Her Majesty´s government, in a effort to act more transparently and within the ways of thinking of the voters, has been using the possibility of presenting petitions online to the government. The aim is to give voters the way to express their opinions over a wide variety of issues with the most supported gaining a voice in the House of Commons. This aspect of British democracy is not that widely known or used.
Since this blog is devoted to transport issues in the UK this blogger thought it might prove useful for readers to see some of the petitions which are still open and thus able to be adhered to for those who wish to. Obviously, this list, though extensive, is not
comprehensive. I have used the petitions pending, only at the Dept. for
Transport and not those which might be found at other offices or
departments. The total number of petitions at the DfT is 675 while for
the whole government it comes to 6315.
The most successful petition open at the moment is that dealing with the Virgin Trains fiasco, when it was going to be discharged from its duties as a rail franchisee to be replaced by the First Group. As readers will remember this has provoked a scandal at the Department for Transport, leading to the suspension of the proposed change and Virgin Trains remaining the franchisee for the next two years. It can still be signed up to mid February.
Reconsider West Coast Mainline franchise decision.
However, that petition is not the only one dealing with
rail franchises.
Reinstate Virgin Trains WCML
West Coast rail Franchise
Do not renew West Coast's Franchise
Do not reconsider giving First Group WCML Franchise
Take West Coast line from Branson's Virgin
Government to pay for West Coast failure
West coast rail line public money
DO NOT PAY COMPENSATION TO WEST COAST RAILWAY BIDDERS
These do not mean that commentators are not concerned about other franchises
Users of train services to have bigger say over franchise renewals
Introduce public consultation into rail franchising
Review First Capital Connect's franchise
Abandon rail franchising and hand all existing franchises to state-owned Directly Operated Railways as they expire.
Nationalise the Railways of Britain
Bring back British Railways
nationalise railways
Make public transport state owned across England and Wales
Keep The East Coast Mainline Rail Franchise In Public Ownership
Abandon East Coast Mainline franchise and run the line on an open access basis
Southestern Railway Metro Line Passenger Campaign
London Midland - Should Be Stripped of Contract
London Midland should face disciplinary action
London Midland Franchise to be Removed
Strip First Capital Connect of Thameslink Franchise Immediately
Stop Greater Anglia Franchise Renewal
Punish walking away from rail franchises with a ban on bidding for Government contracts
Train opperators who have mismanaged previous franchises should not be able to bid for current trainline franchises.
High Speed Rail link and other rail investment.
HS2 Alternative Route (Bow Group Route)
Introduce HS2 prior to 2033.
No to HSR2 Yes to Superfast Broadband
Re-build Great Central Railway instead of building HS2
H2O not HS2
Stop HS2 in the Chilterns
If High speed rail (HS2) is built ensure UK trains are used
HS2
HS2 to stop at towns on the way to Birmingham
Rail Link £32b HS2 Good Idea but cost will end up £64b as always Govt project are late & cost will double.
17 Billion spent on HR2 would be better spent on Truck Roads and Cycle only lanes
Defence Cuts v. HS2
hs2 heathrow hub ltd
Citizenship Assessment Stop HS2 campaign
A demand fair Compention for Compulsory Orders for HS2
Though not all refer to HS2
MANCHESTER NORTH HUB
Lower Rail Fares: Disband Network Rail and hand all infrastructure to the train companies
Investigate the benefits of Maglev technology
FULL HIGH SPEED RAIL FOR THE NORTH EAST
High Speed Rail to North East and Scotland
Time for the Government to take into account the infrastructure problems in South East Essex
More carriages for cross country train service
Creation of a Eurostar Hub in Leicester
Bring the £9.5 Billion rail investment forward
Electrify the Weston super line as Bristol is just not far enough
Extend the electrification of the Trans Pennine route to Kingston upon Hull
why is the government subsidising rail companies?
Increase the frequency of rail journeys between major cities and surrounding towns.
The UK Government to stop subsidising the rail link to Scotland if Scotland goes independent.
Most in this section refer to Heathrow and the possibility of an airport in the Thames estuary, though some would castigate certain politicians by building a new airport in their constituencies.
Airports/airlines:
Say NO to the Thames Estuary Airport!
Peak Oil and Airport Expansion
Charges for pick-up and drop-off parking at airports
All faces uncovered at airports, shops and city centres
Restrict the Number of Flights into Heathrow Airport
Stop Heathrow 'Freedom' Trials over Fulham, Putney and Barnes
Expand Birmingham Airport instead of Heathrow
STOP A 3RD RUNWAY AT HEATHROW AND GOVERNMENT WASTING MORE TAX PAYERS MONEY ON THIS
Build The Severn Barrier and new London Island Airport now
Put in place a strong and long term decision regarding the expansion of London's airport capacity before 2015
Build a new commercial airport in Tim Yeo's constituency
Stop Heathrow Operational Freedoms Trial with immediate effect - all areas
Build a third runway at Heathrow.
A New International Airport between Bristol & Worcester
Estuary Airport at the Hoo
Build the 'Boris Island' airport rather than HS2
London and South East airport expansion.
boring "air traffic"
Thames Estuary Airport - Move west rather than east
The Civil Aviation Authority is not fit for purpose
Build A New International Airport in David Cameron's constituency
Is the Davies Airport Commission fit for purpose, considering it will take two and a half years to deliver their findings?
repealing liquid law on flights
Provide a smoking area at UK Airport
Airport Security Staff should not be employed by the individual airports owners.
Reciprocity in airline/infrastructre takeovers
What can be done about aircraft noise? Petition for aircraft noise to be classed as a statutory nuisance.
package airline seating arrangements
This section deals with a real pot-pourri of subjects, though most refer to roads and road traffic.
Miscellaneous :
A1(M) upgrade.
Project Alexander: dual the A1 from Morpeth to Berwick
Stop
the proposed destruction of the world's first passenger railway line in
Manchester by Network Rail's Ordsall link aaand alternatives be found.
save manchester mayfield station
Reduce The Driving Age To 16
Fuel Cost in Rural Areas Needs Discounting
NO to London formula one proposal
Use this recession (spare construction capacity, lower costs) to build new motorway between London and Cornwall
Amended Action on the M62 Managed Motorway Plan
INDUSTRIOUS NORTH OF ENGLAND Fix the M62 and improve GDP
Remove seven bridge toll
Scrap the Severn bridge toll charge
The Future of Tolls on the Severn River Crossings
CRUISES TO THE FALKLANDS
Improve transport links within Falklands.
Implementation of a completely driverless system for the London Underground
forces travel
British Armed Forces Free Transport
Add a junction to the M4 between 2 and 3 (near Chiswick roundabout)
Use
this recession (lower costs, spare construction capacity) period to
build new motorway to fill obvious gaps and complete the existing
network.
A5 Hockliffe Bypass
The State Of Rail Travel In Lincolnshire
Trains should have adequate seating for 2nd class passengers
Surrey Bus Services within M25
Save Mersey Ferries
re openkildwick and crosshills railway station
Bus Passes That Work Across The UK
Somerset & Dorset railway
Timetable fast South West Train services from Ascot to London Waterloo and vice versa.
Raise the speed limit on the M6 toll to 80mph
Ban private cars from UK roads
Preventing disruption to train services due to weather
Increase Speedlimits on British Motorways to 100Mph
M64
- Stoke on Trent to Leciester. Congestion in stoke is ridiculous, as a
result of cars clogging the streets, please help my city, please help
me.
Create a motorway link from M54 to Welshpool
A40 between Oxford and Witney
Trains inspections and money devolution for delays and poor service in the national trains
A12 improvements London to Ipswich
Improving the Ipswich stretch of the A14
Dartford River Crossing - tolls on northbound carriageway only
Improve Traffic Flow At Dartford Toll Crossing
Replace tolls at dartford crossing with congestion tax style technology
Scrap the Dartford crossing tolls
Stop the Toll increse of 50p in October 2012 & 2014 for the Dartford Crossing Kent & Essex
Rename Dartford Crossing the Dick Turpin Way
ban new toll roads
No tolls at Blackwall tunnel
New River Crossing between Essex/Kent
Petition for an extra train carriage on the Tarka Line (from Barnstaple to Exeter and vice versa)
Later running trains and tube
Search and Rescue Helicopter for N.Ireland
Do not nationalise Search and Rescue
Scrap Budget Airlines' hidden charges
Lack of transport in rural communities
Make public transport state owned across England and Wales
Re-Nationalisation of London Buses
End aviation subsidy
Campaign against short hop air travel
Re-open the disused Wisbech & March Railway line
Reinstate the Lewes - Uckfield Rail Link
Reconnect the Pickering to Malton Rail Link
Preservation & Reopening of the Llangollen to Ruabon Railway
Introduce a half hourly Wrexham Bidston rail service
Stop Thameslink/Wimbledon loop terminating at Blackfriars
Protect Disused railway track beds from development
Save Preston Bus Station
Stop Preston City Council Demolition of Bus Station
Change the definition of an 'on time' train
As can be seen there are many petitions pertaining to the same subject. This is despite the website insisting you look for another petition on the same subject before you submit one.
For me it just goes to show how a government can deluge us with lots of information about a subject which we end up not reading in case we have an opinion about it. Thus its effectiveness as a democratic tool is reduced..
However, I still consider this to be a positive way of voicing opinions, and can be used much more in the future.
Please note that you can sign more than one petition if you are so inclined - even if the subject is the same.
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