We have about 48 hours left to get the Sustainable Communities Act Amendment Bill through the Commons. Last week it successfully cleared its Committee Stage. It has the support of all parties and the Government.

We need Ministers John Denham and Harriet Harman to decide to give the Bill extra Parliamentary time so that it becomes law before the General Election. Your help is vital.

It is crucial that the Bill becomes law before the General Election as it will ensure the Sustainable Communities Act’s ‘bottom up’ process is ongoing, and so continue to allow communities and councils to submit proposals for government action to promote thriving communities. Proposals from last year’s ‘first round’ are already being granted – this Act is seeing results!

VERY URGENT ACTION – please help

Please ask your supporters, activists, members, groups, branches etc to email Harriet Harman and John Denham in the next 24 hours urging them to ensure the Sustainable Communities Act Amendment Bill receives the time it needs to become law before the General Election. A sample email is below.

Harriet Harman’s email address is harmanh@parliament.uk

John Denham’s email address is contactus@communities.gov.uk

Some Local Works coalition organisations have already put this action up on their campaign facebook pages and blogs etc. E.g. the Woodland Trust here:

http://bit.ly/afPdm3

and the new economics foundation here:

http://neftriplecrunch.wordpress.com/2010/03/16/urgent-action-save-the-sustainable-communities-act/

Years of campaigning effort have gone into this process and this really is the eleventh hour to ensure it continues. Please help.

Sample email:

Dear Harriet Harman / John Denham,

The Sustainable Communities Act Amendment Bill is vital as it will ensure that the democratic involvement seen in the Sustainable Communities Act continues. I ask that you please do all you can to ensure the Bill receives the Parliamentary time it needs in order to become law before the General Election.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely

[your name and your address]

Best wishes

Steve Shaw

National Co-ordinator

Local Works