Kevin Foster (Torbay) (Con)
It is a pleasure to present this petition from residents of Torbay. As the House might be aware, the proposed closure of Torquay magistrates court has raised concerns among court users and residents of the bay concerned that there might no longer be a system of local justice for a range of offences within the bay. There is a particular concern that our local police might end up acting almost as a taxi service between Torquay and Plymouth for custody purposes—
Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Lindsay Hoyle)
Order. This is a petition, not a speech.
Kevin Foster
I am delighted to present this petition from 390 residents of Torbay.
The petition states:
The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to reconsider the proposed closure of services in Torquay and commit to keeping justice local in the Bay.
I would particularly like to thank Lesley Hawath, who helped collect many of the signatures.
Following is the full text of the petition:
[The petition of the residents of Torbay,
Declares that the closure of Torquay Magistrates' Court will have a detrimental impact on court users and a wider implication that justice is no longer to be decided at a local level by local people. The closure will mean that victims, witnesses and those accused will have to travel much further to achieve justice.
The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to reconsider the proposed closure of services in Torquay and commit to keeping justice local in the Bay.
And the petitioners remain, etc.
[P001555]
Helen Goodman (Bishop Auckland) (Lab)
I rise to present a petition concerning hospital cuts in my constituency.
The petition states:
The petition of residents of Bishop Auckland, Shildon and surrounding areas,
Declares that Bishop Auckland General Hospital should have a midwife led maternity unit, breast screening services and an urgent care centre.
The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the County Durham & Darlington Foundation Trust to guarantee a midwife-led maternity unit, breast screening services and an urgent care centre for the next 10 years.
And the petitioners remain, etc.
[P001570]
Helen Goodman
I rise to present a second petition, also on hospital cuts in my constituency. The petition states:
The petition of the people of Teesdale and surrounding areas,
Declares that Richardson hospital is a vital and much used resource for the people of Teesdale, an area with very limited public transport, and it should not have its services reduced either by the closure of wards, the removal of equipment or the reduction of its staff team.
The petitioners therefore urge the House of Commons to ask County Durham & Darlington Foundation Trust to guarantee these services for the next 10 years.
And the petitioners remain, etc.
Some 3,500 people have signed these two petitions, and I am grateful to many of my constituents for collecting the signatures, particularly Judi Sutherland, who lives in Barnard Castle. In both cases, the County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust has made temporary closures, at Bishop Auckland to breast screening and maternity services and in Barnard Castle to one ward. Consultation was followed by an immediate decision. This is not acceptable, and it is why the residents would like the trust to think again.
[P001571]
Keith Vaz (Leicester East) (Lab)
I am presenting a petition signed by 256 local residents. The petition was collected by volunteers, including Pradip Dullabh, Bindu Dullabh and Sanjeev Sharma from the local area, together with local councillors Riata Patel, Ross Willmott and Piara Clair and other local residents.
The petition states:
The petition of residents of Leicester, East:
Declares that urgent steps need to be taken to stop the antisocial behaviour, attacks and robberies by groups of young people on users and nearby residents of Rushey Fields Park in Leicester, and further that it is the only green space in the area and this kind of behaviour is discouraging people who are concerned for their safety and welfare from using the park.
The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges Leicester City Council to put CCTV security measures in place and increase police patrols to discourage anti-social behaviour, robberies and attacks on park users and nearby residents.
And the petitioners remain, etc.
[P001572]
David Morris (Morecambe and Lunesdale) (Con)
I rise to present a petition on behalf of my constituents, who are opposed to any building on the green belt in Hest Bank and Bolton-le-Sands. Over 150 constituents have petitioned me on this issue. They are opposed to any building that would see up to 500 homes built and their two distinct villages merged into one urban sprawl. Whilst this matter is a devolved issue, my constituents ask the House to urge Lancaster city council to scrap green belt 4 from the local plan.
The petition states:
The petition of residents of Morecambe and Lunesdale,
Declares that the petitioners believe that there should not be any building allowed by Lancaster City Council’s Local Plan on the Greenbelt in Bolton Le Sands and Hest Bank.
The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to encourage Lancaster City Council to take steps to support the residents in Morecambe and Lunesdale and to ensure that plans to ring-fence the Greenbelt marked GB4 are scrapped and that places to build homes are sought in other areas.
And the petitioners remain, etc.
[P001573]