Residents safety due to compromised site access Small community; living in residential close, with currently 12 privately owned homes and a few rented garages. 
The houses are built wall to wall, parking and access to the close is limited to one small road. A few council garages are being rented out to some of the home owners(for over 28 years); all other non-garage tenants/property owners park on the street in front of homes and or in overcrowded near by streets. The council has only just notified the garage tenants that the garage area is now identified as a site for the development of 3 storey block of 9 flats. Since there is no other access to the close other than by a small road, the increase amount of traffic, lack of parking space will have an overbearing impact. Fire engines may encounter difficulty accessing the close in the eventuality of a fire and access will be limited for most rescue services, as well as for waste and recycling bin lorries. (Cars have already been damaged by recycling lorries due to the current lack of space within the close, documented evidence for these incidents can be provided). Parking issues Note: There is no public transport in the immediate area/ the local demographic is families and retired couples. Past recorded fatalities due to congested road on Biggin Hill (situated next to Arkell Grove) have not been taken into consideration in the planning development safety survey. The removal of the garages would force its current renters (over 15 cars parked inside or outside the garages) to locate currently ‘unprovided’ parking. In addition to this, 9 flats means an average of 12 cars (calculated using Croydon’s statistics of average number of cars per inhabitants as per 2011’s census) which will also require parking. Arkell Grove itself is fully occupied by its residents’ cars. No provision has been made for any parking for the new building, to add to this, additional cars from local residents will require to locate parking in ‘unprovided’ congested adjacent roads, such as Biggin Hill. A Controlled Parking Zone would be of no help, as the area is such that only residents park here (as opposed to streets located nearby developed areas) and would be be additional cost for residents. Residents and children safety Note: as well as families, the close has two active ofsted registered childminders / home based. In this close live numerous families with very young children who use the close as a safe ground, they play and meet in the area of the proposed site. A) Having a building site in such a small and confined area would certainly present a danger to the safety of these children. (heavy lorries, and excavation) B) The new house development would remove the direct area in which family and children play and meet. Overshadowing / Loss of sunlight The height of the building is such that any house in its shadow would lose access to the sunlight they currently have. Residents Privacy The planning is talking about the development of a block of flats which would look directly over the gardens of the adjacent houses and would remove the direct access to their properties. Environment One of the adjacent gardens has a very tall and mature tree on the border of the proposed site and the development plans would compromise the roots of this tree, rendering it unstable and therefore at rick of dying and falling. Sewage issues and waste disposal All the immediate area to the proposed site privately owned, with no access to the site, how will the issue of sewage be resolved? Croydon has just announced that they are reducing waste collection in this area. Again, this could be a major health problem for this area. Questions: 1) Housing mix. The council policy states they need to built approx 30k by 2031, quote: 60% need to be 3 bedrooms or more as this is largest demand. So why so many 2 beds flats are being built? Why not build 2 storey homes? This would be a realistic target and would resolve many of the concerns raised by local residents. 2) Access to sites. How all these issues are being answered? What about the poor access to the site, the narrow roads and lanes; *Cars being required as public transport is not where it should be.. One of Croydon new policy is looking to address issues round creating additional access methods, where is this being addressed in this proposal? What about sewage and waste disposal, when croydon has just announced that they are reducing waste collection in our area…? 3) If the permission was granted, has the following been taken into consideration? Which days a week will the work be carried out? ie solid 5/6 day week or on and off some weeks? Could quieter works be done weekend? Access: Clearly only one point of access , how will this be addressed? 1. Deliveries Times (this is a very important point. Early morning when childminders get children dropped off OR over weekend when local children playing outside is not acceptable.) 2. General car congestions. Frequency of construction vehicles, What and when? initial large delivery of bricks that would block access, pavements, danger to children playing. This is all health and safety Builders need to address. Builders will need restrictions in place for them to park on road. Has this been accurately assessed? We have raised a petition to provide the list of individuals part of the local community and or relatives supporting the appeal if the development permission is granted

Hackney Council now admits its proposed road closures in the Walford Rd area could increase traffic on Stoke Newington Church Street by up to 21.8% (2,080 extra vehicles per day). That’s far higher than the 5-7% "worst case" scenario stated in their consultation. Church St is a lovely road at the centre of the N16 community where people live, work and go to school. It already suffers from heavy traffic; many homes there are illegally polluted. The street is home to two schools, both of which have worrying levels of pollution, and it's home to nurseries. In places the buildings are higher than the street is wide, so pollution can get trapped. The pavements are narrow and, in addition to worsening air quality and adding to congestion, extra vehicles could lead to more accidents. The road simply can’t cope with more traffic.

Family home since 1982, i moved back in to help my father from illness and to stop my depression, my father passed away suddenly and the council want me and 15 year old son out of the house, my youngest son comes every weekend, has adhd and will not accept change into a new house, explained this to the council but they will not listen, tried to pay the rent but they will not accept it from me.

Motorists drive very fast along Garratt lane and it is very challenging and dangerous to cross this road with young children. It is not uncommon to wait for 5 minutes to cross and there have been several near misses. It is only a matter of time until something terrible happens.

40 percent of premature deaths and the burden of disease is attributed to "behaviours" such as diet, physical activity, smoking and alcohol. In Newham, with a high population of South Asian backgrounds, the focus on public health is even more important as diabetes is up to 6 times more likely in this population. The obesity and diabetes epidemic particularly affect Newham and we urgently need lifestyle changes programmes at community level, as recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. In 2013, the Secretary of State for Health Jeremy Hunt and the Chief Executive of Public Health England wrote to all the Chief Executives of Local Authorities to ask them to put people's health and wellbeing at the heart of everything they do. However, this has not taken place in Newham and we request it to change. Our local community with Food Academy and with funding from Diabetes UK, British Heart Foundation and Tesco has been able to deliver 400 fun holiday lunch clubs in the last 2 years, involving 700 mothers and more than 1400 children. We have supported a public health prevention agenda with hands-on cooking and fun physical activities targeting obesity and diabetes in adults and children. However, this type of public health work now requires promotion and funding from the local government and the local NHS for the benefit of our families.

St Luke’s Swim Academy is a fully inclusive, non competitive swim academy that gives children aged 7-14yrs the chance to train with a squad, these children may not have the time, funds or ability to train with larger competitive clubs. At St Luke’s they can learn race techniques and build on their stamina while keeping fit and making friends. St Luke’s also provides training, support and employment for young people who have chosen swim coaching as a career.

Our wee dog (Dougal) was killed on the road here on Saturday 23 June 2018. I’m not blaming the driver, I blame myself for not securing the garden to the correct standard. However, I do strongly propose a lower speed limit. There are no pavements for several metres along Church Street, this and the fact there is a school on the same street concerns me with regards to the 30mph limit. This is too fast to stop in time if a child should suddenly run on to the road. I would be happy to pay a contribution towards the signs, I’m sure other parents in the village will feel the same. We have excess of 14 children now independently walking, cycling or on scooters each day around this wee village. Let's make this happen.

The Little Big Gig - among the other events staged by Henry’s Campsite - boosts tourism for the village. Far from being detrimental, they are a draw card for other local businesses. The Little Big Gig itself is held in late September, out of high season and provides a welcome influx of visitors before a long winter. This is an extremely rural community and events such as these are key in keeping us close knit. The village socialises together, bonds are formed and the village thrives. The council have threatened to close down the festival despite considerable effort to accommodate noise complaints. Next week they will make a decision. Will you sign this petition to let them know you want the festival to continue?

The Highdown Tearooms is a much loved establishment for the people of Worthing in West Sussex and beyond. This dog friendly cafe is a lovely place to meet up with friends, and is popular with dog walkers, walkers, and for those visiting the adjoining Highdown Gardens. It has been there for many years, and is a very popular and thriving business, so it was a shock to hear that their tenancy agreement is not being renewed by the owners. The notice of non renewal says that the premises have to be vacated by the 6th July. Further update today 3rd July. Donna has been advised that the tearoom can now continue trading until the 18th July 2018. Further update today 10th July. From Donna. 29th July 2018 Sadly, the 29th July 2018 will be our last day at the Tearoom. Today is not about me. I feel for our staff who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own. I feel for all our customers who have lost somewhere they could sit, chat, relax and hopefully feel valued. I’m sorry but I can’t say much more at the moment, but I thank every one of you from the bottom of my heart that has taken time to visit the tearoom to personally wish us all the best, those of you that took the time to sign the petition and to those of you that took time to add such special comments to the Worthing Herald and our Facebook page. I could not have wished for better people to call my friends. A special thank you goes out to our four-legged friends for bringing in their owners each week. We want to make our closing weekend something special. We will all be putting our heads together to come up with some idea’s. All suggestions welcome! We will keep you updated. Donna XX 10th July 2018

Somer, 15 and his brother Areeb, 13, are terrified that they will be murdered by Islamic extremists if they are forced to leave Scotland - the country they love and call home - and deported to Pakistan. They fled the country to Glasgow with their parents, Maqsood and Parveen, in 2012 following death threats because they are Christians. The brothers, who think of themselves as Scottish and are both thriving at secondary school where they have lots of friends and play a full part in community life, have lived in limbo for more than six years. The Home Office have rejected the Bakhsh family's applications for asylum because officials do not accept their lives are at risk in Pakistan, despite the fact it is a country where Christians are persecuted and blasphemy carries the death penalty. The catalyst for the family’s move to Scotland was the murder of two of Maqsood Bakhsh's Christian friends who were gunned down outside a court, while in police custody, in the Pakistan city of Faisalabad in July 2010. Maqsood Bakhsh claims the people responsible for their deaths have targeted him, know exactly who he is and would kill him and his family if they had the chance. Four of his friends have been killed by Islamic extremists, his sister in law’s brother is serving life in jail because of Pakistan’s blasphemy law and his nephew was kidnapped last month. An uncle of Maqsood was murdered on his doorstep in Pakistan, shortly after he returned to the country after living for nearly 20 years in the USA. Once you have been marked by people who mean you harm, you are forever marked. The family feel safe in Scotland and want the chance to stay and make a full contribution to society.

It's impossible to be in two places at same time both schools opposite directions never going to work!

Back in 2012, the UK Government changed the required salary for UK residents to bring their foreign spouses into the country from £12,000 to £18,600. (An increase of more than 50%) This is utterly unfair, was deemed so by the House of Lords, and is even disproportionate to inflation rates. The House of Lords was concerned about immigration and therefore raised the issue in Parliament as to whether the impact on communities and families on modest incomes had been examined, but it received no direct response. Many hard-working, tax-paying, law-abiding citizens — who prior to 2012, hoped to be settling towards a married life with their overseas partners, so long as they could acquire a full-time contract and salary of £12,000 or more — had their dreams shattered and their families' lives torn apart by this unjust legislation. Furthermore, this legislation has done absolutely nothing to rid the UK of those unfit to live harmoniously with or adapt to the British way of life.