Current crime levels in Whitchurch have dramatically increased recently, particularly car/van theft, burglaries and shed/garage break ins. We, as Whitchurch residents, believe this is partly due to drastic cuts to our local policing budget, meaning we regularly have no active police officers within a 15/20 mile radius and also the fact that half of Whitchurch is plunged into complete darkness at 12am. This means that even if you can hear something happening outside your home, you cannot see it and would not dare venture outside as there could be no police back up for over an hour! We want our lights to stay on to stop Whitchurch being a ‘free for all’ for criminals coming in from other areas, using the cover of darkness which make us an easy target!

Our GP services are on their knees Our roads are gridlocked due to sheer number of cars, limited roads out of Midlothian and poor public transport for many areas Our schools are bursting at the seams with children being shipped out of catchment schools due to lack of space Lack of investment into community resources - there are few services for our elderly, teenagers and young children. Our green belt is disappearing - with a significant impact on our health and the environment Private housing is not a priority - we need to prioritise council and housing association accommodation

A recent accident involving a school girl being knocked down and seriously injured has highlighted further local people’s views about the safety of the main road. Several school buses drop off in the area and the area is filled with residential housing and a primary school. The speed limit of 40mph is unacceptable and needs reducing to 30mph. Traffic calming measures need to be introduced.

North Lanarkshire Council intend to close the plant nursery in September 2018. This would be a great loss for the whole of North Lanarkshire, and would mean putting plant containers, bedding and floral displays out to tender to the private sector. Also, this would put an end to job placements and horticulture in this area, as well as the loss of visitors in Coatbridge. The nursery has over 100 years of service within this authority, and is used by several vulnerable groups, who would no longer have access to the support they get here. We recommend the council steps in to stop this closure and keeps the complex open to the public and available to the community. More than 1300 people have already supported our campaign by signing the petition available in the cafe at Drumpellier Country Park, please sign this petition to show the strength of support in the community for retaining this service.

This is important because closing the toilets is another way to penalise the vulnerable in our communities. For example people with long term health conditions who need to use the toilets regularly will be prevented from entering Burton or Uttoxeter. Closure would also affect families with young children, the elderly, pregnant women and those with disabilities. This could have a negative impact on the confidence of those people affected and more widely to Burton's economy if people feel they can not enter Burton because of the lack of toilets.

Highland Council Pension Fund currently holds £5.4 million of shares in US arms company, General Dynamics, manufacturer and supplier of the MK-82 1000-lb and MK-84 2000-lb bombs that were used with such devastating effect by Israel against the people of Gaza during ‘Operation Protective Edge’ in 2014. Because of their ‘wide area effect’, the use of these weapons was condemned by the UN Human Rights Council as violating ‘the prohibition of indiscriminate attacks’; more thn 2,000 people, including at least 500 children, were killed as a consequence of the bombing of one of the world’s most densely populated areas. Highland Council Pensions Fund acquisitions are subject to explicit 'social, environmental and ethical considerations'. It is the duty of public institutions to uphold international law and human rights norms, and it is completely unacceptable that, through its pension fund, Highland Council should finance their ongoing violation! It’s time for Highland Council to examine its conscience, put its principles into practice and follow its own guidelines on ethical investment by divesting itself of its shares in General Dynamics.

The Ely Valley is a very important SSSI serving the Vale and Cardiff. There is a wealth of protected plants, animals and birds here. There are many ancient woodlands on the route of the proposed new road. All of these could be lost for ever if the road is approved. It is crucial that our Council works with adjoining councils to reduce traffic travelling around the Vale and Cardiff. There is already a parallel road serving this route just two miles away which should be improved to resolve traffic issues. We can’t just keep building roads at the expense of our green fields. 72,000 cars drive in to Cardiff daily and a new road will attract even more cars to this area, creating even more congestion where the new road joins the M4 and A48. We believe that sustainable alternatives should be sought to reduce car dependency. The levels of air pollution in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan are now causing more deaths than alcohol or obesity with a rising figure of over 225 deaths a year. Please join us in valuing our countryside and all that it offers for future generations.

School Librarians are a critical part of any school’s professional staff. Their skills are needed now more than ever. With vast online resources there is no shortage of sources of information. However, the more important skill is now understanding and evaluating these sources. Pupils need to learn how to sort out fact from fake. This decision will prevent pupils from reaching their full potential. Librarians have professional skills that support children of all abilities to learn. Replacing essential staff with the unpaid labour of pupils is an absolute disgrace. Scottish Borders Council should hang their heads in shame. Follow the story: Pressure grows on education officials over school library plans http://www.bordertelegraph.com/news/16272089.Pressure_grows_on_education_officials_over_school_library_plans/ Scottish Borders Council slammed for using pupils as library staff says it will teach them leadership http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/16271266.Scots_council_slammed_for_using_pupils_as_library_staff_says_it_will_teach_them_leadership/ Playground pressure mounts on council to reverse school library cuts https://www.peeblesshirenews.com/news/17233450.playground-pressure-mounts-on-council-to-reverse-school-library-cuts/

Be Free Young Carers has for many years offered a desperately needed service for the hundreds of Young Carers in our community. A study in 2017 estimated there were over 700,000 young carers across the UK, providing 1 to 1 care for sick family members, mostly unpaid and unsupported. Be Free Young Carers has offered a support and guidance service for the hundreds of carers in Didcot and South Oxfordshire for many years, offering mentoring, much needed respite, learning support and guidance. There are currently over 500 young carers this charity supports in our county alone ! My own daughter Courtney Hughes BCAv was a registered young carer for me after I had a stroke. Be Free Young Carers offered her a shoulder to cry on, guidance and support whilst undertaking her exams and many day trips out, to allow her to have some time for her. Sadly due to the increase in young carers and a decline in funding with great sadness they have announced they simply cannot continue to run, due to huge drop in donations. The charity relies on donations alone and is not funded by the Government or local authorities. PLEASE SIGN AND MAKE SOME NOISE TO KEEP THIS VITAL CHARITY GOING.... Please write to your MP, Councillors, local parties anyone with any stature to keep the charity going... Thank you

Reducing this service has changed our way of life due to only one ferry running and limited spaces, leaving residents left feeling trapped and isolated at the weekend. The only time most people can get off the island is at the weekend due to working, bairns at school, etc so it’s the busiest time of the week, yet this is when ferries are reduced. It’s taken away the freedom to take family to events out of the isle with so many residents involved in sports, music, etc, going shopping and visiting friends and family.

Currently there is no pedestrian crossing at this fast and busy junction and people are putting themselves in danger by dashing across the road. Many of these pedestrians are school pupils of The Compton School and Wren Academy and users of Finchley Memorial Hospital as well as many mothers with young children. The lack of crossing also means people are standing in a highly polluted area for long periods of time. Barnet Council and TFL are prioritising 'traffic flow' over the safety of people.

There is growing Concern by a lot of Salfordians that this iconic cast-iron structures that many generations have grown up with will no longer be there!. There are many great examples around the UK of how they have been redeveloped into housing, public and community usage. In a sympathetic and artistic eye pleasing manner. Like the one in the photograph. In alot of Salfordians eyes they should be saved and redeveloped instead of just being demolished so the land can be built on for another high rised apartment block, in Salford So come on SALFORD, too many of our historic landmarks have been demolished to build high rise unaffordable apartment blocks , we need to join together and hopefully stop this from happening before its too late as this is a historic sites. This great historic landmark need to be saved for all of Salford to admire for generations to come.