The petition of residents of Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk,
Declares that wild goats have been roaming Langholm Moor and Newcastleton Hill for hundreds of years and play an important part in the biodiversity and natural history of the Scottish Borders; further declares that, despite this, Oxygen Conservation who own the land that they roam have started to cull this ancient animal without any consideration to the historical and emotional significance they carry for the local community; and notes that over 4,300 people have signed a similar petition to the Scottish Parliament on this issue.
The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to make representations to the Scottish Government on their behalf, to encourage them to stop the cull of wild goats on Langholm Moor and Newcastleton Hill and ensure the survival of this ancient animal in the Scottish Borders by granting them national protected status.
And the petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by John Lamont, Official Report, 29 April 2025; Vol. 766, c. 299.]
[P003064]
Observations from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Mary Creagh):
The protection of primitive goat species in the Scottish Borders is a devolved matter. As such, it is for the Scottish Government and their agencies to set their own priorities for the management of wild goat species in the Scottish Borders.
The petition of Loraine Wilson, the family and friends of Samuel Wilson and residents of Ilkeston,
Declares that Ilkeston market place is insufficiently pedestrianised and that new anti-vehicle measures should be put in place to enhance public safety.
The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Government to call on relevant authorities and key partners to strengthen pedestrianisation measures on Ilkeston market place, and that the petitioners remain informed as to actions taken to achieve this goal.
And the petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Adam Thompson, Official Report, 13 October 2025; Vol. 773, c. 173.]
[P003116]
Observations from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Simon Lightwood):
The Government are grateful for your petition regarding pedestrianisation and public safety at Ilkeston marketplace, recognise the strength of feeling within the local community, and understand their concerns about ensuring that public spaces are safe and accessible for all following the tragic incident involving Samuel Wilson.
The Department for Transport is committed to supporting local authorities in their efforts to improve road safety, including for pedestrians.
Responsibility for traffic management and the implementation of pedestrianisation measures on local roads rests with the relevant local authority—in this case, Derbyshire county council.
The Government view is that these authorities are best placed to assess local needs and determine appropriate interventions.
The Department for Transport provides good practice guidance through documents such as the traffic signs manual and the manual for streets, which prioritises consideration of pedestrian needs.
The Government commend the Member for Erewash (Adam Thompson) for bringing this important issue to the attention of the House of Commons and the Government. We hope that Derbyshire county council will engage constructively with the Member and local residents to discuss their concerns and explore appropriate solutions.
The petition of residents of the constituency of Newcastle-under-Lyme,
Declares that the A500 Audley slip road, where it crosses Alsagers Road, is not currently fit for purpose and is not safe for local residents, drivers or pedestrians; further, recognises that if action was taken by Staffordshire county council and National Highways to make it safe, there would be fewer accidents and near-misses and less confusion; declares that there are many ways through which safety could be improved, such as by improving signage, such as including a stop sign, implementing more pedestrian safety measures, introducing traffic lights, reducing speed limits, improving the road layout design, introducing restrictions on re-joining the A500, reducing surrounding vegetation to allow for greater visibility, placing rumble strips on the slip road, improving visibility by redesigning the crash barriers, introducing cameras or other deterrents for dangerous driving, improving road markings, introducing changes to Junction 16 so lorries are not led onto that section of the A500, and introducing yellow lines as a warning for drivers to slow down as they approach the slip road; and further notes that a corresponding online petition on this issue has received a separate 260 signatures.
The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Government to encourage Staffordshire county council and National Highways to take immediate action to ensure that the A500 Audley slip road is made safer for local residents, drivers and pedestrians.
And the petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Adam Jogee, Official Report, 14 October 2025; Vol. 773, c. 344.]
[P003118]
Observations from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State forTransport (Lilian Greenwood):
The Government treat road safety seriously and are committed to reducing the numbers of those killed and injured on our roads.
After being made aware by the local parish council and the police of the recent increase in collisions on the A500 Audley slip road, National Highways has been seeking to determine the underlying causes. This includes carrying out a site visit and engaging with the police to better understand the nature of the recent incidents.
No clear causation factor has been identified. However, National Highways has progressed the design and installation of upgraded signage to reinforce the need for drivers to give way at the top of the slip road. National Highways is also looking to install temporary signage in the interim to increase road user awareness. National Highways will continue to engage with local residents and parliamentarians regarding this matter, to ensure that they are kept up to date about the planned improvements.
The Government commend the Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme (Adam Jogee) for bringing this important issue to the attention of the House of Commons and the Government. We hope that Staffordshire county council will engage constructively with the Member, local residents and National Highways to discuss the concerns and explore appropriate solutions.