Nuclear bunkers, drinking fountains, and ‘colour-friendly’ kerbs are just some of the petitions Sheffield residents have launched for the council’s consideration.
Anyone who lives, works, or studies in the city can start a digital petition via the Sheffield City Council’s website, calling on others in the community to rally behind causes that matter to them. And some of the existing petitions are quite creative.
For example, Brett Windle has started a petition to build fallout shelters in case of war with Russia. So far signed by three people, the petition reads: “In light of the escalating tensions between the United Kingdom and Russia, it has become increasingly evident that the threat of a nuclear conflict is no longer a remote possibility but a distinct and imminent danger.
“As a concerned citizen and an expert in the field of disaster preparedness, I strongly recommend that Sheffield Council take immediate action to construct fallout shelters to safeguard the lives of our citizens in the event of a nuclear attack. Currently, Sheffield lacks adequate infrastructure to withstand the devastating impact of a nuclear blast.”
A separate campaign, spearheaded by Mohammed Faysal Ansar and currently signed by five people, is dedicated to ensuring the celebrated World Snooker Championships continue to call the Crucible Theatre home. The petition states: “Have you heard the SAD news about the Snooker at the Sheffield Crucible, the contract will run out in 2027, and the organisers are talking about moving the snooker to a new venue, possibly to another city, an event that so many people love coming to watch in Sheffield.
“This could lead to a decrease in investment and entertainment for Sheffield as a whole. Not forgetting the many fans, snooker players and people that love to come to Sheffield once a year to watch this exciting event that has kept Sheffield going since 1977.
“When an event like the snooker has been going on in somewhere like Sheffield for so long, talking about moving it out of Sheffield should not be up for debate. Organisers and Sheffield Council should find a way to continue keeping the snooker on at the Sheffield Crucible, because this is where people like to come and watch the snooker.”
Mohammed Faysal Ansar has also launched several other petitions, including one asking the council to introduce a separate container for recycling glass due to the insufficient capacity of brown bins, and another advocating for compost bags for disposing of food waste. Additionally, he has put forth a petition demanding action regarding pavement parking, which calls upon the council to provide parking lessons for drivers who inconsiderately obstruct pavements, causing difficulties for pedestrians.
The petition also advocates for “colour friendly” kerbs to assist pedestrians in better assessing their depth. Additionally, the petition opposes individuals running car sales businesses on residential streets.
A separate petition, which garnered 20 signatures before concluding on New Year’s Eve, urges the council to “install, maintain and signpost drinking water fountains in Sheffield to enable people to quench their thirst in a healthy and sustainable way”. The proponent of this initiative is Greg Hewitt from Sheffield Action on Plastic.
According to the petition, UK consumers drink 2.5 million litres of bottled water annually. The petition says: “Providing drinking water in parks and other places where children and young people play and congregate would be a great way to encourage hydration without damaging their health or the environment.”
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