Annette Brooke MP backs Bill to give power to local citizens

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 12th Jun 2006

Local MP, Annette Brooke, was congratulated today for joining with 300 Members of Parliament to support the Sustainable Communities Bill

The Sustainable Communities Bill is a radical new proposed law that would turn politics upside down and give power to local communities. Annette showed her support for the Bill by signing House of Commons Early Day Motion 641.

The Bill seeks to reverse Ghost Town Britain - the continuous closure of thousands of post offices, bank branches, independent shops, local pubs and newsagents. It holds the philosophy that local communities are the experts on their own problems and how to solve them.

Annette Brooke said:

"I am concerned by the decline in my constituency - and across the country - of basic facilities such as Post Offices, newsagents, bank branches, small shops and public facilities which communities vitally need.

"The Sustainable Communities Bill provides a bottom-up way forward. It will give power to my constituents in their efforts to protect and enhance their communities and I will do all I can to help this vitally important Bill become law"

The campaign to support the Bill is being organised by Local Works, whose coalition members include trade associations, the National Federation of Women's Institutes, national environmental groups, unions and social justice organisations.

Campaign Organiser Ron Bailey said:

"The decline of local communities - Ghost Town Britain - is going on everywhere. People are having to watch vital local services and facilities like Post Offices and bank branches disappear whilst having no power to stop it. The Sustainable Communities Bill will change that by giving communities real power over policies to reverse Ghost Town Britain and protect their communities. What's needed is a bottom-up approach - with local communities deciding what happens at a local level - not a Whitehall top-down approach.

"We therefore congratulate Annette Brooke MP for signing up to support this crucial Bill."

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

Contact:

Steve Shaw, Local Works Campaign

office 020 7833 9898 mobile 07788 646933 steve@localworks.org

10,000 individuals, 700 local councils, 300 local organisations and 63 national organisations have signed up to support the campaign

302 MPs have signed motions in Parliament supporting the campaign

Campaign Coalition Members:

ACT- Active Citizens Transform, BASSAC, British Independent Fruit Growers Association, Bio-power UK, Campaign for Community Banking Services, CAMRA, Centre for Creative Communities, Charter88, Community Composting Network, Community Recycling Network, The Co-operative Group, CTC - The National Cyclists Organisation, Disability Rights Commission, Ecologist Magazine, Ecology Building Society, Ethical Property Company, FARM, FARMA, Farmers' Union of Wales, Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens, Food Justice, Food Links UK, Friends of the Earth, Green Lib Dems, Green Party, Henry Double Day Research Centre, Help the Aged, Life Style Movement, Living Streets, London Wildlife Trust, National Association of Farmers Markets, National Association of Local Councils, National Association of Small Schools, National Farmers' Union of Wales, National Federation of Retail Newsagents, National Association of Sub-Postmasters, National Federation of Community Organisations, National Federation of Women's Institutes, National Pensioners Convention, National Pharmacy Association, Network for Social Change, New Economics Foundation, New Politics Network, Postwatch, Pub is the Hub, Public and Commercial Services Union, Resurgence Magazine, SERA, SHELTER, SIBA-Society of Small and Independent Brewers, Small and Family Farms Association, Soil Association, Sustain, Sustainable Energy Partnership, Transport 2000, Triodos Bank, UK Villages, UNISON, ViRSA, Walter Segal Self Build Trust, Women's Environmental Network.

The campaign has cross party support. Campaign All Party Advisors:

Gregory Barker MP (Conservative), David Drew MP (Labour), Julia Goldsworthy MP (Liberal Democrat), Elfyn Llwyd MP (Plaid Cymru), Dr Caroline Lucas MEP (Green)