In the intervening 7 year period, these bodies have supposedly been discussing options whilst the bridge deteriorates daily. Such a restoration project will be costly and lengthy, but the alternative is that this hydraulic marvel will eventually have to be demolished. William Armstrong's Swing Bridge was the world's first moving bridge. Opened in 1876, it was a marvel of the world and reflected the North East region's engineering skill. To get a restoration project moving needs public opinion to persuade politicians the funding will be worthwhile.

25,000 tonnes of rubbish has been dumped right next to homes, like mine, and a local primary school in Bickershaw, making life a living hell for local residents like me. It’s been allowed to go on for over a year and we have had enough of the rat infested, toxic wasteland sitting on our doorstep.  My autistic son has had to move in with his grandparents because he cannot cope with the smells, it’s tearing our family apart.  As the landowner, the clean up lies with you, King Charles. So, whether you clean it up yourself, or get the Environment Agency to do it for you, this festering rubbish dump must be tidied up.

The Banyers House in Royston is a Grade II listed Georgian building on Melbourn Street, built in the 18th century (circa 1700s) for the Reverend Edward Banyer, the Vicar of Royston from 1739 to 1752. Formerly a vicarage, private home, and boarding house, it became a hotel in the 1930s before being refurbished by Oakman Inns & Restaurants in 2016. It is known for its neo-classical, white-brick facade, a rumoured secret tunnel to the nearby church, and a history that includes hosting notable residents like abolitionist Joseph Beldam. Banyers House closed its doors to the public on 5th January 2026 to undergo refurbishment before re-opening under the management of Acorn Pubs.  Acorn Pubs intend to change the name of Banyers House to “The Chalk Hare” thus erasing a name which has long been associated with this building and which provides an important cultural link to this building’s almost 300-year history. We invite Acorn Pubs to retain the name Banyers House.  It is understood that they have retained the historic names of at least two of the other pubs within their group (The White Hart, Ampthill and the Royal Foresters, Ascot) and it is suggested that it is possible to bring a new lease of life to Banyers House through their exciting new refurbishment and proposals to update the menu without needing to change the name of the building itself.

Residents and users of Drakefell and Gellatly Road have campaigned for years for improvements to make the road safer for all users. Change has come too slowly and residents and road users are fed up of: • not being able to cross the road safety, especially when taking kids to and from school. • witnessing countless accidents and frequent near-misses. • cars parking right up on the pavement and not being able to get past with buggies, wheelchairs or bags. • not being able to park without worrying about what might happen to our cars. It’s high time the Council took action. The more residents we hear from, the more likely the Council is to listen to us.

We need a change to the Local Growth Fund so it protects existing frontline community services in Northern Ireland by ensuring adequate revenue funding to deliver people-centred support for vulnerable people, rather than prioritising capital projects that do not meet current community needs. Northern Ireland has the highest economic inactivity rate in the UK, driven by long-term illness, disability, and people not in education, employment, or training who need specialist support.  UKSPF-funded community services currently support over 11,000 people each year into better mental health, skills, and employment. The proposed Local Growth Fund is capital-heavy and risks ending vital services when UKSPF ends in March 2026, putting vulnerable people and skilled jobs at risk.

Southern Park is open to the public early in the morning and later in the afternoon, and many residents use it for walking and commuting during these hours. However, the park currently has no lighting, making visibility extremely poor. This lack of lighting creates safety concerns. In low visibility, people are at higher risk of accidents, such as tripping or falling, and there is also an increased fear of potential assaults or other unsafe situations. Many community members avoid using the park during these times simply because it does not feel safe. We are requesting the installation of adequate lighting throughout Southern Park so that residents can use it during early morning and late afternoon hours without fear. Proper lighting would significantly improve safety, accessibility, and overall community well-being.

As mothers, our daughters' deaths were entirely preventable. That’s why, as mothers, we have come together to ask the Health Secretary to appoint an Allergy Tsar. Currently, no single person has overall responsibility for the wellbeing of people with allergies across government or even across the NHS. This is despite 20 million people living with allergies in the UK.      More must be done to support people living with allergies. Government action should be properly coordinated so allergic adults, children and their families receive consistent support across the NHS, schools, hospitality and the food industry, easing the constant fear caused by potentially life-threatening mistakes.    Appointing an Allergy Tsar would provide the leadership needed to prevent further harm and drive improvements in care nationwide. We urge the Health Secretary to make this appointment and address shortcoming in allergy care to protect the millions in the UK living with allergic disease. With national coordination, improved training, and stronger support in schools and workplaces, lives can be transformed and deaths prevented.     Will you stand with us? Sign the petition today and help push the Government to act.      

1. It makes people’s everyday actions count. People think donating clothes is automatically sustainable, but a lot of the time these donations end up in landfill.  2. It pressures the right people to act  Charity shops and consumers can’t solve the fast fashion waste problem alone. This petition asks government and retailers to take responsibility.  3. We support environmental justice. 

Our asylum system is under strain and we have well publicised and ongoing issues in dealing with irregular migration. The deteriorating political conditions in the US would seem to point to there being only more violence on the horizon, which will lead to greater state oppression and propaganda of denial.  The UK has an opportunity to prepare for its moral duty to offer asylum to US Citizens at risk of even greater persecution by the US Government.  It behoves us all to prepare now and avoid another asylum crisis. 

The Ospreys have produced 17 British and Irish Lions players over the last twenty years. So even if you're not Welsh remember this will affect the future quality of the British Lions. 

• The most recent report by the Resolution Foundation, has hit out at the alleged stagnation in living standards across the country, claiming that the UK is “'languishing' 15 per cent behind the likes of Germany, France and Canada in GDP per head.’  • Food poverty is increasing: individual households are paying exorbitant rates for elecricity and gas. • Everyone has heard of the plight of the Food and Entertainment (particularly Pubs) - post Brexit and Covid.  • Music venues suffering from lack of support. • The UK chemical industry is facing a significant decline, marked by sharp output contractions (around 20% in recent years), driven mainly by uncompetitive, high energy/gas prices post-Ukraine war. A common factor in all these cases is the high cost of energy.  • Prof Michael Grubb of the UCL Institute for Sustainable Resources said in a recent research paper that, although fossil fuels used to be cheaper than renewable energy sources, “that has turned on its head as gas prices shot up and the cost to produce renewables such as wind and solar power has plummeted”. He said: “If we actually paid the average price of what our electricity now costs to produce, our bills would be substantially cheaper.” • However, gas-fired power plants in effect set the market price for electricity – meaning costs are substantially higher than they could be. In simple terms: the price in the electricity market on any given day is dictated by the most expensive source of generation available, which in the UK would be its gas-fired power plants.” Energy Giants have been making outrageous profits. • The corollary of this daylight robbery is that Energy giants made over £125 billion in profits from UK operations since the energy crisis started, with £40 billion in the last two years (as of late 2025).  • The energy regulator, Ofgem, states it regulates to ensure fair costs, but is clearly protecting producers and Network owners at the expense of consumers. • Energy and utility bosses are paying themselves outrageous salaries.

Functional Neurological Disorder affects movement, speech, vision, pain, bladder control, seizures, and daily function. Symptoms are real and disabling, comparable to conditions such as stroke, epilepsy, and multiple sclerosis. People with FND often wait years for a diagnosis. Many are told their symptoms are psychological, dismissed, or passed between services without a plan. After diagnosis, support often stops. No clear pathway. No follow-up. No specialist care. Care depends on postcode. Some areas offer specialist teams. Many offer nothing. People manage seizures, paralysis, chronic pain, and loss of independence alone. Families often step in without training or support. The science exists. Clinical guidance exists. Multidisciplinary treatment improves outcomes, yet access remains inconsistent. Across the UK, people report gaps between diagnosis and access to meaningful support. This highlights the need for properly delivered, consistent care rather than guidance that exists only on paper. This gap causes harm. People lose jobs. Relationships break down. Mental health declines. Trust in healthcare erodes. A national NHS care pathway would change this. Earlier diagnosis. Joined-up care. Clear responsibility. Equal access. Dignity. People with FND deserve the same seriousness, care, and respect as anyone with a neurological condition.