300 MPs Back Bill Giving Power To Local Citizens To Stop Community Decline.

16.06.06

Campaigners Congratulate Local MP, Edward Davey

The Local Works campaign, whose coalition members include trade associations, the National Federation of Women's Institutes, national environmental groups, unions and social justice organisations, today congratulated local MP, Edward Davey for joining with 300 other MPs and supporting the Sustainable Communities Bill by signing House of Commons resolution EDM 641.

The Sustainable Communities Bill is a radical new proposed law that will turn politics upside down and give power to local communities. 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.

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 happens at a local level - not a Whitehall top-down approach.

"We therefore congratulate Edward Davey MP for signing up to support this crucial Bill."

Local MP Edward Davey said:

"I am concerned by the decline in my constituency and across the country of basic facilities such as Post Offices, newsagents and 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."