Merton Hall is a charming, ornate, structurally sound Victorian public hall which was commissioned by renowned philanthropist John Innes and executed by his first architect Henry Goodall Quartermain. Together Innes and Quartermain started the design and development of nearby Merton Park garden suburb. The hall is a well-proportioned, balanced and carefully designed public building which does not deserve to be decimated and crushed. Why Should It Be Saved? Structurally Sound ******************* Merton Hall is a fit-for-purpose, solid, Queen Anne style building, in good order which is used by the public daily. It does not merit demolition. Merton Council itself has for years acknowledged its historic and architectural merit by making it a locally-listed building, and putting it on the local heritage trail. Today, it plans to pull it apart The Council has allocated millions of pounds of public money to demolish and replace the main hall in its entirety, retaining only the front which will be blighted by a stitched-on extension made of glass, aluminium and stone cladding. Instead of Merton Hall’s beautiful warm brickwork, buttresses, ornate porches and terracotta plaques, the Council plans a modern, bland, “black box” style warehouse design replacement that doesn’t respect Wimbledon’s heritage nor local distinctiveness. Green space with mature plants and wildlife will be ripped out. If the demolition is not stopped, it could give a green light to “chip away” at John Innes’ distinctive Merton Park and other community assets as has already happened at nearby Merton Rush. Loss of Heritage Asset ************************ In 1898, John Innes' leafy and architecturally harmonious “garden suburb” Merton Park was now thriving. He decided it was time for the community to have a public hall for concerts and performances. He was approached by the headmaster of Merton school to build a Masonic Lodge as it would strengthen local ties. John Innes agreed, and commissioned Quartermain to design a building that would satisfy the dual purposes of a Masonic Lodge and a public hall. Merton Hall is the last jigsaw piece in his legacy to the public. Prominently positioned at 78 Kingston Road SW19, it is one of only two remaining public buildings built by Innes and Quartermain. The Boys’ Club across the road and the old Rutlish School were not so fortunate; they were demolished in the 1950s and 1960s. The 1891 privately-owned Manor Club built for working men sits alongside Merton Hall. The two buildings complement each other and together tell the success story of John Innes’ sense of community, extreme public generosity and concern for the physical and mental wellbeing of the people. Getting rid of Merton Hall is a diminution of John Innes’ legacy. He gave enormously to the area and his legacy should be respected and protected. To do otherwise would seem an act of ingratitude not only to Merton Hall but to all his community assets in the locality. Loss of Freehold in Swap ************************** The Council has agreed a “freehold swap” with Elim Pentecostal Church for the church's current industrial site on High Path. The Hall will no longer be called Merton Hall, a title it has held for over 100 years. It will be named Elim Pentecostal Church serving a limited congregation. Elim will own the freehold in this “swap”, giving it the right to dispose of this heritage asset at any time in the future. The wider community will lose Merton Hall as a public asset and a public hall - yet another blow to community life at a time of when social cohesion is much needed. To this day, John Innes has looked after the community through his Merton Hall which daily embraces everyone. It is an inclusive venue, well-used for a broad variety of activities for all, as well as innumerable weddings, birthdays, christenings and performances. The closure of Merton Hall and public asset transfer to privately-owned Elim Pentecostal Church will end John Innes’ legacy of inclusivity - regardless of creed and status. We Call Upon Merton Council ****************************** 1- To lead the way in respecting our dwindling heritage and planning law. 2- To shelve its plans for unnecessary demolition of a solid and fit-for-purpose building steeped in history and public legacy. 3- To find an alternative site for Elim Church or issue it with a compulsory purchase order (CPO) We must save Merton Hall for generations to come; it is Merton’s heritage, a British asset to be celebrated, not destroyed. Let us not forget: What heritage we easily demolish is lost forever and cannot be rebuilt. Useful links: - Merton Hall planning application live until August 24th 2017 - later representations can be accepted Planning.merton.gov.uk Application reference 17/P2668 https://www2.merton.gov.uk/environment/planning/planningapplications.htm Email [email protected] quoting 17/P2668 Merton Hall - List of Merton Locally Listed Buildings https://www2.merton.gov.uk/loc_list_descriptions_sort1.091.pdf Follow us on Facebook and Twitter @SaveMertonHall

Families across the borough have been sent letters over the last few years demanding that they remove small items, such as toys and small wind-chimes, from grave plots. This is owing to their being apparently "inappropriate" and a "nuisance". We urge the council to review these regulations and allow these harmless and peaceful mementos to remain on individuals' graves, giving families a sombre and personal place to remember their loved ones.

So today, I took my son too gullivers land. Upon arrival I went to purchase mine and Harrison's tickets, Harrison evidently being under 90cm tall, I asked for one adult and one child under 90cm (which is free) the young girl behind the desk asked me too measure Harrison but I explained that he's disabled and can't stand so won't be accurate anyway. She said she'd need to get her manager, after having a quick word and some giggles behind the window she came back and asked for proof that he's disabled. By this point I was getting fed up and there was a queue of people behind me so I just said fine I'll measure him, I did and as explained before, he doesn't stand and it weren't accurate but he did come up under the 90cm mark. The girl was still not satisfied and asked me to stand too the side and wait for the manager too come out(aiden who is in the picture) he came out and I explained I'm not happy with how I've been treated and more so how my son has been treated. He said and I quote 'I can tell just from looking at him he's over 90cm' how he can make that assumption is beyond me because he was in his wheelchair with a blanket over half his body, he then said she's over 90cm too, pointing at my neice who had been measured at the desk and was about 10cm under. So after his disgusting attitude tensions were rising, I firmly said are you expecting me to pay for him? And he then said actually none of you are allowed in. Bare in mind there was 3 children with us. I was so fed up, I said fine whatever, just give my sister and friend a refund which he refused. Then laughed and walked off!! We went up too the ticket sales window and there blindes were pulled down on us and left down until we moved away, despite there being a big queue behind us. 2 ladies witnessed the entire things and was disgusted so much that they actually phoned head office too complain and they advised they'd send the area manager down too speak with us. About 10 minutes after the call, he came too us, followed by the boy we earlier had dealt with that laughed in my face and refused us entry. The boy they went on to deny what he had earlier said and the area manager actually asked him too leave as he could see how upset he was making us. The area manager apologised which was appreciated and gave me and Harrison free entry but it wasn't really much compensation as too what happened. We was stood outside for an hour before being let into the park. I think it's absolutely disgusting and their staff need educating on how to deal with children with disabilities, asking me to measure my son who has low muscle tone and can not stand is absolutely disgusting. For then the manager to laugh at us as if we were the unreasonable ones was an absolute joke. Safe to pay we will not be returning there and I will be making it as public as I can too make sure everyone knows what its like! At least my boy had no clue what was going on.

As the Promenade is the Jewel in the crown of Aberystwyth, it is the most popular attraction for our youngest people, and it has been allowed to stay closed over summer to save some money, shamefull

We, the undersigned residents of Seaford, call upon Lewes District Councillors to ensure that Salt’s Cottage, BN25 1DR is returned back to the people of Seaford, from LDC control, free of charge. To date this has been dealt with by officers, which is un-democratic in the circumstances. The property in question known as Salts Cottage was originally purchased with Seaford resident’s tax monies. When Seaford Urban Council was devolved to LDC under the Local Government Act of 1972 the cottage was included in the assets transferred for no fee. Since 1972 LDC has benefited from rental income from this 3 bedroom residential property through Social Housing tenancies. As the property is no longer of a standard to rent in this way and currently lies empty LDC officers offered to sell the property to Seaford Town Council for the market sum of £340,000. This is not currently an option either financially or ethically. This is a property that was bought by the people of Seaford, and it should be devolved to STC, as other assets have been over the years, at no cost. The Town Council have identified uses for the property that will benefit the community as a whole.

For the past 33 years The Albion Kids Show has been providing play structures and activities for Hackney's families, erecting its famous pirate ship, teaching circus skills, face painting and providing soft play for the borough’s poorest residents. Albion Kids Show works through the year on estates where there may be no safe and supervised play for children. The Albion Kids Show provides children and teenagers with opportunities to socialise and integrate in a safe environment in what can often be a borough segregated by social class. Instead of supporting this charity, Hackney council has turned down funding applications and increased the charity's rent of its Hackney Wick depot from £3,000 to almost £20,000 a year. Despite still being booked regularly for events, the charity is therefore in severe danger of being forced to sell off its famous pirate ship and other equipment and close down. The charity is well respected and appreciated by Hackney’s families, with many children who benefited from it now supporting the charity as adults - as play volunteers. Many of those, myself included, who played on the Albion Kids Show as children in Hackney now have children using the equipment. There is no real alternative for safe and free outdoor play provided by Hackney Town Council at the present time. Albion Kids show is working hard to find alternative funding resources, and works on a skeletal staffing of just one paid full time employee but this extortionate hike in rent payments is making the future of the charity extremely unstable. Past users of The Albion Kids Show and parents of children currently using this fantastic play service are asking Hackney Council to save the Kids Show.

The whole community rely on this hall for parties, community fun days, meeting people, group meetings, if this hall closes there will be nothing. All the staff and volunteers are amazing wonderful people. I cannot believe this is being allowed to happen.

Residents of lower bradpole and surrounding areas have to travel a mile and further to the closest playground to play safely . The walk includes crossing a narrow road where there isn't a pavement. The pavements available are often difficult to use for pushchairs as cars are often parked up on them and this also makes it difficult for crossing. Despite the houses being planned and built for families in mind a nearby park has not been provided for the numerous families who have and are expected in the neighbourhood. All other areas within bridport designed for families have a nearby park within a safe distance for parents and children. The distance they have to travel should not put a hinder on them attending a park. Parks keep children active occupies and encourages new friendships while saving resources on parents having to travel by car to access play facilities. The fact that there is a large open, unused, green space that is in the center or lower bradpole that is not being used to its full potential for the residents seems wasteful. This area would be extremely beneficial to adapt into a play park to enrich the lives of the residents and it's neighbouring communities.

As figures publicised by Mermaids show (http://bit.ly/2ve9eQR), trans* youth are at greater risks of bullying, self-harming, and suicide. YPAS's THE Action Youth project has played a vital role in protecting trans* youth from these behaviours. Since the project's formation, other local support services have seen a significant reduction in trans* youths self-harming, and no suicides at all. However, as a result of Liverpool CCG cutting funding, YPAS can no longer afford a full-time member of staff to run THE Action Youth project, nor maintain it's full programme of services to trans* youth. Consequently, we the undersigned believe that Liverpool CCG cutting funding in half for this vital project puts the lives of trans* youth in greater danger. We further believe that failure to produce a robust equality impact assessment, nor consult with key stakeholders, community networks, and, of course, the young people and their families directly affected breaches equalities and human rights legislation. We thus call on Liverpool CCG to meet with representatives of the undersigned in order to meet their equalities and human rights obligations and, most importantly, reverse their decision to halve funding for YPAS's THE Action Youth project without delay.

Libraries are places of learning and sources of information. They provide a valuable community resource. In these times of "austerity" they provide for families who otherwise couldnt afford the resources to teach their children, and for those on low incomes trying to better themselves. These are the reasons why the Victorians established public libraries and the benefit of all they should be kept Open, free and public. "Google Can Bring You Back 100,000 Answers. A Librarian Can Bring You Back the Right One." Neil Gaiman

Theft and shop lifting is rife. Opportunistic crime is worse for residential and business properties. The elderly people are frightened and intimidated. Families have to witness anti-social behavior and crime in the streets. The police are either powerless or absent. This is effecting us profoundly as a community. Its important for the future of the town that the age range is changed back to under 25s.

Braintree Town FC has been in dialogue with Braintree District Council for nearly 10 years on relocating to a new stadium. With planning applications refused and a new community stadium removed from the local plan, the club has so far been unable to garner support from the local authority for relocation. Recently the council have released the proposals for the next local plan for housing developments this includes land owned by the council adjacent to the Ironmongery Direct Stadium. This land is currently leased to the football club by the council with the lease due to expire in 2030, the lease going through to 2030 but the Local Plan designates 60 houses on the land to be built in 2022 so could be subject to a compulsory purchase order . The land is currently used as a training pitch used by the first and reserve teams, and also the car park for users of the stadium and social club. If the land is developed for housing not only will the club lose its training ground and car park but also access to the turnstile block used for away fans when the ground is segregated. The club will have to find alternative arrangements for training, and users of the stadium will be forced to park in neighbouring residential streets. This would all mean that there is a very real chance that the club would be unable to continue to operate at their current home, and with no support for relocation the very existence of the club is under threat. Please sign this petition so that a football club that has been in existence since 1889 can continue.