I stand with all those charities and community groups that provide transport for a social purpose and community benefit. They enable people to live, learn and work independently, to stay fit and active, to access vital public services and participate in their community. This type of transport provision is Britain at its best with communities doing things for themselves and it must be cherished, protected and nurtured. I want the UK Government to work with its counterparts in the devolved nations to commit themselves to making sure that nobody suffers as a result of its proposed changes operator and driver licensing. I want them to commit to fully understanding the impact of their proposed changes so they can decide whether all this upheaval is worth it and choose another path or decide how they can support those communities most affected, especially our most vulnerable and isolated citizens.

Karen Perry | Wife | Mother | Full-time carer. Karen has been married to Marcus for 33 years, their marriage has seen two wonderful sons introduced to our world. Karen is a valued member of a Care Group which cares for Adults with severe learning difficulties such as Autism and Downs Syndrome, near Middlesbrough, where she works tirelessly to help others, always prioritising other peoples needs over her own. Karen is from Cape Town, South Africa. Her Grandfather moved there from Norfolk after his father had served in the Anglo Boer war as a blacksmith. It is where she met Marcus and love blossomed, and soon marriage bells rang. Karen and Marcus decided to move to the United Kingdom in 2006, so that Marcus could be nearer his Welsh family and their sons would have better education and career opportunities. Marcus is a qualified electrical engineer who was sadly diagnosed with a brain tumour, due to the effects of his illness Marcus has been unable to work for the past 7 years but retrained as a lecturer and started to work again briefly. He relapsed about a year ago and has had to rely on Karen for support and care since. It would have been easy for Karen to focus her full attention on her husband, his illness warranted it. However, Karen knew that her service users at the Care Center needed her too. It was never in doubt, Karen decided to split her time between caring for her husband and continuing her support for her service users. Sadly Karen now needs the support of others, the Home Office has decided that she is not entitled to or merits British Citizenship. The Home Office stated in their refusal letter that Karen had not proved proficiency in English even though she had passed the "Life in the UK Test" and was told that she wouldn't have to prove proficiency again. This was confirmed on the uk.gov website. After Karen sought assistance from her local MP, Alex Cunningham, the website was changed to reflect new conditions. Without citizenship, Karen is left in a state of limbo. This cannot be right, so I ask you to please show your love and support for Karen by signing our petition. Kind regards to all and thank you

11th August,2017 Dear Sir / Madam, I am writing without malice, to inform you of the potenial hazards risking personal safety, due to what we consider to be breaches of Health and Safety on your New Beach site, in Dymchurch, Kent. These hazards are a worry to myself, fellow owners, and visitors alike. Some of are concerns are as follows: Fire exits are being blocked continuously by cars. Gates next the sales office often have cars blocking them, for example. Red lines and yellow zones/boxes continually being ignored, and abused, and causing issues should the emergency services require urgent access to areas of the site. Appropriate signage is not on the gates outlining that they are for emergency vehicles access. And any attempts at makeshift signage has often been ignored. Wardens being unable to locate the keys to open the fire gates. We have all ready had two incidents where ambulances were not able to gain access to the park. We feel it is only a matter of time before a tragedy happens. We also feel that the management team are not being offered reasonable support, or given the powers 'in house', to make changes necessary to ensure the safety of everyone on your site. We would like the following actioned: Appropriate signage to be put up all around the site, relating to parking rules. A parking control company to be employed to routinely check the site and action any necessary removal/moving of vehicles which could been seen as an obstructions, to be moved to a safer location within the site, or neighbouring Neptune Pub car park. We believe that a visible presence will be a good deterrent and serve as a genuine warning. Currently, parking is out of hand and cars are left wherever the driver feels like it. Disabled parking to be adhered to. There has been an effort to protect a disable bay for the exclusive use of disabled drivers, however, it was poorly executed and a smaller bay next to it allows anyone to take up both spaces. This is a regular occurrence. Again, because nothing is done about it. Keys for fire/access gates to be made readily available to all Wardens for the purpose of emergency access. For it to be policy that reception, sales, service staff are requested to advise all new holiday makers of the parking restrictions, and potential consequences, when they begin their stay. Failure to acknowledge these issues, and take action on them, will result in me having to seek further advice from The Health and Safety Executive, National Caravan Council, Shepway District Council, and my local MP. A petition by all of the owners requesting that you take action is also in the pipeline. As I mentioned at the beginning of the letter, we don't wish to cause malice, or problems for the management at New Beach, we simply want to help them, and the park to be a safe environment for everyone to enjoy. Safety is paramount, after all. Yours Faithfully, Parv Choudhry BA (Hons) Durham University 07715520185 [email protected]

To support families with complex children during school holidays giving routines, consistency and respite. Having a provision like this would improve mental health and wellbeing of everyone involved. Parents are exhausted and children have no where to go that is suitable for their needs. Even if they do have access to the small amount of trips and playscheme available it is small and not consistent throughout the entire school closures. Parents who are employed are unable to go to go to work as there is no permenant or regular provision suitable for their child. We are not able to send our children to just any holiday club or child minder... They are extremely vulnerable persons and have to have all of their needs met and understood. Our son is 5 and a half years old. He was placed at The Bridge Assessment Nursery for almost 2 yrs so was able to access a holiday playscheme for a couple of hours twice per week for 4 weeks. We were grateful for this little bit of respite at the time even as small as it was, but as our son has now moved to another special school there is no permenant holiday provision at all. Not having respite for a family with a special needs child is so difficult. Our children need routine and consistency and don't understand why school closes for 6weeks+, this accentuates all of their difficulties.

So today, I took my son too gullivers land. Upon arrival I went to purchase mine and Harrison's tickets, Harrison evidently being under 90cm tall, I asked for one adult and one child under 90cm (which is free) the young girl behind the desk asked me too measure Harrison but I explained that he's disabled and can't stand so won't be accurate anyway. She said she'd need to get her manager, after having a quick word and some giggles behind the window she came back and asked for proof that he's disabled. By this point I was getting fed up and there was a queue of people behind me so I just said fine I'll measure him, I did and as explained before, he doesn't stand and it weren't accurate but he did come up under the 90cm mark. The girl was still not satisfied and asked me to stand too the side and wait for the manager too come out(aiden who is in the picture) he came out and I explained I'm not happy with how I've been treated and more so how my son has been treated. He said and I quote 'I can tell just from looking at him he's over 90cm' how he can make that assumption is beyond me because he was in his wheelchair with a blanket over half his body, he then said she's over 90cm too, pointing at my neice who had been measured at the desk and was about 10cm under. So after his disgusting attitude tensions were rising, I firmly said are you expecting me to pay for him? And he then said actually none of you are allowed in. Bare in mind there was 3 children with us. I was so fed up, I said fine whatever, just give my sister and friend a refund which he refused. Then laughed and walked off!! We went up too the ticket sales window and there blindes were pulled down on us and left down until we moved away, despite there being a big queue behind us. 2 ladies witnessed the entire things and was disgusted so much that they actually phoned head office too complain and they advised they'd send the area manager down too speak with us. About 10 minutes after the call, he came too us, followed by the boy we earlier had dealt with that laughed in my face and refused us entry. The boy they went on to deny what he had earlier said and the area manager actually asked him too leave as he could see how upset he was making us. The area manager apologised which was appreciated and gave me and Harrison free entry but it wasn't really much compensation as too what happened. We was stood outside for an hour before being let into the park. I think it's absolutely disgusting and their staff need educating on how to deal with children with disabilities, asking me to measure my son who has low muscle tone and can not stand is absolutely disgusting. For then the manager to laugh at us as if we were the unreasonable ones was an absolute joke. Safe to pay we will not be returning there and I will be making it as public as I can too make sure everyone knows what its like! At least my boy had no clue what was going on.

The public are facing increasing financial pressure when attending our hospitals this is unfair , exploits hospital users . The increases have risen by 100% on some parking bands .

As someone who has lived with chronic pain for over 15 years, I have considerable experience of the current pain management options and have tried over 30 medications and treatment regimes specifically aimed at reducing my chronic pain. I have used cannabis in the past in order to help control my pain but the current legal situation means it is illegal and is classed as having no medical benefit which deters those in considerable chronic pain who may gain some benefit from cannabis. Scottish Government figures estimate that over 223,000 adults in Scotland experience chronic pain. The Scottish Government have provided funding which set up the National Scottish Chronic Pain Management Service in Glasgow and which led to an overhaul of chronic pain services. While these investments are welcome, I believe that the Scottish Government needs to commit to exploring the medical benefits of cannabis based products in order to develop better treatments for those in chronic pain. I am aware of the reserved nature of drugs policy in the UK and confirm that this isn't a call for the legalisation of cannabis but for the First Minister to allocate money and resources for the exploration of the benefit of medicines based on cannabis. I've had a supporting quote from Crossbench peer Baroness Meacher: “It is shocking that cannabis remains illegal for medical use in this Country. The majority of US States and at least 11 Countries in Europe now recognise the medicinal value of cannabis to patients suffering chronic pain and other conditions. The World Health Organisation is now reviewing the legal status of cannabis under the United Nations Conventions. We are urging the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs - the drugs advisory body to the UK Government - to review the evidence on cannabis. It has become urgent for the UK to legalise cannabis for medical use, and I am now hopeful that this will happen within two years. This is of course far too long a delay but we will get there if public pressure continues”. And a supporting quote from Liberal Democrat peer and Lib Dem Home Affairs Spokesperson Baroness Hamwee: “The UK's drugs policy is good for the criminal gangs who profit from it, but heartless towards people who would benefit from medical treatment using cannabis. A health-based approach, and regulation, is simple common sense.”

The Department for Work and Pensions has brought forward the proposed closure of Farnworth Jobcentre without any meaningful consultation with the local community. The Government claims that it is closing this Jobcentre as part of its "continued drive to deliver public services in more innovative and cost effective ways” without seeming to consider the impact on the local community. Farnworth is a deprived area, and residents rely on the support provided by their local Jobcentre, not only for help in finding employment, but also for benefit advice, access to computers and telephones. Farnworth Jobcentre is extremely busy and is valued by local residents, and to remove yet another service from Farnworth town centre means that unemployed and disabled residents will be further disadvantaged and could be pushed even further into poverty. Farnworth Councillors and I have been contacted by numerous constituents who are very concerned at the impact that this will have on them: Many unemployed or disabled residents of Farnworth, Kearsley and Little Lever simply cannot afford to travel into Bolton town centre. Even if some residents can afford the up-front cost of travel, the cost of reimbursement would be prohibitive as there is a high number of people who sign weekly, and some who sign daily. The closure of Farnworth Jobcentre would not result in savings to the public purse. In addition to the travel cost, it will also take residents considerably longer to travel into Bolton, increasing the likelihood of late attendance or missed appointments, which could lead to benefit sanctions. It would also cause greater inconvenience, including less time to spend searching for employment. People who have caring responsibilities are concerned that they will not be able to get to work on time, because of the extra travel time to get to Bolton Jobcentre. Residents with mobility problems will find it more difficult to attend Bolton Jobcentre, particularly those who are not able to use public transport and do not have access to private transport. The Government is currently consulting on health and disability issues, yet is at the same time making access to services more difficult. Bolton has two Jobcentres only a few hundred yards apart, yet Farnworth will be left with none. This simply makes no sense. Surely it would be better to close one of the Bolton Jobcentres and keep the one in Farnworth open? The Government requires claimants to attend more frequent face-to-face interviews than ever before, so it is vital that this service is retained in Farnworth We call upon the Department for Work and Pensions not to close Farnworth Jobcentre and ensure that its services are retained in Farnworth town centre.

Bath and Bristol attract visitors from a wide catchment area for cultural events and for pubs and restaurants. Bristol has plans to develop a concert venue next door to the railway station. Thousands of car journeys would be saved by a later train. Thousands of car journeys to existing venues in Bristol and Bath would be saved. I am disabled. I have to rely on others driving to take me to Bath and Bristol for the theatre and concerts. A later train would give me and many like me independence.

This is Important as it is an issue we have found within the area through talking to citizens and through investigating the services available that there is currently nothing available to aid them through their problems

The Adult Care Centres are vital for the frail,elderly and disabled. They provide specialist bathing and other facilities as well as trained staff to make life bearable for many elderly and disabled people as well provide a few hours of much needed respite for their carers and families ( often elderly and frail themselves). What are these people going to do if these centres close?

This is important because everyone should have the same basic right to benefit from using public transport. Disabled people should not have to find going on buses difficult or even impossible. Trains already provide pre-booked assistance and announce the names of stations and what platform they will arrive at. I am simply requesting that First Group follows the basic steps I have laid out above so that they can help improve the quality of transport for all people, so that society as a whole can reap the rewards that come from the inclusion of minority groups such as the disabled. I am not asking for preferential treatment for disabled bus passengers, merely that we are enabled to use buses like everyone else. As it stands I, and many other disabled people find it difficult to use buses and either have to rely on the good will of drivers and/or the public or support from friends and family in order to travel. I do not want to make this a one issue cause by only talking about myself, but I will simply give it as an example, due to my visual impairment I cannot rely on sight to see what stop I am at while on the bus so if I am not told in advance I will miss the stop. Finally by not ensuring that their buses are accessible, First Group are violating Article 9 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of People With Disabilities (UNCRPD), clauses 1a, 2a, 2b, 2e, 2f along with Article 19, clause c and Article 20 clause a and clause d. http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/CRPD/Pages/ConventionRightsPersonsWithDisabilities.aspx#19