Successful Campaigns

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

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.

09/01/24 - We did it! Ex-Post Office boss Paula Vennells has bowed to our 1.2 million strong petition and will hand back her CBE with immediate effect. She said she was “truly sorry for the devastation caused to the subpostmasters and their families” and that she as continuing to support and co-operate with the inquiry into the scandal. She added: “I am, however, aware of the calls from sub-postmasters and others to return my CBE. I have listened and I confirm that I return my CBE with immediate effect.” David Smith, who started this petition said: "Thank you to each and every person who has signed this petition. It has been a catalyst for action allowing us to have a voice and is hopefully a first historic step on the path to the victims of the Post Office scandal getting the justice they deserve." “To me, the removal of the CBE is just the start. The ultimate goal is for the subpostmasters to get the justice they deserve. In many ways, this is symbolic, but it is a massive symbol." “What I’m hoping is that as soon as somebody as senior as her is held accountable at this level, it will start a domino effect that will lead to the justice and compensation that everyone affected deserves.” You can read more about the story here https://home.38degrees.org.uk/2024/01/09/post-office-scandal-win-paula-vennells-hands-back-cbe-but-fight-for-justice-goes-on/ In other news a new petition has been started calling for Alan Bates to be honoured for his role in exposing the Post Office scandal. You can sign that here https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/give-alan-bates-a-cbe-for-exposing-post-office-scandal

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.

WE WON! 30/05/18 British citizen Andy Tsege has received a pardon from the Ethiopian Government after almost four years on death row in Ethiopia. Andy has now been released from prison and is now with his family in Ethiopia. After four unbelievably hard years for on death row this is wonderful news for Andy, his partner and their children. The new Ethiopian government should be recognised for what they have done today. “I am so thankful that the pain and anguish my children have had to go through could now soon be coming to an end. Helawit, Yilak and Menabe have spent too long without their father and we are all hoping Andy will be free to come home to us soon.” Yemi Hailemariam, Andy’s partner https://reprieve.org.uk/update/andy-tsege-is-pardoned-by-ethiopia/

19/12/2014: Following the threat of a legal challenge by a 10 year old boy with Morquio, NHS England have announced that they are abandoning the scorecard and are going back to the drawing-board on their approval process. We are really pleased that the petition and threat of legal action has forced NHS England to develop a fair decision making process for ultra-rare diseases - thank you to everyone who signed.

This 2017 campaign was a success

28/01/22 We won! London Borough of Waltham Forest did not rezone the large swathe of green open space around The WaterWorks Centre for housing, and has committed to protecting the borough’s Metropolitan Open Land in its draft local plan. That’s not to say that the Waterworks Meadow is safe from development. The Lee Valley Regional Park Authority still has plans to knock down the WaterWorks Centre and build something on the site of the Centre and its car park, but their original plan to build housing has been scuppered and it will be harder because the site hasn’t been rezoned. If you want to keep an eye on the story as it unfolds, follow Save Lea Marshes on Twitter (@SaveLeaMarshes) or online (www.saveleamarshes.org.uk).

30/04/18 - We were successful!!! Thank you all for your support. The CCG commented that they had never received so much feedback before. Vasectomies will continue to be funded, and female sterilisation will still be available on the NHS when alternative long acting forms of contraception have been exhausted. There are still restrictions on IVF but the CCG has made concessions. I received great support from the Women's Forum of Bath Labour party, and I don't think this campaign would have been successful without their hard work. Protect our NHS Bath was also a valuable support. Thank you all for getting involved. We presented a printout of the petition to the CCG at their public meeting and it seems to have had a real impact. In the course of the campaign, we learnt that BANES has a funding shortfall of £6 million for the next financial year. I will continue to monitor threats to services and continue to campaign for transparency around a publicly funded comprehensive NHS, free at the point of delivery. Thank you all again. With best wishes, Maddy Piper

04/12/18 We Won! Controversial plans to transfer millions of tonnes of crude oil between tankers at the mouth of the Cromarty Firth – allegedly threatening dolphins and other marine life – have been scrapped. The constituency MSP for the Black Isle praised the resilience of the Cromarty community after years of campaigning resulted in a neighbouring port authority abandoning plans for at-sea ship to ship oil transfers in the Moray Firth. Despite being a coastal village with a population of just 700, well over 100,000 people signed an online petition organised by the Cromarty Rising campaigners concerned about the environmental risks if an oil spill were to occur. The Cromarty and Moray Firths are home to bottlenose dolphins, harbour porpoises, mink whales as well as other marine and bird life. https://www.energyvoice.com/oilandgas/north-sea/187527/cromarty-firth-scrubs-out-oil-transfer-plans/