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Save Frome Copper BeechThe iconic copper beech in St. John's churchyard is scheduled to be felled ASAP. Recent survey work has found increasing levels of decay, and Mendip District Council health and safety have decided they would rather fell the tree to avoid liability, than manage it properly. There are several options which could be considered, including further crown reductions, excluding access to prevent soil compaction, and applying mulches to improve root growth. Hollow trees are very common. As trees become older, hollows or cavities can form due to a variety of factors - often through the work of fungi. This is a natural part of the life of a tree. Hollow trees can continue to live for a long time despite having large central cavities, and this does not usually cause them to become dangerous. This report from the Woodland Trust has lots of useful information about hollow trees. http://goo.gl/FTSF4E The report states: "Hollowing trees are also not necessarily structurally unsound, indeed the great storm of 1987 showed hollow trees may be as strong, if not stronger, than younger solid trees because they are more flexible." Hollow trees provide a fantastic and declining habitat for wildlife species including bats, birds and invertebrates. These important ecosystems are becoming more and more rare, partly because of the over-cautious felling of trees as they reach this life stage and begin to show evidence of decay. This iconic tree is a landmark feature of Frome. Though surveys have found the decay in the trunk is significant, the tree appears outwardly healthy and is in a sheltered location. Felling the tree now would be over-cautious, and would be a tragedy for Frome.202 of 300 SignaturesCreated by Zak Gratton
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BBC: Please continue to use the Met OfficePlease protect protect the UK public's long term investment in both great serving British institutions and sustain the collaborative, innovative partnership into the future. The Met Office is a trusted and respected world-wide leader in forecasting accuracy. The BBC is making a huge mistake in ending the current contract. It has provided the data used for BBC forecasts since the corporation's first radio weather bulletin on 14 November 1922. The BBC said it had to use licence payers/tax payers money efficiently, so had to use the 'market'. But do we want to continue with the experts in the field, albeit at a higher cost, or do we want to cut corners and give the contract to a foreign company just because they can come in with a cheaper tender? This decision is being made for short term gain rather than long term public infrastructure benefit.287 of 300 SignaturesCreated by Colin Teasdale
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End the two-tier workforce at National Museums of ScotlandIn 2011 the management of National Museums Scotland broke an existing ACAS agreement and arbitrarily and unilaterally imposed a two-tier wage structure upon its lowest-paid workers (principally Cleaners, Visitor Services Assistants, Housemen, Security) without consultation or negotiation with the recognised Trade Unions. Staff employed since 1st January 2011 are on reduced terms and conditions without a weekend working allowance which is paid to compensate for having to work anti-social hours. Many of this lowest paid group only get one full weekend off once every seven weeks, which has a detrimental impact on family and social life. The consequence is that low-paid workers on the same shifts, doing the same work, are being paid up to £3,000 less than their colleagues. These workers make the National Museums Scotland the top rate attraction it is, and it is only fair that they get paid properly for their hard work. The Joseph Rowntree Foundation states that those earning under £17,100 a year are being paid a Poverty Wage, and many of our members earn well below that. Senior Scottish Politicians, in opposition against Westminster, have recently been calling for recognition of weekend working payments for those who give up valuable family and social time. These payments make up a large part of low-paid workers’ take home pay. PCS totally agree with safeguarding weekend working rights, and believe that if it is good enough for other workers, then National Museums Scotland staff deserve this too. Both Museum management and the Scottish Government need to embrace the principle of recompensing weekend work and accept PCS proposals to settle this long- running dispute. We do not believe that low-paid culture workers deserve to suffer at the hands of austerity, especially when heritage and culture contribute so much to the Scottish economy. The Museum’s own figures show that it contributes £65million to the economy. PCS Members at the National Museums of Scotland have been taking part in discontinuous strike action for over 2 years. Despite repeated requests to come to a negotiated settlement with management, this has not happened.2,786 of 3,000 SignaturesCreated by Clara Paillard
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Save Wilnecote Community HallsOur aim is to keep this building open for the community. We need to reach out the people of Wilnecote and beyond and show the council that there is a big need for the building to stay open for the community groups that already use it and all those that could use it in the future. The Tamworth Herald recently covered the story and published the following: A whole host of groups in Wilnecote have rallied together in a bid to keep a beloved building where it currently is – at "the heart of the community". Earlier this year Staffordshire County Council revealed that the Wilnecote Community Centre was being sold and the site had been earmarked for a 'flexicare development scheme'. It was agreed that community groups currently using the centre could continue to do so until the end of the year. But now, members of groups including the 1st Wilnecote Guides and Attitude Performing Arts, which regularly use the building, have united to "save" the centre from being redeveloped – and keep it open to the community. Protesters have launched a community organisation called The Wilnecote Arts Centre Ltd and are hoping to raise enough money to purchase the building and retain it for use by local social and community groups. It is not yet known how much money the organisation would have to raise to secure the red-brick building. Christine Harris, a guide leader with the 1st Wilnecote Guides, said: "This building is and always has been a community hub. It's the only hub left in the area. If it goes and is redeveloped we are going to have more isolation in the area and could have more anti-social behaviour because nobody will have anywhere to go." "The amount of people who have joined together over this shows that there's a desperate need for it to stay as it is," added Wilnecote resident Christine. The centre, in Tinkers Green Road, is also currently used by a social group for senior members in the community, by the Wilnecote Residents Association and by a social group for adult learners with disabilities. Michala Hitchcock, an Attitude Performing Arts principal who has been involved in the organisation being established, said the centre "brings people together". "What we're trying to do is get as many local people being able to do activities that enhance the community as possible," she said. "We should be increasing participation in activities and improving people's quality of life and they are the kind of opportunities this building offers people." A county council spokesman said the council will work with everyone interested in the future use of the building. "This building formerly housed Tamworth Day Centre and Wilnecote Youth Centre and it has been included in a flexicare development programme because of the need for this type of facility in the area," he said. "After the youth service moved out, it was agreed that local community groups would use that part of the building rather than it remain empty. This agreement will last until the end of 2015. "A community group has lodged an interest in the future use of the building and the county council will continue to work with all interested parties throughout this process. An announcement on the building's future use will be made in the autumn." Cllr Ian Parry, deputy leader and cabinet member for finance, added: "In Staffordshire we want to ensure that we get the maximum benefits for communities and maximum value for taxpayers of every single county council owned building. As part of this, we have created a partnership to review sites, including those no longer in use, following a review of youth services in 2014."360 of 400 SignaturesCreated by Nicola Holmes
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Reopen Russell St Community Centre, Norwich.The centre is situated in a densely populated, high-need area of the city, which would benefit immeasurably from the restoration of a hub for community life. We believe that given the opportunity, and the necessary backing and resources from the council, local residents will rise to the challenge so that the centre can be run by and for the local community, empowering people in difficult times.32 of 100 SignaturesCreated by Lucy Howard
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Save our long-standing community of small businesses and craftsmen in Highgate, London, N6.The recent sale of 191-201, Archway Road, London N6 5BN to Investland/ Archway Apartments is threatening the livelihood of a long-standing group of small businesses, entrepreneurs, sole traders and craftsmen, who provide a wide range of services to the local North London community. The proposed development seeks to completely demolish the independent work-units currently used by this diverse collection of small businesses in order to build a new block of luxury flats, also housing a supermarket. The impact of yet another major supermarket would not only destroy the livelihood of the many small independent grocery businesses in the Archway road area, but would also create a major increase in traffic congestion in what is already an overly congested area. A wide range of small independent businesses currently operate from these premises, including highly experienced health and fitness professionals, a media production company, carpenters and joiners, therapists, a painter, and a tailor and clothing designer. Some of these businesses have been providing valuable services to the local Highgate community for decades, and face eviction if these proposals were to go ahead. The proposed new development plans would also mean the eviction of the residential tenants currently living in the block, some of whom have lived here for over thirty years. A report published in 2015 by Sussex Innovation, the business incubation network owned by the University of Sussex, found that two thirds (63%) of small business owners in London and the South East are considering leaving central London due to the lack of affordable business premises in the capital. This is not just a local Highgate issue, but is in fact representative of a growing problem effecting small businesses across the country, where short-sighted and profit-focused property developers are destroying the very heart and soul of local communities in Great Britain. You can watch a short video about the plight of this small business community by clicking the following link: https://vimeo.com/136233275 Please sign this petition and support our cause in defending the livelihood and employment of these small businesses, sole traders and craftsmen working in this building complex, and other small business communities in similar situations throughout the U.K.86 of 100 SignaturesCreated by Cheyne Towers
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Take the WAR out of the Bournemouth Air FestivalWe believe we can have an Air show which is fun and entertaining, but does not glamorise war and does not act as a recruitment event for the army and other armed forces. The Bournemouth Air Festival has a large military presence, not just the RAF but the Army and Navy attend, perform and recruit. Recruitment The forces say it is their best recruitment event. The UK is the only country in the EU who recruit 16 year old children, and a study by human rights groups ForcesWatch and Child Soldiers International in 2013 found that soldiers who enlisted at 16 and completed training are twice as likely to die in Afghanistan as those who enlisted aged 18 or above. We support education for young people on the true nature of military service and war Glamorisation We do not believe that is it respectful to those who have fought and those who have died to glamorise war. Sanitised war game entertainment is the biggest insult to the harrowing experience of those who fight. Respect We support real practical help for veterans Help with mental health services, Healthcare, retraining and housing.200 of 300 SignaturesCreated by Lisa Moro
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SAVE Liverpool's Lime Street! Call demolition plans in for public inquiry.This is Liverpool's gateway street. It is in the city's World Heritage Site Buffer Zone and is recognized internationally as an extremely important part of Liverpool with great architectural, historical and cultural significance. Listed buildings that would be negatively affected if the scheme goes ahead, include the following: the Anglican cathedral tower (Grade I) and St. Luke’s Church (Grade II*) to the south, and St. George’s Hall (Grade I) and plateau, the Cenotaph (Grade I) Lime Street Station (Grade II) and the Walker Art Gallery (Grade II*), Picton Library (Grade II*) and County Sessions House (Grade II*) to the north. In addition, the Futurist cinema is one of the earliest in the country and Liverpool's first purpose built cinema. Liverpool's World Heritage Site is already in jeopardy and this could push it off the list, flying in the face of international treaties and agreements. The proposals from Neptune Developments, recently approved by Liverpool City Council, involve the demolition of a large site and the replacement of a historic row of buildings with a shopping centre and student accommodation of poor design. The proposed replacement buildings are eleven storeys high, well over what is permitted in this part of the World Heritage Site Buffer Zone. Please see this link for more details and images: http://www.savebritainsheritage.org/news/article.php?id=353809 of 1,000 SignaturesCreated by Clementine Cecil
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Vote of no confidence in Wealden District CouncilCouncillors should be allowed to use local democracy to refuse developments without the fear of developers overturning decisions through the appeal process and planning inspectorate. Our road systems are proven to be incapable of accepting more traffic, there are insufficient GP’s, school/nursery places and sports/recreational facilities. We also care about protecting our green and rural land (once we lose our countryside, we lose it forever). These issues all need addressing before any more houses are built. Our planning system should ensure local voices are heard and work to stop people's quality of life being affected by increasingly poor services. It is your Community. Do something about it. Join in, protest and sign the Petition. Doing nothing is not an option!2,752 of 3,000 SignaturesCreated by Hailsham Voice
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Retain the market stall pitch at Moncrieff Place in PeckhamSouthwark Council is intending to de-designate one of the two existing pitches at the Rye Lane end of Moncrieff Place, (in front of the PeckhamPlex cinema). This would mean the loss of: an historic fully licensed street pitch, a long standing commercial outlet providing affordable goods for local shoppers for over 25 years, part of the infrastructure supporting small independent traders in the town centre, and the livelihood of a local trader and his family. Moncrieff Place stall holders are established licensed traders and have the full support of the Southwark Association of Street Traders (SAST) and the Rye Lane Traders Association (RLTA). They are fully supportive of improvements to Peckham town centre, but not when it means losing vital and valued retail space and the loss of a long standing Peckham business.255 of 300 SignaturesCreated by Paula Orr
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Re-Hire Tom JonesTom Jones is an icon of the Music Industry and a total Legend. The show will not be the same without him. He's the reason many of us watch it. How can you drop someone who has worked with such major stars as Elvis, the Beatles and the Rat Pack?! It's ridiculous to try and replace him and the show will suffer without his good looks, sex appeal and spectacular charm. BRING HIM BACK!575 of 600 SignaturesCreated by Colette Twomey
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Save Sky Tip for St AustellBecause it is now threatened by a planning application to Cornwall Council Number PA14/12186, We ask UNESCO to extend, in perpetuity, the existing local World Heritage Status to embrace the sand burrow called Sky Tip, and otherwise known as the Great Treverbyn or the Carluddon Sky Tip, at West Carclaze, St Austell, in the County of Cornwall. It is a prominent land and sea mark of the town, beloved of its people and all who know the town, as an enduring memorial to all the people and the industry which won the highest grade of China clay from this place for export all over the world; since Josiah Wedgwood and John Carthew formed a Cornish clay company in 1782, after the discovery of China clay, by William Cookworthy, in 1746, at Tregonning Hill. We humbly pray that Sky Tip is as worthy of this recognition and protection as the industrial black hills or Terrils, at Loos-en-Gohelle, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France.1,670 of 2,000 SignaturesCreated by Nicholas Storey
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