Successful Campaigns

UPDATE - 15/08/14 We have won! Mears Group have removed their threat of derecognising unions including the GMB. It seems the speed the petition was put together, how quickly it gained signatures, the joint letter from 3 would be Labour MPs, the threat of a demostration, and good work by GMB officials, saw Mears Group quickly reverse its decision under mounting pressure. Well done one and all!

26/04/25 Back in 2022, you kindly signed our petition calling on Islington Council to simplify planning rules to allow more energy efficiency upgrades in listed and conservation area homes, for both owners and renters. For three years, thanks to your more than 2000 signatures, our campaign group has lobbied hard for the Council to modernise its approach and strike a better balance between conservation and energy efficiency. In the autumn, the Council will finally publish a brand new set of rules. Although progress has been slower than promised and the first draft document has been flawed, we are pleased that many of our recommendations for a more user-friendly and cost-effective approach to planning will be adopted. https://www.letstalk.islington.gov.uk/draft-climate-action-supplementary-planning-document It took a huge collective effort by residents and experts to get us this far. We are particularly grateful to Chris Procter, author of a seminal climate emergency conservation area toolkit, for his meticulous critiques of the council’s work and getting the council to rectify important gaps like accepting slimline vacuum glass for windows. Having got this far, it is now time to end our campaign. However, Chris Procter will continue to lead the way with both the Council and residents on all things retrofit. So if you wish to explore retrofit opportunities for your home please feel free to get in touch with him at [email protected] https://www.procter-rihl.com/ In other news, our co-founder Leyla Boulton was recently elected councillor for the City of London's Bassishaw ward, where she will continue to campaign for better and more sustainable use of buildings. In the meantime she’s thrilled to have installed solar panels on her roof in Islington. Thank you again for your support and happy retrofitting! Leyla Boulton and Anne-Marie Huby Co-founders The Green Conservation Campaign

UPDATE: 11/11/2016 We did it!! I’m ecstatic! The council have just announced that Belgrave Library will stay open in its current location!

On 4 November we handed in our petition to NSDC's Castle House, along with an envelope of the Sycamore trees' seeds and a letter from the trees asking for their legacy to continue. We had a huge crowd chanting 'FREE THE TREES' as local children handed in our total 6,081 signatures. It was a real magical community moment. Just twenty minutes after handing in the petition, NSDC formally voted to preserve the trees and Library Garden for good at an Extraordinary Council Meeting. Newark residents and visitors are in huge relief from the outcome. It's been such an emotional rollercoaster for our community, but team spirit, love and passion prevailed.

01/02/18 - We Won! On February the 1st, I presented full council with the 5,623 signatures of the ‘Open Brighton's Homeless Shelters 365 days a year’ petition and made an appeal to the room. After some debate, there was then a vote on expanding the provision of services to those already homeless. In a stunning repeat of last year’s unanimous vote, the council have now agreed - without abstentions - to send an extra £25,000 for night shelters, bringing the total to £160,000. This is an amazing result, and you played a key part in it. I’m so proud of what we achieved, as you should be.

The museum is saved! After more than 45,000 people signed petitions to protect the science museums in the north of England, Culture minister Ed Vaizey announced that the museums would not be given the proposed 10% budget cut and that there was "no question of them closing." The MP for York Central said: "All the campaigning and all the warnings sent to the government that it would be an act of cultural vandalism if one of these museums were to close appears to have been heeded." http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-22948171

Thanks to your support we were able to hand in a petition with over 26,000 signatures urging the Government to back small cider producers. On 8th July 2015, the Government responded in its Budget. The Chancellor has announced that the Government will retain the current duty exemption for small cider producers. This is excellent news for real cider drinkers and small producers alike. CAMRA is delighted with the Government’s commitment and will now be working hard to ensure that they can keep the promise with a legal exemption in the EU Directive. Thank you for making this a campaign win!

UPDATE 28/01/15: We are delighted to report that Eric Pickles has called an inquiry on this planning decision. Thank you for taking action and signing the petition, your involvement has made all the difference in getting this success.

UPDATE 24/05/2017: We won! The council met last night and decided resoundingly to reject the proposals. Members of the public can still ask questions at meetings, and evening meetings will stay in place.

01/02/18 THE ANCHOR IS BACK! We’re proud to say that the Deptford Anchor has finally returned, to resume its role as an iconic landmark. The petition is now closed as the wishes of hundreds of Deptford people have finally been honoured. Congratulations! WE ALL DID IT! Deptford Is Forever & The Deptford Society