In 2017, Lancashire County Council and Preston City Council approved a masterplan for 5,322 new homes in North West Preston, on the promise of a new secondary school alongside them. Nine years on, the homes are here. The school is not. There is still no secondary school anywhere in Cottam, Lea, Ingol or Bartle. Children travel across the city or out of Preston altogether, some families paying up to £950 a year in bus fares. Last October the council delayed the school again, to 2031 at the earliest, citing insufficient demand. But the council’s own documents say otherwise. In August 2026, responding to a Freedom of Information request, it confirmed in writing that the surplus of places it reports to government is based on “total physical capacity”, and that “when we look at PAN, which reflects the actual number of places offered, there is a shortfall in every year.” Its own forecasts show Year 7 exceeding the number of places available in every year to 2031. In September 2025, the council’s own school planning team told a Planning Inspector that Preston needs 9.5 forms of entry and that “the scale of demand cannot be addressed by expansion of existing schools.” One month later, Cabinet chose expansion instead of building. The council holds no document reconciling that shortfall with the surplus it reported to government, and no assessment of the funding risk from the delay. Both answers came only after the council admitted breaching the Freedom of Information Act. The land is already set aside, 14.5 acres at Maxy Lane Farm, Higher Bartle, between Sandy Lane and Tabley Lane, and £3.8 million has been secured from developers. Lancashire County Council will itself be abolished in April 2028. Its own report says a new school takes at least three years to build. Unless this is progressed now, the site, the money and the unfinished work pass to a new authority under no obligation to deliver any of it. We are not asking for anything new. We are asking for what was promised when the homes were approved. Every figure here comes from the councils’ own published documents.

 A bombshell undercover investigation shared by Channel 4 News exposed senior Reform UK Party figures allegedly breaking the law!  Two senior Reform UK Party officials have been suspended, pending an internal investigation. And you can bet, they’re hoping this will be enough to shut this story down. Political parties from different sides are all calling for a police investigation. Our democracy depends on all political parties playing by the rules - especially rules designed to prevent foreign money and secret funding from influencing our elections.  If enough of us speak up today, by signing the petition, we can make sure no one - however rich or powerful they may be - is allowed to take us or our democracy for a ride.  

In the heart of Midlothian, like many residents, I've faced a troubling issue with our waste collection schedule. Our household grey waste bins, often overflowing by the third week, are not only an inconvenience but a growing health concern. We've experienced the unsettling problem of rats making their way into our garden, drawn by the accumulation of waste that builds up due to infrequent bin pickups. This isn't just an isolated incident, but a common frustration shared by many in our community. Currently, our council has scheduled the collection of grey waste bins every third week, while recycling bins such as those for paper, cardboard, and other recyclable materials are collected on the same schedule. However, the capacity usage of these recycling bins is significantly lower compared to the household waste bins, often reaching only three-quarters full by collection time. This disparity suggests an imbalance in waste management practices that urgently needs to be addressed. Overflowing bins lead not only to unpleasant sights and smells but also pose direct health risks. Rodents and pests are drawn to the unmanaged waste, creating unsanitary conditions that threaten the safety and well-being of our communities. As neighbours and residents invested in the health of our environment and community living standards, we believe it is vital that our local government listens to our voices and acts promptly. Our proposal is straightforward: adjust the waste collection schedule to have grey bins emptied every fortnight instead of every third week. This change will alleviate the overflow issue, reduce the attraction for vermin, and ensure that our streets and gardens remain clean, safe, and sanitary. By making this adjustment, Midlothian can improve its waste management system, demonstrating a commitment to the health and safety of its residents. It will also reflect positively on the community's quality of life, fostering a healthier environment for families and future generations. We understand that changes in council services need careful consideration, but the current system's inadequacies demand urgent attention. We urge Midlothian Council to prioritize our community's needs and protect us from the escalating waste problem. Support this initiative if you believe in a cleaner and safer Midlothian. Please sign this petition to urge Midlothian Council to adopt a more effective waste management schedule.

For generations of skiers and snowboarders, Ski Sunday was more than just a TV programme. It was the spark that inspired people to try snowsports for the first time, join local clubs, take family ski holidays and follow British athletes on the world stage. In the UK, approximately 1.28 million people participate in snowsports, yet there is very little regular free-to-air television coverage dedicated to these sports. Without programmes like Ski Sunday, future generations are less likely to discover the excitement, skill and passion that skiing and snowboarding can offer. At Snowsport England, we see every year how people progress from watching elite athletes to getting involved themselves, whether that's joining a club, taking part in competitions, learning new skills or becoming members of Snowsport England. Visibility matters. Inspiration matters. As Chemmy Alcott, four-time Winter Olympian and former Ski Sunday presenter, says "the biggest worry is the next generation not seeing the mountains on TV, not hearing the stories, not believing that they can be part of our amazing community". Bringing back Ski Sunday would help inspire new participants, celebrate British talent, and reconnect audiences with one of the BBC's most loved and iconic sports programmes. We want today's young people to have the same opportunity to fall in love with snowsports that so many of us had when we watched it growing up.

Across the UK, supermarkets and manufacturers flood our shelves with unhealthy products, push promotions on unhealthy food, and make healthier options harder to find and more expensive. Meanwhile, food-related ill health is rising and the NHS is paying the price. This is a direct result of commercial decisions. Food companies shape what we see, what’s promoted and what’s affordable. They have the power to make food healthier, but they won’t act unless they are required to. In the meantime, Food-related ill health is rising, children’s health is worsening, and the NHS is under strain. Voluntary action from industry has failed. This is a collective public call to demand that Government to hold big food accountable for providing us with healthy, affordable food.

As a skier and snow sports follower I feel the connection with ski racing, which was formalised by British people in the Kandahar Club is being erased by this error of judgment to abandon BBC TV coverage of snow sports during the winter period. I feel there are millions of others who feel similarly. 

Timothy Taylor’s has recently rebranded landlord to look like a generic beer similar to Madri, removing all character and heritage from the beer. I can only assume they have done this to attract a younger market and as a person in their mid twenties, young people are drinking landlord because of the great taste but also the idea of this is a heritage beer with history behind it, reflected in the robust logo. The new design alienates all audiences from this historic beer and should be changed back. The new generic badge serves no one and they will also struggle to serve it to customers. We want our balding landlord back!

I’m increasingly concerned that Britain is sleepwalking into an American-style arms race in vehicle size. Cars are getting bigger, heavier and taller, while our roads, parking spaces and neighbourhoods aren’t getting any bigger. This isn’t about telling people what car they should drive. It’s about deciding how large and heavy a vehicle should be before everyone else has to accommodate it. Larger vehicles take up more public space, can create greater risks for pedestrians and cyclists, and put additional demands on roads and parking infrastructure. What we are asking for We are calling on the UK Government to introduce a Right-Sized Vehicle Standard for new passenger vehicles sold in Britain. The standard should establish evidence-based limits and requirements covering: • maximum vehicle width, length, height and mass; • pedestrian and cyclist visibility, including direct vision from the driver's position; • protection of people outside the vehicle in collisions. These limits should be based on independent evidence covering road safety, public space, infrastructure and environmental impact. What we are NOT asking for This is not a call to ban SUVs, ban cars, or take existing vehicles away from their owners. Nor is it about preventing people from buying vehicles that genuinely meet their needs. It is about stopping the continued supersizing of new vehicles and ensuring that cars sold in Britain remain appropriate for the roads and communities they share. We should decide what size of vehicle is appropriate for Britain — before the market decides for us.

I moved to Cornwall when I retired, and fortunately have an NHS dentist in London who I still see.  This means a £100 return train journey for each appointment, which is difficult for me but not impossible.  Many Cornish folk are not so fortunate. I recently spoke to a nurse at West Cornwall Hospital who couldn't find an NHS dentist and, as a result, had lost three teeth.  The daughter of a neighbour of mine was receiving ongoing treatment until she turned eighteen, at which point her mother received a letter from their dentist saying the family could no longer be treated on the NHS.  Private dental treatment can only be afforded by the few.  This dire state of affairs in Cornwall is totally avoidable. Many of life's problems are difficult to solve, but this just requires proper funding.  Health care matters every bit as much as education, housing or defence.

 If you stand at the level crossing at School Road, Hythe and look up and down the Waterside line, you’ll see a beautiful tree-lined nature corridor curving invitingly out of sight. The old sleepers and rails are almost hidden by dense undergrowth.  The last oil train to Fawley refinery ran almost exactly a decade ago in September 2016. The last passenger train from Hythe departed 60 years ago on Valentine’s Day in 1966.  Network Rail has mothballed the line south of Marchwood and removed level crossing barriers. Successive official studies, including a very detailed one in 2022 which cost £7m, have concluded that restoring passenger trains to Hythe would be extremely expensive (£113 million in 2022 prices) and very poor value for money.  Rail campaigners have been trying for several decades to persuade different governments to restore trains. Unfortunately, the costs are far too high, projected passenger numbers too low and there are numerous practical difficulties, such as lack of room in Hythe for station parking.  There is another way of making good use of this wonderful public facility. For a small fraction of the cost of restoring trains, the line between Hardley and Marchwood, via Hythe, could be turned into a 4.7 mile traffic-free walking, wheeling and cycling route and linear park: Waterside Greenway.  Waterside Greenway would enable people to travel safely on foot, by mobility scooter or by bicycle between Hardley, Hythe and Marchwood. Currently, 40,000 people living in the Waterside south of Marchwood cannot safely walk, wheel or cycle to Marchwood, Totton or Southampton. Main Road past Dibden Golf Course and  Church Farm Close has no pavements, blind bends and speeding vehicles.  The real choice we face in the Waterside is not between restoring passenger trains or creating a walking, wheeling and cycling route. It is between allowing the line to remain closed, rotting and wasted for another decade or reopening it for peaceful, traffic-free walks and nearly-level rides through lovely countryside with fine views of the cruise ships on Southampton Water.  We are calling for a feasibility study into creating Waterside Greenway. Initial estimates from the Walk Wheel Cycle Trust (formerly Sustrans) suggest such a study would cost £12,000 to £28,000, or between 0.17% and 0.4% of the cost of the last feasibility study into restoring trains to Hythe. For more details or press queries please email: [email protected]. Note: there is currently a technical issue with the email button at the head of this petition. Thank you.

Disabled people have already borne the brunt of austerity cuts over the past 16 years including huge cuts to the health element of Universal Credit that began in April this year. We demand that the council scraps these callous cuts that will further impoverish and isolate disabled people.  These cuts will further impoverish and isolate disabled people. 

Vinted has quietly integrated Australian listings directly into UK search feeds without clear default warnings or a quick way to opt out. We are demanding that Vinted introduce a simple, permanent "Domestic Only" toggle in account settings so UK users can choose to buy locally. My Story: I became a dedicated Vinted user because it offered a brilliant, accessible way to buy and sell second-hand clothes. Choosing pre-loved items over brand-new retail wasn't just about saving money; it was a conscious decision to shop more sustainably and reduce my personal environmental impact. Recently, that experience completely changed. While scrolling through my feed, I bought an item only to discover after purchase that it was shipping all the way from Australia. The initial listing showed misleading low postage rates ("from £2.04"), hiding the true financial and environmental footprint until checkout. When I looked closer at my feed, I realised it was flooded with Australian items. What used to be a tailored space supporting local circular fashion has been overridden by an aggressive cross-border algorithm pushing individual garments on 10,000-mile flights across the globe. It is frustrating to have the ability to make eco-friendly choices taken away by corporate decisions that prioritise cross-continental volume over transparency. Air-freighting fast fashion around the planet directly undermines Vinted’s claim to be a green alternative. I have paused my shopping on Vinted until they restore user control. We are calling on Vinted to stop hiding international listings and give every user the option to filter by their own country by default.