New figures show that food retailers have stopped the growth of packaging used in Britain in spite of an increase in sales. Statistics from the Waste and Resources Action Programme - Wrap shows that the retailers put the same amount of grocery packaging on
the market in 2007 as they did the year before.
The news will be welcomed by local authorities which have been campaigning for action to ensure the level of packaging is reduced. 

For the third year running, Manchester has been named as the country’s leading authority when it comes to parks and open spaces. Twenty seven of its parks and green spaces have been placed on a list of the best in England and Wales.
The city council collected its Green Flag Awards at an event in Liverpool. The award scheme, which is managed by the Civic Trust, sets national standards for parks and public green spaces. 

Guidance for conducting place surveys has been published by Communities and Local Government. The surveys will seek to capture local peoples’ views, experiences and perceptions, so that the solutions for an area can reflect local views and preferences. The surveys will also track people’s changing perceptions, as a way of determining whether interventions made in an area result in the right outcomes for local people. They should reveal if people
feel happier, healthier or safer.