27/11/2007 by Simeon Orme.

I hope you will forgive this intrusion but Friends of the Earth believes that there is something you  should  know: the Government could have some big plans for your street and community. The trouble is, you’ll have absolutely no say in them.

Under new proposals, your democratic rights to have your say about building development in your area will be silenced.

Instead, an independent, unelected and unaccountable body made up of a mere roomful of people will make all the major development decisions for the 54 million people in England and Wales.

Unless you take action, you will lose your change to have your say about building developments in your area, weather it’s a new supermarket that could bankrupt your local grocers, an incinerator on your doorstep, or roads that cut through your local countryside.

This issue goes beyond your local community, however. Under the proposed new Planning Bill the Government wants to push through plans for nuclear power stations and airport expansions, which will have drastic implications for our ability to cut our carbon emissions and tackle climate change.

Friends of the Earth is campaigning  for your right to participate, your right to be heard and your right to challenge decisions made in the planning process. That way we can protect our communities, our environment and the planet as a whole.

I hope you will join our campaign today. If you would also like to make a donation to Friends of the Earth we will put it to immediate use: helping us gather as much support as possible from the public, wining over the main decision-makers in Parliament and stopping the Government’s proposals from going ahead. Please call 0800-581-051 or visit www.foe.co.uk to donate now.

Thank you for reading this letter.

Elaine Gilligan

Head of Rights and Justice at Friends of the Earth

I received the above letter from  Friends of the Earth today I think its campaign that members of the Rough-Stuff Fellowship and visitors to this site should support, you can find more information about the proposed new Planning Bill at www.yourplanningrights.co.uk Below is sample letter which you should send to your MP (To find name of your local MP please visit http://community.foe.co.uk/tools/contact_mp/index.html)

Dear MP

I believe it is vital for our Government to protect our right to have our say in public inquires into major building projects, and to preserve our right to be involved in decisions that affect our community, our environment and and our responsibility to tackle climate change.

Please use all of your elected powers to put pressure on Rt Hon Hazel Blears MP, Secretary of State for Communities and local Government, to rework the Planning Bill so that the individual’s right to be heard is upheld and that Ministerial accountability is retained.

Any legislation must enhance people’s democratic right to participate, to be heard and to challenge decisions made in the planning process.

Yours Sincerely,

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13/11/2007 by Simeon Orme.

Here another interesting website to look at is Impressions from bicycle travels its Cycle touring photography website run by Paul Jeurissen and Grace Johnson of their travels around the world, well worth having look at!

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13/11/2007 by Simeon Orme.

The on-line Bike Touring Archive is interesting website of about 400 bits of useful information, links  and local information from around the world etc.. its free to join and add your information on to the archive, what good ideal!

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07/11/2007 by Simeon Orme.

One of ideals for one of the South Lakes Group rides next year, is ride starting at Halton and cycling up to the Skiddaw House Bunkhouse staying the night and then cycling back to Halton. If you interest in taking part in the ride which will be in June please let me know in the next month, so that I can book the Bunkhouse.

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07/11/2007 by Simeon Orme.

1. Establishment of cycling tourism hubs at Ambleside, Keswick and Penrith.
2. Development of a Thirlmere cycle route.
3. Development of Lune Valley Cycleway (Kirkby Lonsdale to Sedbergh/Tebay)
4. Implementation of measures to develop Carlisle, Barrow and Kendal as cycle friendly towns.
5. Assist in taking forward key gaps in the Strategic Cycle Network.
6. Coordination and development of cycle publications.
7. Promotion of the Connect 2 Lottery submission in Cumbria.
8. Advocate for cycling opportunities across the county of Cumbria

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07/11/2007 by Simeon Orme.

After about two years of not being updated Lancaster CTC Section website has finally been updated with new look and new webmaster. My congratulations go to Anne Hutchinson the new webmaster of the site for well design site and I am looking forward to seeing a lot more photos of Lancaster CTC in action.

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