PETITIONS

Lisa Smart Excerpts

Wednesday 22nd April 2026 Commons Chamber

[Laura Kyrke-Smith (Aylesbury) (Lab)]

I present a petition about Aylesbury United football club on behalf of residents in Aylesbury and the villages. Aylesbury United, affectionately known as the Ducks, have played a vital role in our community for well over a century, supporting both physical and mental wellbeing for tens of thousands of local people. The club’s future is bright—the club is now training up more than 600 kids aged five to 15, including a number of girls’ teams—but there is one major challenge. This year marks 20 years since the Ducks were evicted from their stadium on Buckingham Road and they remain without a home ground in Aylesbury. They are turning away kids because there are no facilities to accommodate them.

The petitioners ask

“that the House of Commons urge the Government to consider the merits of Aylesbury United Football Club returning to a home ground within the Aylesbury constituency, and to encourage the relevant bodies to take the necessary steps to achieve this.”

Following is the full text of the petition:

[The petition of residents of the constituency of Aylesbury,

Declares that Aylesbury United Football Club, founded in 1897, has made an invaluable contribution to our area in fostering community spirit and promoting physical and mental wellbeing over more than 125 years; further declares that over 60,000 people have been positively impacted by the Club over the last 30 years; further notes that the Club’s players and supporters, nicknamed the Ducks, have been without a home ground in the Aylesbury constituency since their eviction from Buckingham Road in 2006 — a displacement that has now lasted 20 years; and further notes that the Ducks have long sought to relocate to a local ground.

The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Government to consider the merits of Aylesbury United Football Club returning to a home ground within the Aylesbury constituency, and to encourage the relevant bodies to take the necessary steps to achieve this, thereby “bringing the Ducks home”.

And the petitioners remain, etc.]

[P003182]

[Lisa Smart (Hazel Grove) (LD)]

I present this petition on behalf of the residents of the constituency of Hazel Grove. It accompanies a similar petition for the residents of the constituency of Cheadle, presented by my hon. Friend the Member for Cheadle (Mr Morrison), with over 3,000 signatures.

The petition states:

The petition of residents of the constituency of Hazel Grove,

Declares that the green belt across Stockport and Hazel Grove should be preserved; further declares that brownfield sites should be prioritised for new developments; and further declares that adequate school places, transport provision, and GP capacity should be guaranteed for any new developments.

The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Government to roll back its doubled mandatory housebuilding target for Stockport and thereby allow Stockport Council to deliver a Local Plan that protects the area’s green belt whilst developing the homes our communities need.

And the petitioners remain, etc.

[P003183]

[Sarah Dyke (Glastonbury and Somerton) (LD)]

I present this petition on the River Brue and water regulation, following 203 sewage dumping events last year, which lasted 2,716 hours. I also mention the work done by groups such as BrueCREW, Somerset Wildlife Trust and Somerset Eel Recovery Project, which have campaigned to improve the river’s health. The petition declares

“that the River Brue is a valued ecological area that supports local trout, eel and other fish populations.”

The petitioners therefore request

“that the House of Commons urge the Government to take further action to save the River Brue catchment, starting with replacing Ofwat with a stronger unified regulator, and enforcing full transparency on sewage discharges.”

Following is the full text of the petition:

[The petition of residents of the constituency of Glastonbury and Somerton,

Declares that the River Brue is a valued ecological area that supports local trout, eel and other fish populations; further declares that the River Brue was polluted by sewage 203 times in 2025 lasting 2,716 hours; further notes with concern the high phosphate levels in the Brue; further notes the work done by groups such as the Brue Crew, Somerset Wildlife Trust and the Somerset Eel Recovery Project to campaign for the River Brue’s health; further notes the use of the River Brue for recreational use and wild swimming; further declares that the Government should replace Ofwat with a stronger unified regulator; further declares that there should be full transparency on sewage discharges including mandatory reporting of volume as well as duration; further declares that there should be a shift to public benefit models for water companies that are mutually owned by customers and professionally managed to ensure profits are reinvested into infrastructure; and further declares that action should be taken to close loopholes that allow water company executives to avoid bonus restrictions.

The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Government to take further action to save the River Brue catchment, starting with replacing Ofwat with a stronger unified regulator, and enforcing full transparency on sewage discharges.

And the petitioners remain, etc.]

[P003189]