Andrew Stephenson (Pendle) (Con)
It is my great privilege to bring before the House a petition from the residents of Nelson, Lancashire and others. It was gathered together by the Nelson Asian Christian Fellowship.
The petition states:
The Petition of residents of Nelson, Lancashire, and others,
Declares that they condemn the attacks that took place in March 2013 that targeted Christians in Lahore, Pakistan, where two churches and 178 homes were burnt, and regrets the actions of the local authorities in the city who failed to protect the buildings from attack.
The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government of Pakistan to remove any laws that discriminate against minorities, abolish the blasphemy laws, release Asia Bibi, and to provide protection and security when such incidents occur in future.
And the Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray.
[P001191]
Hawthorns Skate and BMX Park Desborough, Northamptonshire
Mr Philip Hollobone (Kettering) (Con)
I have the great privilege to present a petition signed by 810 of my constituents in support of the Hawthorns skate and BMX park in Desborough in my constituency, which has been collected by Belinda Humfrey, one of my most distinguished constituents, to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Parliament assembled.
The petition states:
The Petition of supporters of the Hawthorns Skate and BMX Park Desborough, Northamptonshire,
Declares that the Petitioners support the campaign to save the Hawthorne Skate and BMX Park in Desborough, Northamptonshire, which is a large park, with ten varied wooden ramps built to national competition standard, which was first established in 1999 and which has since benefitted from National Lottery funding and has been maintained, repaired and rebuilt by the voluntary efforts of the local community; further that it has been used by thousands of local boys and girls, and now faces the threat of closure by Kettering Borough Council, which owns the land on which the park is sited and which wishes to build residential properties on the park site and the eight acres of neighbouring green space, which were established for leisure and sports use in 1974 and which the Petitioners believe are unsuitable for housing development because they are located by a nature reserve.
The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Department of Communities and Local Government to encourage Kettering Borough Council to review the planned closure of the Hawthorns Skate and BMX Park.
And the Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray.
[P001193]