Residents’ Petition for Traffic Calming Measures for Lexton Gardens SW12 0AY Dear Councillors, We, the undersigned residents of Lexton Gardens, SW12 0AY, write to formally request that Lambeth Council take forward traffic-calming measures on our road as a matter of urgency.   Lexton Gardens is a short residential street of 26 households. It is home to families with young children, older residents, and pedestrians who use the road daily to access nearby nurseries and schools, including St Bede’s and The White House And Telferscot. It should not function as a convenient cut-through for drivers travelling between New Park Road and Kings Avenue.   Our concern is real and immediate. We have already experienced near misses involving vehicles and pedestrians. Residents are increasingly worried that, without intervention, it is only a matter of time before a child or other pedestrian is seriously injured.   Several features of Lexton Gardens make it particularly hazardous.   First, the road has an S-shaped layout, which creates blind spots and poor sight lines for both drivers and pedestrians.  Depending on where a person is standing or driving, it is not always possible to see clearly around the bend. This is especially dangerous on a residential road used by children.   Secondly, many properties have driveways, which means residents are regularly reversing in or out. Because there are fewer cars parked along the kerb, some drivers appear to treat the road as more open and wider than it really is. This encourages higher speeds and corner-cutting, despite the limited visibility. Thirdly, the gradient of the road encourages acceleration, particularly from the New Park Road end.  The overall effect is that vehicles can enter and travel along Lexton Gardens too quickly for the layout and character of the street.   The level of risk is increased further by the people who use the road every day. Many of our children are now of an age where they are beginning to walk to school independently.  We also have younger children who are naturally less danger-aware, and some children with additional needs who may be more impulsive or less attentive around traffic.  In addition, Lexton Gardens is used by many non-residents as a walking route to nearby schools and nurseries, meaning there is a regular flow of pedestrians at school-run times. Residents are particularly concerned because drivers appear to use Lexton Gardens to avoid slower travel on the surrounding main roads.  There are speed humps on New Park Road and Kings Avenue, but none on Lexton Gardens.  This makes our road attractive to drivers seeking a smoother and quicker route, despite the fact that it is a  narrow residential street with limited visibility and high pedestrian use.   We do not want to wait for a serious injury or fatality before action is taken. We have had Pet Fatalities and the recent tragic death of a schoolgirl on Garrard’s Road has brought home to many local families just how devastating the consequences of road danger can be.   Residents of Lexton Gardens are united in wanting preventative action now, before a similar tragedy occurs on our own road.   We are not asking for speed humps. On a short road such as ours, they can create additional noise and vibration when vehicles fail to slow properly.  In our view, a better and more proportionate solution would be alternating build-outs or carriageway narrowing, creating a layout that requires drivers to reduce speed and proceed with care.   This type of measure would  offer a number of important advantages. It would physically and psychologically encourage lower speeds, reduce the attractiveness of the road as a cut-through, improve pedestrian safety at blind sections of the street, avoid the repeated impact noise associated with speed humps, reduce wear on vehicles, and be less uncomfortable for cyclists.  It would also preserve a more suitable route for emergency access than more aggressive vertical calming measures.   We therefore ask the Council to:   1. Arrange an urgent site visit to Lexton Gardens during term-time and school-run hours; 2. Carry out speed and traffic-volume monitoring on the road; 3. Assess the road specifically for traffic-calming measures suited to its layout and residential character; 4. Bring forward options for a scheme, with alternating build-outs or carriageway narrowing as the preferred starting point for consideration.   This petition is accompanied by a signature schedule setting out the house numbers, names and signatures of supporting residents, demonstrating clear and direct support from households on Lexton Gardens. We are sending this letter not only to our ward councillors, but also copying it to the relevant Highways and Transport officers.  We ask that it be formally logged as a resident request for investigation and action, including a site visit during school-run hours, speed monitoring and traffic-volume assessment.   We would be grateful for written confirmation that this request has been logged, together with the name of the responsible officer and the anticipated timetable for assessment.   Lexton Gardens is a short, narrow residential road used daily by children, families and pedestrians. It should be designed and managed as one.   Yours faithfully,   The Residents of Lexton Gardens, SW12 0AY    

Preserving the play scheme is an investment in our children's future. We need to prioritise funding that fosters community strength and youth development. It is not just an expenditure but a vital service that enriches our society. Please sign this petition to call on our local authorities to save our beloved play scheme, ensuring it can thrive for generations to come. Together, we can make a difference and secure a vibrant future for our children and our community.

The UK's paternity leave policy is the worst in Europe. New dads and non-birthing parents only get two weeks of leave paid at less than half the minimum wage. Self employed people get nothing. The Dad Shift is campaigning to change that. If you agree we need better paternity leave that properly supports kids and parents, add your name now.

 I care because youth clubs have been a lifeline for so many young people I know. They’re places to feel safe, have fun, and get support from adults who care. But not all young people are covered by existing funding — and that means some might miss out this summer. That’s not fair. With the cost of living what it is, families are already stretched. If we don’t act, too many young people could end up isolated, anxious, or at risk. I’m supporting this campaign because I want every child to have the same chances: fun, food, friendship — and a safe place to be. 

Every year, 170,000 children and adults go missing. Many are found, but others remain missing, leaving them at serious risk of harm and causing heartbreak for their loved ones. 118 men go missing in England and Wales every single day - that's five men, every hour. We spoke to the families of two missing dads, Douglas Mills and Andrew Capon. You can watch their stories here. People disappear for many reasons like mental health issues, suicide, exploitation and dementia. Currently, there's no clear government strategy to prevent this or to support people. Vulnerable people are falling through the gaps, experiencing serious harm while they are away, with little or no support to help address the reasons why they went missing. They need support, so they don’t go missing again. A dedicated strategy led by the Home Office, Department for Education, and Department for Health and Social Care could provide the necessary attention and resources. Without it, thousands will continue to go missing without support. When people return, there is no meaningful opportunity to speak to anyone about why they went missing, or what happened while they were away. This leaves vulnerable people, who are often in crisis, with no support. Everyone should know that someone cares, and that help is available, including from the charity Missing People.  

Thousands of vulnerable children are at risk of losing life-changing therapy because the Government has failed to commit to renewing the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund (ASGSF) beyond March 31, 2025. This fund provides essential therapeutic support for adopted children and those in special guardianship who have suffered trauma, neglect, and abuse. Without it: More children could experience placements break down. This will result in the cost to taxpayers soaring, with care placements costing  on average £200,000 per child per year—far more than the therapy funding.  Families who stepped up to provide love and stability will be abandoned, and children will be left to struggle alone. There is also ongoing societal costs. Statistically children who have grown up in care are more likely to have mental health issues, struggle to find gainful employment and are more likely to end up in jail. Prevention is far better than cure.  This would be one of the cruelest cuts yet, punishing the most vulnerable children in our society. Early intervention protects permanency in adoption and guardianships, and is the most cost-effective solution. We demand that the Government immediately renew the ASGSF for 2025/26 or replace it with an equivalent funding stream to ensure these children continue receiving the support they desperately need. Sign now to tell the Government: Don’t abandon these children. Their future depends on it.

Vaping can be used to help wean people off cigarettes and reduce the risk of lung cancer through smoking tobacco. However, many people who now smoke vapes have never been tobacco smokers. This is particularly true of children and young people.  Vapes are highly addictive due to their nicotine content. As recognised by the NHS, nicotine addiction affects  the nervous system and can lead to long lasting changes in cognition, attention span, and memory. Nicotine addiction can lead to mental health issues such as anxiety and depression.  Nicotine also affects the cardiovascular system, increasing the risk of heart attack. Vapes contain a variety of chemicals. There is a lack of research into the long term effects of heating and inhaling these chemicals on the lungs and other organs. Moreover, many vapes that are sold do not comply  with UK regulations as regard chemical content with millions of illegal vapes being seized each year. The Chartered Trading Standards Institute have described those vapes seized as the “tip pf the iceberg.” Children and young people are highly exposed to vapes and this exposure is increasing. The latest research by Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) suggests 72% of children had been exposed to vape promotion, mostly in shops and online. The research also found that around a million children aged 11-17 have tried vaping with approximately 230,000 children vaping more than once a week. The vast majority of these children have never smoked tobacco. Australia recently changed the laws on vaping to protect against the harms of vaping and nicotine dependence. The change in the law requires that vapes may only be sold at a registered pharmacy. Vapes may only be sold to  under 18s with a valid prescription. This regulation helps protect children against exposure to vapes and makes it far more difficult for children to buy them. 

Imagine not taking your child out of school to make memories and then losing them in their 2nd year of primary school.  Before we found out about Jayden's cancer we had letters about his attendance that it was far to low (87%) and he shouldn’t miss anymore time. I am so glad I never worried about his attendance and I made it a priority to make memories as a family. I understand learning is important for children, but so is soaking up as much time as you can while there young, life is far to short to be worried about them missing the odd week here and there after Covid I don’t think they could really complain about children's attendance at least till they hit at least year 9 in secondary! Make the memories while you can, tomorrow is never promised! I lost my son to cancer at the age on 6 years old. If I never took him out of school I’d never have the memories I do with him. Memories are just as important as getting an education and unfortunately for some families it’s not financially feasible in the school holidays so many families miss out.

Let's create a children's play area on Andrews Lane Park so our children have a safe area to play close to their homes. Let's create something that our children and our children's children will be able to enjoy safely.

As someone personally affected by long-term anxiety and depression, I understand the struggles faced by individuals who are unable to work due to mental health conditions. It is disheartening that the current Universal Credit system fails to provide adequate support, leaving many individuals, including myself, in a constant state of financial insecurity. Universal Credit has awarded me a mere £276.00 per month to cover all my living expenses. This amount barely covers my monthly bills and leaves me with no room for essential needs such as food or clothing. Within just four days of receiving my payment, it is entirely depleted, leaving me without any financial resources for nearly an entire month until the next payment arrives. The current system also places additional burdens on those already struggling financially. While Universal Credit does contribute towards my rent payments, I am still required to find an extra £70 each month out of pocket. This becomes increasingly challenging when direct debit payments and other essential expenses arise. It is evident that families across England are facing similar hardships due to insufficient support from Universal Credit. The inability to meet basic needs not only affects individuals but also impacts their overall well-being and quality of life. To bring about meaningful change and alleviate the distress experienced by countless people like myself, we urgently call upon Universal Payments authorities to increase monthly allowances by £400 per person receiving benefits under the current system. By raising universal payments adequately, we can ensure that individuals have sufficient funds not only for their immediate needs but also for long-term stability and security. This increase will enable recipients like myself to afford basic necessities such as food, clothing, healthcare expenses while still having some semblance of financial stability throughout each month. We acknowledge that implementing this change will require careful consideration from policymakers regarding budget allocation. However, it is crucial to recognize the long-term benefits of investing in the well-being and livelihoods of individuals who rely on Universal Credit. We urge Universal Payments authorities to take immediate action and address this pressing issue. Together, let us strive for a fairer and more compassionate society that supports those facing financial hardships through no fault of their own. Sign this petition today to demand an increase in Universal Payments by £400 per month, ensuring a better quality of life for all recipients. Let us stand united in advocating for change and creating a more equitable future. Thank you for your support!

So many secondary schools across the UK put this on families every year, demanding they have expensive branded uniform, which is completely unnecessary. Primary schools cope without anything branded so why should secondary be any different? It's time to stop this financial burden completely. We need branded items to be an ABSOLUTE MINIMUM. One item, a blazer/jumper/hoodie for their day to day uniform and one item for PE kit, unless they want to compete for the school.

Kids hanging in street coners, teens suicide deaths , teen depression , drug use and alcohol due to boardom ,no place for family's in poverty or even for those who aren't, prices too high for the little we do have, nowhere for family's who don't drive, nowhere for family days out , nowhere for kids with sensory problems , nowhere for children social areas , any areas children socialise are in streets then get into bother , parents who don't drive and can't afford travel expensive sit crying as they can't have lovely family days out , family's feeling non worthy due to not getting the chance to experience these family days