The latest from the Civic Trust.

Grass Roots Online

Welcome to this issue of Grass Roots Online.

The Planning White Paper is now a Bill and is currently going through parliament. The Bill includes changes to remove the public participation in decisions about projects deemed of 'national importance' such as motorways, airports, incinerators and powerstations. These will now be decided by an unaccountable national commission. Get involved and remind the government of it's democratic responsibilities.

The Climate Change Bill , (which creates a legal framework to reduce the UK's carbon dioxide emissions) has also been scheduled for approval. Why not ask your local authority what they are doing to meet these targets? For more information on sustainability see Every Action Counts...

All the information in this newsletter (and more) can be found on the Civic Societies Network webpage. Register now!

The Planning Reform Bill

Going through unchanged? Your actions are vital

The Planning Bill is now in its vital Second Reading stage. Coalition members' meetings with ministers lead us to conclude that the government is still determined to push through their most controversial proposals of the Planning White Paper despite receiving some 32,000 responses, mainly objections. It appears that the Bill was substantially drafted prior to the analysis of responses to the Consultation - a dismaying denial of democratic accountability. The Coalition of which we are a part ( www.planningdisaster.co.uk) is holding a final Briefing for MPs at the House of Commons on 20 November. It is very important for you to urge your MP to attend. Download the Civic Trust's response to the Planning White Paper here. Read more...

Train to Gain...

The Learning and Skills Council is to allow volunteer-led community groups such as Civic Societies access to a training fund designed to help employers improve the skills of their staff.

Train to Gain, which was launched in 2006, offers organisations advice on the skills that their members need and matches them up with training providers. This may be useful to Civic Societies looking to improve their fundraising, marketing, IT, and legal knowledge.

For more information call Train to Gain on 0800 015 55 45 or see www.traintogain.gov.uk.

Civic Societies In The News

Memorial for Meterologist

A plaque to commemorate meteorologist John Fletcher Miller is to be erected at the house where he was born in Whitehaven. Whitehaven and District Civic Society, behind the project, is planning the unveiling ceremony.

Ward's Corner Protest

Tottenham Civic Society has criticised the masterplan by Pollard Thomas Edwards for Ward's Corner in Seven Sisters, London. The plan, for developer Grainger, proposes demolishing Ward's, an Edwardian department store, to make way for 200 homes and a supermarket.

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