Successful Campaigns

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

12/09/22 It's been almost two years since we started our campaign to stop the proposed merger between Queen Victoria Hospital, East Grinstead, and University Hospital Sussex, but finally we have received the news we have all been working towards. All work on the merger has been stopped and we have been informed that this is not a pause but a final decision not to go ahead with the merger now or in the future. Recent whistleblowing by consultants at USH and the subsequent CQC reports highlighting significant ongoing patient safety concerns have proved that merger with them would have been a disaster for QVH. We want to thank each and every one of you that has been involved in supporting us during our fight to save these internationally respected specialist services. We now need leadership put in place that understands and values this unique hospital and its staff. Not a leadership team that is willing to sell it off the highest bidder, instead a leadership team that will fight for its future by building on its strengths and working with like-minded organisations. Thank you all for helping us to get our voices heard!

Great News! Dear Supporters Just to inform you that several flights have now landed with hundreds of travellers and our daughter is back home. Thank you to all who signed and shared this petition, to the MPs who pushed for this to happen, to the staff at the Foreign Office and the Peruvian authorities, to Zoe and Caspar whose daughter was travelling with our daughter and were tremendous in their support and help. It is a huge relief to us and I'm sure, all other families and friends. Thank you to 38 degrees for helping and empowering people like us in difficult situations. We are aware that there might still be people in Peru who have not been able to get on the flights. It's important for them to contact the British Embassy, to via help@fco Best wishes Pablo

18 December update: Mr and Mrs Grant have this afternoon heard that they have now been granted a one year licence by Dorset Council, commencing 1 January 2024. This means that they can continue operating, and will now not be forced to close on 31 December as had previously been the case. Previously, Dorset Council had, at last, on Tuesday 12 December, carried out an inspection of the kennels. This should have occurred 2 months ago when Mr Grant originally applied for a new licence to commence 1 January. The inspection team on 12 December had stated that they were unaware of the challenge to Dorset Council's interpretation of the Regulations 2018 and associated DERFA statutory guidelines regarding the issue of a lack of integral exercise runs for each kennel and the statutory guidance that allows for multiple exercise opportunities in lieu of integral runs. It seems Dorset Council has now recognised its earlier erroneous interpretation of the DEFRA guidelines, and have accordingly dropped their previous intransigent position. Mr and Mrs Grant are now, with immediate effect, accepting further business throughout 2024. This petition relating to Dorset Council's previously declared intention to close the kennels on 1 January without an inspection was sent to the CEO Dorset Council on Tuesday 5 December; at that stage it had attracted 817 signatures since it was launched 3 days beforehand. It was accompanied by a report amplifying the detail contained in the petition, demonstrating exactly why the Council’s original position was in breach of the DEFRA guidance for boarding kennels, and thus unwarranted and unjust. The owners of Pets Haven kennels would again like to express their profound appreciation to all who supported the petition. As would all the dogs currently boarding there, and which can board there in 2024. Your involvement meant that Dorset Council was unable to ignore the issue.

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.

21/09/18 ASTOUNDING RESULT- INCINERATOR THREAT THWARTED BY RESIDENTS as County Council says NO!!! The visually colossal ugly industrial waste incinerator proposed for the fen edge villages of Cambridge was this week stopped by county councillors. The application was refused 7 votes to 1 on grounds of landscape and heritage. Nearly 400 objections (against 3 supporting statements) were received by CCC, while a petition opposing the plans was signed by almost 3000 people and numerous people gave their day to airing their objections to the committee at what was an all day complex hearing meeting. Concerns included the impact on future and existing residents, landscape and impact on a crown jewel of fenland, the ancient heritage asset of Denny Abbey owned by English Heritage which sits next door to the proposed site, and Ely Cathedral (both Crown Jewels of the fens), highway capacity and road safety, noise, air quality, pollution and human health, the environment and whether the facility was needed in a country classified by global waste expert authority EUNOMIA and the EU as being at incineration saturation. We are delighted our voices and residents voices have been heard and we are grateful to the long standing hard work and suport provided by local parish councils who povideded strong objections, Conservative MPs Lucy Frazer and Heidi Allen who kept lsitening to us and formally objected several times, and to Waterbeach Labour, the Green party, CPRE, English Heritage, Cambridge Friends of the Earth who all backed us from the get-go and were relentless with their help. There was 11th hour support and objection from Lib Dem County councillor too. Not withstanding the champion fund raising by Jasmine Seamarks and public donations without we would not have been able to commission the key landscape report that was instrumental in today. Thanks also go out to campaign groups members in Bedford (CAIN), Horsham (NoIFH), Essex (PAIN), Norfolk (KLWIN) and expertise and sheer professional support from campaign group UKWIN (who we should say are working hard with central government to support innovative zero waste strategies). Thank you to all the councillors who voted today to refuse the application and listened to objectors. This was an outdated and inappropriate lump of technology for our city that prides itself on trailblazing innovation, and in the wrong place, squeezed next to an ancient heritage asset and potential new primary schools and new settlement. We are under no illusion that AMEY CESPA could appeal, such is the value of burning 12 counties waste on our door step to them and their share holders. But the decision today is a win for democracy and there were several moments along the way when we questioned whether democracy even existed. If they do then here’s a heads up- we’ll need even more hands on deck and support. Our communities were at a huge disadvantage when opposing such a technically complicated application and in the future access to knowledge and information and understanding the process needs to improve. Combined public information events and public debate meetings should be the preferred forum and less feared- they work well for communities who seek to understand and voice their thoughts. Goes to show if you care it counts! From Fellow concerned residents of CBWi.co.uk

I wanted to say a huge thank you to everyone who has signed this petition. Many of you will be aware of the toxicity of glyphosate and understand the need to ban this dangerous chemical. I am pleased to be able to report to you all that the council supports a ban on glyphosate and is looking into what pesticides are currently used to be able to confirm or implement a glyphosate free policy. This may take some time and in the meantime I will be closing the campaign to reflect the council's action in this matter.

Today (10/2/16) Teignbridge District Council passed in full to accept 6 families up to 30 people in homes in the area. It is hoped that more can follow if it is a success. There was great compassion shown by the council members and it is a great credit to them. It is expected that it will take about 10 weeks for the first to arrive. Thank you all for making this happen. Kind Regards Russell Cornish

UPDATE: 15/07/15 - Theresa May announced today that she was rejecting the application to use water cannon! Read about our petition hand in here: https://home.38degrees.org.uk/2014/06/24/water-cannon-petition-hand-in/ Read more here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-33538171

14/07/14 Great news! The government have scrapped their plans to privatise the Land Registry. What's more, 38 Degrees members' campaigning alongside high street solicitors, unions and MPs had a major impact on this outcome. So well done to everyone involved, we've saved another of our public services from privatisation! Hurrah!