THE petition Save Our Tropicana launched on December 8, 2006 in the High Street, Weston, will be presented to the chairman of the West Area Committee of North Somerset at 3pm on June

THE petition Save Our Tropicana launched on December 8, 2006 in the High Street, Weston, will be presented to the chairman of the West Area Committee of North Somerset at 3pm on June 23. The petition will be recorded by the council as an objection to the preferred Henry Boot proposals and since it contains 22,100 names it is hoped it will duly be taken into account. These have been collected at the rate of one name every three minutes whilst collecting roughly 75 names per day since January 1 this year. I have been involved in the formation of two groups, Friends of our Tropicana (FOOT) and the Tropicana Regeneration and Development Association, the TRADA charity. I am more than grateful to all who have supported the efforts of all who have given countless hours of their time in doing all that is democratically possible to make North Somerset Council see the error of their ways in considering they should approve the Henry Boot scheme.I have to stop further active participation in this campaign. In the course of collecting over 7,000 names this year along I have 'worn out' the two mobility scooters I possess and these will require new motors at the cost of some £300 each. The trip to London last year was not the main cause for their 'demise' but the fact that I was able to go up to people directly, stop and then invite them to support the petition and then move on. The reason for the use of the scooter is that a hip operation left me with a shorter leg and a resultant limp.Over 95 per cent of those whom I approached gladly signed. They appreciated that someone was making an effort to get through to an intransigent council. I shall be at the town hall on June 23 to present the petition and hopefully we shall have some banners to show our sentiments. Will everyone who reads and hears this please come and support us that afternoon?I shall also address the West Area Committee before the meeting. The chairman has indicated he wishes to hear as many views as possible. Again, I wish to thank all of you who have supported myself and those who have 'led' this campaign.It has occurred to me there might be some individual or individuals who might have a scooter they could loan me for the moment or a business might sponsor a period of hire whilst we make a final effort with our petition. I would happily display an advertisement whilst seeking support for our cause. RICHARD 'DICK' WHITTINGTON - Atlantic Road South, Weston