland. It is adjacent to a scheduled ancient monument and to a Site of Nature Conservation Importance, and is home to many rare flora and fauna, including 4 bird species of principal importance for biodiversity. The site is also of historic importance: it includes that last remaining undeveloped corner of Guildford Royal Park - Henry II's hunting ground and an important part of the town's heritage - and it provides the last remaining views of Guildford Cathedral where it rises from an entirely rural setting. The Hog's Back itself is steeped in history. It was used by worshippers travelling to Stonehenge and much later by pilgrims visiting Thomas a Becket’s shrine at Canterbury. Views from the ridge have been admired by literary figures, such as Daniel Defoe, Jane Austen, Lewis Carroll (who is buried on the Hogs Back) and Aldous Huxley. Save Hogs Back is opposed to the development of these farms and any further urbanisation of the Hog's Back landscape. We call on Guildford Borough Council to withdraw this site from its Local Plan, and on Brandon Lewis to tighten up planning legislation so that there is more robust protection for AONBs and their settings. We also call on the University of Surrey to abandon its plans to cash in on this land and instead to honour its promise to the people of Guildford to open up this area for walkers, riders, cyclists etc, whilst keeping it as a working farm. For further information, please visit www.savehogsback.co.uk18,318 of 20,000 SignaturesCreated by Karen Stevens
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Protect The Living WageThe Living Wage is a concept which has been developed independently and it should not be hi-jacked by the Chancellor because he wants to pass the Minimum Wage off as something it is not. Only The Living Wage Foundation can set the Living Wage, by its own independent processes and no one, not even the Chancellor, can think of any other amount and pass it off as the real thing!142 of 200 SignaturesCreated by John Logan
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Raise local housing allowance to reflect the rental marketThe LHA rates are very low, often £200 lower than the the cheapest properties in the area forcing families to downsize their living space in order to find accommodation. At least have the LHA to reflect the cheapest properties... but it doesn't even do that... so a family with 2 children of the same sex entitled to a a 2 bed property are forced into a one bed property. This can't be fair and just considering that it was this Government who introduced the right to buy thus destroying all social housing stock!122 of 200 SignaturesCreated by Lisa-Marie Aldred
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independence now /UDI now pleaseAfter today's budget We need to end this westminster tory government . To save not only people in Scotland , but help the people from the other countries in this union rid themselves of austerity .729 of 800 SignaturesCreated by eleanor mcmahon
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Please vote on the English fox hunting ban ammendmentsTraditionally, the SNP have abstained from voting on policies that do not directly affect Scotland. The changes to the fox hunting bill that are to be voted on in a free vote in Westminster next Thursday whilst not directly impacting on Scotland do go against the wishes of 80% of the UK population. The SNP should make a stand on this breach of democracy as their vote is likely to be the deciding vote. Local MPs - find yours here - (https://www.writetothem.com/)198 of 200 SignaturesCreated by Dean Clark
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Simple law to stop misery of shoddy products.Imagine if manufacturers had to say how long they expect their products to last and backed it with a guarantee. For the first time people will be able to make a real choice when they buy something. e.g. "Do I get the £15 kettle that lasts 1 year? or the £30 kettle that lasts 5-6 years?" This makes things simple. We deserve to know what we are buying! "Planned Obsolescence" (where manufacturers purposefully design their products to break or be unfixable) is on the rise. It might bring profits in for shortsighted companies, but it is a growing disaster for the environment and it means that we are stuck buying the same shoddy things again and again. Having your kettle/hoover/dishwasher break is not just annoying, it traps people in a cycle of poverty. But there's something we can do! If people know how long something is expected to last, we can see if the "cheap prices" are really worth it. It's likely that companies will realise that have to do better, and up the durability of their products or risk having to publish some dismal figures. Us consumers have been trapped by these companies strategies for too long and it's time for us to get some power back. The power of choice. Please sign the petition. The planet will thank us all. We can do it! Tara PS. Follow and share the campaign with the hashtag #built2break11,662 of 15,000 SignaturesCreated by Tara Button
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Sack George OsborneGeorge Osbourne is clearly out for his own ends and is not acting in the best interests of the people. Its time for him to go, before he does any further damage.1,290 of 2,000 SignaturesCreated by Chris Cracknell
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Encourage 38 degrees members to Boycott non tax and living wage paying companiesWe've been trying to get companies to pay tax and a living wage for years - unsuccessfully. It's clear we have to hit these companies in the only place they will listen - their wallets.15 of 100 SignaturesCreated by Robbie Bennett
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NO PRIVATE POLICING ON OUR STREETS.G4S is a private company and is known to charge a lot for bad service, low wages, and unreliable staff, probably because of low wages. There is no substitute for a State-owned police force.124 of 200 SignaturesCreated by Susan Groom
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Slippery slope of privatisation of police forceNeed to ensure the integrity of our law officers and force stays as a non profit organisation4 of 100 SignaturesCreated by Jill Sortwell
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stop G4S Police powerGiving private companies more "public" power diminishes the ability of those public servants with the training and focus to use the power with the job. So, trined Police use Police powers: not untrained private G4S use police powers.180 of 200 SignaturesCreated by William Osborne
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Keep police work in police hands!Because public safety and police matters should be fronted by the police, not an agency that has proven history of making big mistakes! How do you feel knowing this could be coming to your community soon? Scary isn't it.108 of 200 SignaturesCreated by Rachel Tarrant
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