Climate change is the greatest threat to the future of our planet and without action we will not be able to reverse its effects.

 They were saying its all over, and the forests were safe, but they aren’t and it isn’t. Our ancient woodlands and forests are part of our heritage – but the Tories want to sell them off.



Changes to the Public Bodies Bill, which is currently going through Parliament, will give ministers the power to sell off 85 per cent of our forests – with no protection for public access or biodiversity.



Labour is leading the fight against the plans in Parliament. With your help, we can put pressure on this Tory-led government to think again.



Our ancient forests and woodlands are a vital part of our natural heritage providing environmental benefits and public enjoyment.



Join our campaign sign the petition– and tell the Tories that this land is our land

 What do you do when you need to make an important decision?



Most people look at the facts available and base their decision on them.



That’s why it’s all more the shocking that the Tories and Liberal Democrats have decided to proceed with the culling of badgers – against both the scientific evidence and the weight of public opinion.



Bovine TB is a terrible disease that last year led to 25,000 cows being put down. The trouble is that that Government’s plans will not help tackle the disease.



Click here to stand up for the science-led approach to tackling TB – demand that we Can the Cull

MPs have voted to to begin the abolition of the Agricultural Wages Board – which over 130,000 workers in Britain rely on. The Agricultural Wages Board is an independent body with a statutory obligation to set minimum wages for workers employed in agriculture in England and Wales. It was established by the Agricultural Wages Act (1948).  The Board also has powers to decide other terms and conditions of employment, e.g. holidays and sick pay. It produces a legally binding Order which is enforced by Defra.  The Order is made annually and normally comes into force on 1 October.

• Agricultural Wages Order 2010 (PDF 1 MB)
• Guide to the Agricultural Wages Order 2010 (PDF 559 KB)

If you would like to advice on how the Order’s provisions apply to you, or if you think you might have been paid less than the minimum wage you should contact the Pay & Work Rights Helpline on 0800 917 2368.  The helpline can also arrange for a copy of the Order to be sent to you.

• If you work in agriculture you can learn more about your entitlements under the Order on Directgov
• If you employ agricultural workers you can learn more about the Agricultural Minimum Wage on the Business Link website

The AWB has protected the wages and rights of agricultural workers for over six decades. Sign up to stand with them Click here to sign the petition

Community Land Trusts are a great idea and have been set up across the country to offer an affordable way to provide housing and locally-owned business and community buildings. They work as an alternative to private developers and when at their best involve at all levels a full range of local men and women of all ages and walks of life.  They are there to try and ensure that local development benefits the whole of the  local community not just a set of private developers.

We support the idea of CLTs and Lewes has its own in the Lewes Community Land Trust, you can find their website here and if you want to get in touch contact them as well.  The idea behind the CLT is not for them to dictate to the community like our local lib-dem council have done, but to involve the community, and Lewes CLT have been true to their word on this, their most recent consultation and discussion being on the Phoenix Development, back in November.

The local Labour Party would encourage everyone to get involved, rather than just protest at what you don’t want it is a chance to be involved in creating a vision of what the community might want for Lewes. The problem is that the Lib-Dems use this kind of organisation as a platform.  So all of a sudden we find people leading community organisations are up for election wearing an orange rosette.   An holisitic vision for Lewes has been sadly lacking in terms of development, the Lewes Community Land Trust can change all that, but it can only be done if we all get involved and we are all encouraged to be involved.

The recent and long awaited decision on the Falmer Stadium was, not surprisingly, greeted with boos from Falmer Parish Council and one or two other bodies. Among the criticisms was the familiar moan that this was the ‘thin of the wedge’ and we could look forward to more applications for developments in Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
The reality surely is that few if any potential developers would bother to submit proposals to build in a ¬real ANOB, given that it’s taken four or more years to get a decision about a decidedly scruffy muddy field, which happens to be on the very edge of a designated ANOB, and surrounded on three sides by other major developments.
Another gripe was that this was a politically motivated decision, made with an eye on the politically marginal Brighton constituencies – an alternative explanation could be that it just happens to be the right decision.
We wonder if Lewes District would have spent so much of our council tax in their ultimately fruitless campaign had Brighton had a Lib Dem Council? But far be it from us to suggest that Lewes District Council was motivated by such base motives….

So the Wind Turbine up at Glyndebourne is being questioned via the planning route and a public enquiry. Why is it that being green has become about conspicuous Green consumption, the thought process seems to be ” I must buy this for my eco conscience” . Surely ecological awareness is aiming for people to consume less? They dont need really need a wind turbine, but since David Cameron got one it seems to have become an eco fashion accessory.

Lets do some straight talking here….

There are eco utility companies providing ecologically aware electricity, if thats what you want… you can find out more here:

www.greenelectricity.org.

If you are worried about your carbon footprint think about the carbon that went into making that turbine when there are electricity companies that can supply you from renewable resources.

Apparently Cllr Eddie Collict Lib Dem Lead Councillor for recycling is.
He is in the local press stating that residents should be fined £100 for not recycling enough (Argus 13th Aug)

Yet here in Lewes many still not have the option of kerbside glass collections.
Are you concerned about recycling? Do you have your glass collected for recycling?

Trying to find out why this is so and when will all of the area be covered is a difficult task.

Your local Labour action team has been trying to get some answers from the council on this subject. But there is at best confusion and at worst silence on the issue. Emails have not been replied to and telephone calls have been met with confusion as to who actually runs the recycling, the Council or the company Furniture now?

Labour believes this mess must be cleared up!