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STOP THE DEMOLITION OF MARLBOROUGH SCHOOL, SW3 (Draycott & Sloane Avenue)BREAKING NEWS! The Department for Education have advised that NO application was made by the Council for disposal of school land. The School Assets Team has informed us that they have now written asking for an application to be made. The original planning brief was to upgrade the existing school but now the council has approved plans to demolish it entirely and build offices and shops on a large part of the land. These offices and shops will account for up to 75% of the additional m2 created (compared to 25% additional m2 for the school) and will generate revenue for the council. The Architects Appraisal Panel has strongly advised against this use of the space. The Victorian Society objected, as did Resident Associations and other campaigners spearheaded by Julian Lloyd Webber to have Marlborough listed, but the Council ignored them and granted planning permission anyway. English Heritage, in their report, say that they received representations against listing Marlborough from both the local authority and the planning developers. Julian Lloyd Webber said: "This is dreadful news. It will be a crying shame if this beautiful and historic building is demolished because the listing came too late. Once it's gone it's gone. It is a truly desperate situation and indeed a murky one as far as I'm concerned. When you have a company as big as John Lewis involved who already have a phenomenal amount of power in that area, my suspicions are raised. It shouldn't be about big business which prices everybody but the Russian Oligarchs out of South Kensington. "The plans for the new school are completely out of character for the area. The existing Marlborough school building is beautiful and totally in keeping with the area. And what about the children? For four years, which is one child's whole primary school life, they will have to go to an interim school on the clearings site. This is far from ideal. It is a murky business." James Hughes from the Victorian Society said: "In terms of an official response, I would express our deep disappointment at the outcome of the Committee discussion. The building is handsome, impressive and expresses the pride inherent in a structure that was intended to serve a public good. It has functioned adequately for over 130 years, and could very well continue to do so. The decision is short-sighted and one that in time will be regretted. It is a building which should be used and cherished and this part of London will be architecturally poorer and less interesting for its loss." IT HAS BEEN REPORTED THAT JOHN LEWIS HAS ALREADY CASHED OUT OF THE CLEARINGS DEVELOPMENT, THIS HAS ALLEGEDLY BEEN BOUGHT BY MIKE ASHLEY. FOR PRESS & BLOG ARTICLES, PLEASE CLICK ON LINKS BELOW: http://www.kcwtoday.co.uk/2015/06/17/local-residents-and-parents-fight-to-save-marlborough-primary-school-building/ http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/news/west-london-news/petition-halt-demolition-victorian-school-9294290 http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/news/local-news/victorian-school-demolished-after-john-6333737 http://fromthehornetsnest.blogspot.co.uk/ https://savemarlborough.wordpress.com/1,757 of 2,000 SignaturesCreated by JANE SOLOMON
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ED MILIBAND: WORK WITH THE SNP, GREENS AND OTHERS TO LOCK CAMERON OUT Of No. 10Dear Ed Miliband, though the right wing media and the Tory party directly have pushed hard to drive a wedge between a hung-Parliament Labour Party and the SNP, and you yourself have publicly spoken against this in inexplicably strong terms, we British citizens from a wide range of parties, and even more people from none, who share broad 'old' Labour (not Tory-lite 'New Labour') and progressive green humane values call on you to GRAB THE OPPORTUNITY TO REPRESENT THIS REAL BRITISH MAINSTREAM, AND WORK TOGETHER WITH THE SNP, GREENS AND OTHERS TO LOCK THE TORIES OUT OF GOVERNMENT. Britain cannot stand 5 more years of demolition of all we value most in this country: - 'Private Profit, Public Cost': the ideological dismantling of the welfare state into private crony hands (even many MPs have snouts in the trough) must be reversed. - The American model of a privatised NHS and other public services is a disaster that only serves a wealthy elite and leaves citizens dangerously unprotected, Guarantee a Public NHS for perpetuity. - Green Action Now: stop the dangerous fracking cash-grab and tackle the fossil-fuel lobby - Internationally: Britain must be able to act Independently of the US, work for Peace and Diplomacy rather than supporting further wars, and reduce the elite-enriching proliferation of arms and insecurity. - The Undemocratic Power of the Media spreading a false and corrupting impression of public consensus (on issues like war, immigration and the NHS, say, let alone the SNP!) must be challenged, not bowed down to: how can people, let alone politicians like yourself, begin to make the right decisions for this country when the information we are fed and peer-pressured to keep in line with is squeezed into such a narrow right-leaning frame. Ed, there is a rare opportunity for Labour to form a progressive alliance with a range of sane progressive parties - SNP, Green and others - to achieve all these things and keep Cameron and his Eton chums out of No. 10. Please find the courage of your convictions to rise above the fake consensus scare-mongering of the 'mainstream' media and listen to and represent all of the Anti-Austerity and Humane Real Mainstream in England, Wales, N Ireland and, yes Ed, Scotland. Act now publicly and privately to start building the right bridges with SNP, Greens and others for all our futures in this country.3,094 of 4,000 SignaturesCreated by Mark E
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Northern Ireland Licence FeesDriving is a skill that most people will need in there life and to be charge almost double the price of the rest of the UK, Northern Ireland is being treated unfairly and it will put off people wanting to learn to drive. Not everyone can afford £62.50 for a first NI Provisional so it would be beneficial to reduce the price so that it is in line with the rest of the UK at just £32 for a first GB Provisional3,115 of 4,000 SignaturesCreated by Russell Hearn
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Keep our parks and children safe in mertonOur children play and whilst they play need to feel safe and secure without feeling threatened or intimidated by groups.24 of 100 SignaturesCreated by tina bellamy
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Save the Strand, London: Don't demolish 152-158 the StrandKing’s College London has received planning permission to demolish the unlisted 154-158 and to façade the Grade II listed 152-153 the Strand. These charming buildings with their narrow medieval plots provide important context and setting to the Grade I listed Somerset House and St Mary-Le-Strand. Their loss will be hugely detrimental to the conservation area, the surrounding listed buildings, and will substantially harm one of London’s most historic thoroughfares - the processional route from St Pauls to Buckingham Palace. The buildings are protected by both national and local planning policy as designated heritage assets: Nos 152-153 are listed and part of a conservation area; 154-158 Strand are identified as Unlisted Buildings of Merit, which contribute to the character and appearance of the Conservation Area. The proposed design of the replacement building does not respect Westminster’s heritage and local distinctiveness - it removes a group of buildings with distinctive façades and replaces them with something bland. It will also be dominant in its environment, unbalancing the composition of Somerset House, and repeating the mistakes of the past: when the neighbouring Brutalist building was built a large group of precious late-17th and early-18th century buildings were destroyed, similar to those at 152-158. At the planning committee meeting on the 21 April Westminster Councillors regretted the loss of these buildings and construction of the Brutalist block, yet still approved the demolition of 152-158 Strand. No further encroachment of this kind should be allowed. The character of central London depends on a balance between large institutional and commercial buildings and smaller scale buildings on narrow plots. This case has triggered national interest. The amenity societies have made substantial objections, and there were many individual objections. The proposal has struck a nerve with all who love London. As a national institution and a seat of learning, King’s should be leading the way in respecting heritage and planning law. Demolition would fail on both accounts. We call upon King’s College London to shelve the plans for demolition, and reconsider their proposals. Historic buildings are an asset to a historic campus, and should be celebrated as such. Britain is respected worldwide for its sensitive approach to historic buildings, indeed John Ruskin himself was an alumnus of King’s College London. Do the right thing by history, and by the future: save these buildings. For more information and images see our press release here: http://www.savebritainsheritage.org/docs/articles/Kings%20College%20Press%20Release%20210415.pdf or contact SAVE on 0207 253 3500/[email protected]10,553 of 15,000 SignaturesCreated by Clementine Cecil
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Opt out rather than opt in for medical donation and researchThere is always a shortage of suitable organ's for transplant leading to the deaths of people whose lives might otherwise be saved. Equally there is a shortage of cadaver's (bodies) for medical students and surgeon's to practice on. They cannot learn the skills they need on artificial bodies.44 of 100 SignaturesCreated by Rudi Affolter
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Save Trade Union Studies in StokeFor over forty years thousands of dedicated trade union members have benefited from the educational opportunities provided to them by the Trade Union Studies Unit at Stoke on Trent College. Not only have the courses students have undertaken benefited them personally they have also benefited countless thousands of their colleagues in hundreds of workplaces across North Staffordshire, regardless of whether they are trade union members or not. The training has led to safer workplaces. Where well trained health and safety reps are present accident rates & fatalities at work are considerably lower than in workplaces with no health and safety trade union rep. What could be more important than protecting your health and safety at work? It's not something to take for granted and it requires dedicated well trained volunteers, like trade union reps to make sure that it happens in your workplace! Industrial relations are better & disputes avoided where you again have well trained, confident trade union reps in place able to work directly with employers. This saves millions of pounds every year to our economy by avoiding unnecessary conflict. This couldn't be achieved without reps having access to quality training. As things stand we face the very real prospect of losing a vital local cog not only in adult education but also one that directly benefits the economy of North Staffordshire and plays an indirect part in helping to deliver safer workplaces for us all. Without the Trade Union studies Unit at Stoke College it will be far more difficult for reps, who have your best interest in the workplace at heart, to access training. Reps will have to travel much further afield to gain the skills & knowledge they need which will be a significant barrier to their learning which not only lets them down but also lets their colleagues down. Colleagues no doubt like you. With the imminent closure of the Trade Union Studies Unit at Derby College the area along the A50 corridor from Stoke to Derby and beyond will also have no dedicated facility for the training of trade union reps. Rather than closing the unit at Stoke the college should be actively seeking to secure it's long term future and embracing the opportunity to fill the void which will be left when the unit at Derby closes. Please don't allow the management of Stoke on Trent College to shut what is such a valuable education resource. Without it your life and livelihood could be put at risk.579 of 600 SignaturesCreated by Justin Ashton
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Please help save St Cuthbert's School Bus ServiceIt is very important to all familes who use this service. There are parents who start work early, parents who have to take another child to a different school plus the parents who have no personal transport at all! The local traffic is also reduced as a result of parents using this bus service. This traffic will increase significantly for everyone on the school run by having at least another 20+ cars on the road in an already extremely busy village.102 of 200 SignaturesCreated by Ursula Whooley
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Invite all parties on April 30thNot doing so gives an unfair advantage to the parties 'chosen'. Politics has moved on since the debates were 'agreed'. The BBC needs to take account of this move to include wider opinion and the great possibility of a hung parliament. To focus on the three parties chosen would be tantamount to vote-rigging and certainly shows favouritism. Let the people decide and give them ALL of the facts and range of parties.6 of 100 SignaturesCreated by HELEN Cuthbert
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3-D PRINTED PROSTHETIC LIMBSIt will alleviate the pressure for these on the NHS, provide wonderful educational opportunities in IT, Maths and Making/Building for children plus create a positive shift in public attitudes and awareness of those affected by upper limb loss. To do this we want the go ahead for GPs/NHS Prosthetics Depts to work alongside local schools with 3D printers to get these cheap, colourful, funky and working upper limbs made. This would be achieved using free software, on a voluntary basis, at minimal cost. These are not currently available on the NHS, what is available are primitive & cumbersome contraptions that are not at all child friendly - please help us change that by signing this petition.315 of 400 SignaturesCreated by Julie Jillians
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Open letter to Philip Dunne, Ludlow Conservative candidatePhilip Dunne is the only candidate that is sitting on the fence about this important issue. We have great concern for the NHS as a whole, and ask that he watches the powerful film Sell Off, made by senior doctors who describe the threats to our NHS. You will find this online.382 of 400 SignaturesCreated by Pete Gillard
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Save Totton College for local students!Totton College has announced it is stopping A'Levels as of this September, obviously this affects both current students and new intake meaning locals will need to find new courses at either Brockenhurst, Tauntons or similar. This will of course involve an expensive bus fare and also affects staff who face redundancy and questions the future of the college as a whole.704 of 800 SignaturesCreated by Joanna Tidbury
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