Successful Campaigns

19/09/23: New petrol price information shows that supermarkets are no longer overcharging for petrol. Well done to everyone who signed the petition! https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/petrol-prices-uk-government-figures-data-cost-disparity-zqw53th5h

07/09/23 - We Won! Following pressure from our campaign, The Government has confirmed that the UK will re-join the EU's flagship scientific research scheme. Congratulations to everyone who signed. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-66737714

STOP PRESS - DECEMBER 2024 GALBA (Group for Action on Leeds Bradford Airport) is STILL fighting LBA's attempts to expand. So far, we’ve been incredibly successful in our five-year l battle. We have managed to block LBA at every stage of their expansion plans. But now LBA’s bosses have asked the government’s Planning Inspectors to overturn restrictions on night flights, at a Public Inquiry to be held in Leeds in March 2025. If LBA win they will be able to fly an UNLIMITED number of planes at night. Increasing night time flying is central to the airport's expansion plans. The reason is simple: unlimited night flying allows airlines to fly more of their planes round the clock, which means they can dramatically increase the number of flights at the airport. That’s what LBA’s appeal to the Planning Inspectors is all about. More night flights would mean more greenhouse gases from jet engines, polluting our fragile climate, when everyone knows we have to cut emissions as fast and as much as possible. The Climate Change Committee has repeatedly said that airports should not be allowed to expand because there are no large scale alternatives to the fossil fuels used to fly aircraft. OUR ORIGINAL CAMPAIGN We have successfully petitioned the Secretary of State to hold a public inquiry into the expansion of Leeds Bradford airport so that the full national impact of airport expansion can be assessed. The Public Inquiry was due to start on September 13th 2022. But Leeds Bradford Airport pulled out. Since then GALBA has been fighting expansion on many fronts. Here are some of the things we have achieved: We succeeded in calling for a public inquiry into the original planning application – causing LBA to withdraw its application. We achieved this win by using every tactic available to us, including the very best legal advice, an enormous public petition and a letter-writing campaign. We exposed hundreds of unlawful night flights at LBA over the past three summers. We were only able to do this because our dedicated and expert team literally logged every single arrival and departure at the airport – an extremely time-consuming and laborious process. Our hard work paid off because we were able to prove that the airport was not telling Leeds City Council the truth about night flight numbers and the Council was not independently monitoring them. We persuaded Leeds City Council to turn down the airport’s attempts to rewrite the rules that limit the number of night flights. This was a huge blow to the airport and we believe it only came about because Leeds City Council was not able to argue with our relentless monitoring and the detailed legal arguments that we presented to them. During this time we have kept our campaign at the top of the agenda. We’ve made politicians and the public take notice with a series of high profile demonstrations, letter-writing campaigns, petitions, fundraisers and media appearances. Why is this important? As we stand on the brink of climate and ecological breakdown, airports throughout the UK are trying to expand. Leeds Bradford, Bristol, Stansted, Manston, Southampton, Luton and Gatwick are pressing ahead with expansion plans. Supporters of each expansion claim that the increase in carbon emissions is small in a national context. However, the cumulative impact would be a huge increase in emissions at precisely the time we should be doing everything in our power to reduce them. Leeds Bradford Airport expansion is a test case. The local authority has approved expansion, claiming that carbon emissions from international flights is not a matter for local authorities to consider! So we have called on the Secretary of State, Robert Jenrick, to order a public inquiry so that the climate impact of expansion can be assessed in a national context. This is not just about Leeds-Bradford. Approval of this application would open the floodgates of expansion at other regional airports. The government must intervene to stop the planned expansion of regional airports if it is to meet legally binding environmental targets and avoid the worst impacts of the climate crisis. You can hear it from the experts. Over 200 Leeds Uni Academics already agree. https://www.galba.uk/post/press-release-246-uni-of-leeds-staff-and-researchers-ask-robert-jenrick-to-call-in-lba-decision Most importantly please share with your friends and family. Tell them why this matters so much to you. Thank you from GALBA - Group for Action on Leeds Bradford Airport

We won! Incredibly, our campaigning seems to be working: in 2023 the Duchy of Cornwall agreed to our petition to expand Dartmoor’s temperate rainforest. The Crown Estate (the biggest of the Royal Estates) announced its first ever beaver release. And now, the unthinkable: even the king’s beloved Balmoral, once a bastion of bloodsports, is set to get its first rewilding project. https://www.wildcard.land/rewild-the-royals.html ​Read our Guardian article celebrating our successes here. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/dec/28/revolt-royals-rewilding-rainforest-beaver-balmoral

Buglife is delighted to confirm that the London Resort project has officially been terminated. This decision follows a High Court ruling to liquidate London Resort Company Holdings (LRCH) due to financial and contractual disputes, bringing an end to a decade of uncertainty and environmental concern. The High Court’s ruling not only signals the definitive end of the London Resort plan but also lifts the shadow of doubt that has loomed over local businesses and the community for years. It ensures that this critical natural space remains safeguarded for future generations. Furthermore, the Planning Inspectorate has held LRCH accountable for its "unreasonable behaviour" throughout the planning process, awarding legal costs to a number of organisations, including Buglife, National Highways, Kent Wildlife Trust and others. This recognition of wasted resources underscores the importance of due diligence and respect for environmental regulations in major development proposals.

16/01/23 We Won! To everyone who signed and supported, On Saturday evening Colehill Cricket Club completed and exceeded our fundraising goal to ensure that adult cricket can continue to be played at Colehill. The support we have received has been nothing short of extraordinary. Each and every donation, every signature or post share, no mater the size has been humbling. It cannot be overstated how much the support that we have received means to us. We move forward into a new season with the support of the local and wider community, both cricketing and non-cricketing at the forefront of our minds. This support will push us to be the best cricket club that we can be. The most engaging cricket club we can be, and the most welcoming cricket club we can be. We hope to do all of our supporters proud over the coming weeks, months and years. And, if you do find yourself in our sleepy corner of east Dorset, please pop by and say hello to Colehill Cricket Club. Now Your Cricket Club. Many thanks from myself (George), the Colehill team, and players & supporters past and present who will continue to share the joy we do, getting to play at such a wonderful ground.

19/12/22 Great news! Due to the pressure you put them under, the government have agreed to pay out the £600 energy support to households in Northern Ireland in January! We'll have to keep an eye on them to see exactly how it happens, but this is a big win and you helped play a part in it. And we know it'll be a big relief to people with the news coming just before Christmas. This is what our community is all about - showing up and never giving up. This wouldn't have been possible without your support. Thank you! More here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/vital-help-with-energy-bills-on-the-way-for-millions-more-homes-across-great-britain-and-northern-ireland

The £2 fare cap has been extended and a further £80m has been made available to support critical bus services in England! https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-64678990

The House of Lords has blocked the UK government's plan to relax restrictions on water pollution to encourage housebuilding in England. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-66804160

Aintree racecourse have made safety improvements to the Grand National race in 2024. This includes reducing the number of horses running from 40 to 34 and bringing the start time forward to improve the Aintree ground. Despite these welcome new safety measures for the feature race, two horses still sadly died during the 3 day meet. We hope that Aintree racecourse will continue their progress and consider how the Grand National race in 2025 could be even safer. https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/racing/grand-national-2024-safety-changes-horses-b2528159.html https://www.express.co.uk/sport/horseracing/1887883/Grand-National-Festival-Pikar-dead-Giovinco