Petitions

Liam Byrne Excerpts

Wednesday 21st May 2025 Commons Chamber

[Helen Morgan (North Shropshire) (LD)]

I rise on behalf of petitioners in North Shropshire. Oswestry post office is one of 115 larger Crown, or directly managed, branches that have been listed at risk of closure by the Post Office. Its closure would leave many residents without easy access to essential postal and banking services, which are particularly important for elderly residents, small businesses and those without access to reliable public transport. An online petition with similar wording to the petition that I present today has been signed by 2,668 people.

The petition states:

“The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Government to take into account the concerns of the petitioners and take immediate action to guarantee the future of Oswestry Crown post office.

And the petitioners remain, etc.”

Following is the full text of the petition:

[The petition of residents of the constituency of North Shropshire,

Declares that Oswestry Crown Post Office has been earmarked for potential closure, removing vital mail, money, travel, identity and driving services from the town centre; further declares Oswestry Crown Post Office’s role as an essential community service at the heart of Oswestry; notes that high streets in towns are already facing huge challenges, including business rate hikes and loss of bank branches; further that North Shropshire is one of the worst served constituency in the England for public transport, and this poses a significant challenge to accessing vital services that crown post offices provide; and further notes that 2,668 people have signed an online petition on this matter.

The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Government to take into account the concerns of the petitioners and take immediate action to guarantee the future of Oswestry Crown post office.

And the petitioners remain, etc.]

[Liam Byrne (Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull North) (Lab)]

I rise to present a petition on behalf of residents of the Garretts Green ward in Birmingham, calling for traffic-calming measures around the Oval school in Garretts Green. It was suggested by Miss Thomas, pastoral lead at the Oval school. It has the full support of the school’s children and parents, following recent terrible incidents when two of the school’s pupils were hit by a speeding car and a vehicle crashed into the school gates just before home time. My constituent, Katalya Moxham-Atkin, whose 10-year-old son was knocked over by a car on the adjacent road and had to take time off school to recover, said that traffic calming and a crossing would make “all the difference” to ensuring that her son’s accident is “the last” around the school.

The petition states:

“The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Government to work with Birmingham Council to take immediate action to ensure that traffic calming measures, in the form of zebra crossings are installed on Deepmoor Road and Wheatcroft Road around The Oval School in Garretts Green, Birmingham.

And the petitioners remain, etc.”

Following is the full text of the petition:

[The petition of residents of the Garretts Green Ward, Birmingham.

Declares that traffic calming measures need to be put in place in the vicinity of The Oval School in the Garretts Green Ward to ensure the safety of children; further that Birmingham City Council needs to act on the concerns of parents after accidents on the road surrounding the school.

The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Government to work with Birmingham Council to take immediate action to ensure that traffic calming measures, in the form of zebra crossings are installed on Deepmoor Road and Wheatcroft Road around The Oval School in Garretts Green, Birmingham.

And the petitioners remain, etc.]

[P003073]

[Max Wilkinson (Cheltenham) (LD)]

I rise on behalf of petitioners in Cheltenham. Cheltenham is a thriving and growing town, which has many old buildings. That combination of factors provides challenges in the provision of medical services. Some of our existing GP surgeries are searching for improved premises, and with more homes planned in our area, it will be vital to provide new premises to meet additional demand.

I present this petition, a replica of which has been signed by 3,412 Cheltenham residents. It states:

“The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Government to consider the needs of a new GP surgery in Cheltenham when allocating resources for health services.”

Following is the full text of the petition:

[The petition of residents of the United Kingdom

Declares that a new GP surgery is needed in Cheltenham, as local surgeries have warned that GPs are under strain, working long hours with no breaks, and some residents struggle to secure timely appointments, and to accommodate the growth of the town.

The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Government to consider the needs of a new GP surgery in Cheltenham when allocating resources for health services.

And the petitioners remain, etc.]

[P003074]