Basingstoke is at a crossroads. Our town centre, once vibrant and full of promise, is now marked by empty units, tired infrastructure, and regeneration plans that haven’t yet delivered real change. While we support Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council’s long-term vision — especially around green space and multi-purpose use — let’s be honest: it’s not enough. The Malls are owned by the Council. That means the future of this critical part of the town centre is in their gift. And with Festival Place having gone into receivership in 2023, the second floor now sits largely empty. How can we expect to attract new businesses and investment when our retail core lacks purpose and momentum? This proposal puts forward a bold but practical solution: • Relocate the businesses currently in The Malls into the vacant units in Festival Place and Top of Town. • Demolish The Malls and create a modern, people-centred green space that supports business, culture, sport and wellbeing — all in the heart of Basingstoke. There are currently around 22 businesses trading in The Malls, while Festival Place has at least 27 vacant units — ranging in size from large anchor spaces like the former Sainsbury’s and Primark, to smaller units suitable for shops like TUI and Station Barbers. Festival Place alone has the capacity to absorb the existing businesses from The Malls — and that’s before even considering the additional space available at the Top of Town. This isn’t just about the future — it’s also about putting right the past. Basingstoke Town FC was evicted from its historic home at The Camrose in 2019, after over 70 years at the ground. Since then, promises of a return have yet to materialise. Even a visit from the Prime Minister during the 2024 election campaign has led to no visible progress. The stadium now sits abandoned — a symbol of lost heritage and missed opportunities. Plans were submitted for a new permanent home at Winklebury Football Complex, but the Council’s action since has been slow.  With the demolition of The Malls, there is a possibility to both revitalise our high street while also giving space to an outdoor area that could home BTFC — one that can also host careers fairs, outdoor theatre, summer events, food festivals, and youth activities.  This is a win-win-win — for businesses, who will benefit from increased footfall and investment; for our community, who gain a modern green space and cultural venue; and for our town’s football club, which has waited long enough for a place to call home. Let’s be ambitious. Let’s take control of our town’s future. Let’s reimagine Basingstoke — together.

Why Canada Water Market Matters Since its launch in April 2022, Canada Water Market has been a lifeline for independent traders, small businesses, charities, musicians, and local creatives. It provides:  ✅ Jobs & income for entrepreneurs and small businesses  ✅ A platform for charities (who are given free stalls)  ✅ Live music & cultural events that enrich the community  ✅ Opportunities for underrepresented groups in business This market is a cornerstone of the local economy and social life. Its sudden, unjustified shutdown or potential council takeover will leave traders without income, businesses at risk of closure, and the community deprived of a market that has been significantly improved with seating, entertainment, increased footfall, community engagement, high-quality traders, and a well-organised operation.

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. 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.  

• Every year 12 million tonnes of plastic ends up in the ocean, killing 100,000 marine mammals and turtles and a million sea birds • 100+ million plastic cups are used every year at UK festivals and live events, and most of these are incinerated or sent to landfill • Globally 500 billion plastic cups are used each year. If lined up end-to-end these cups would span 50 million kilometres – or more than 130 trips from the Earth to the Moon • Plastic pint cups are the sixth-most commonly found plastic item in Britain’s rivers, and the eighth on the nation’s beaches

Social media apps have been shown to be a huge danger to children over and over again. It's time to pass a law to force the makers of the apps to take responsibility, and ensure that no-one under 16 is able to use social media apps in the UK.  Let's hold the likes of Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg to account, and cut them off from access to our children.  The dangers of how children interact on social media currently being highlighted in Netflix show Adolescence.  Young, impressionable minds are being driven to dangerous places by profit-hungry social media companies. Children are being exposed to huge harm, from online bullying, to toxic characters like Andrew Tate, or even algorithms that promote eating disorders and more, social media has become a dangerous unregulated wild west for our children. 

It’s no secret that after decades of cuts, adult learning remains woefully underfunded whilst continuing to deliver impressive outcomes not just in skills but for health and wellbeing, work progression and community building amongst others. However, unless the government reverses the trend of cuts to adult education, learning will be shut off from those who need it most.  Ahead of the Government's Spending Review, the Department for Education has announced that next year's Adult Skills Fund will be cut. The Fund is split between the Mayoral Combined Authorities and the central agency, the ESFA. The ESFA’s budget will be reduced by 6%, whilst the Mayors’ skills budgets can expect a reduction of 2-3%. This cut will affect thousands of learners across the whole country.   We still have no guarantees that it won’t be cut further in the Spending Review.  “"The WEA has 100% impacted positively on my life. My friend said just come along and see the cookery class, so I went and absolutely loved it. It was amazing, and through that I ended up volunteering at the school's breakfast club. Now I've moved on to teaching assistant training at the local community centre and I'm doing the placement at the children's school. Honestly, I was stuck at home, down in the dumps and absolutely doing nothing. But now I'm out four days a week working and at classes. it's like a career the WEA has created for me." Joanne, a WEA learner”

Hill Rise and Richmond hill are home to a wonderful mix of independent businesses—boutique shops, cafes, restaurants, artisan crafts and food, and specialty stores that bring character, charm, and diversity to Richmond. These are not just business but are passionate locals offering something truly unique that you won’t find in the big chains of the town centre. However, a lack of visibility and soaring council rents are making it harder and harder for us to survive. Many visitors and residents don’t even realise that if they just walked a little further up the hill, they’d find a thriving, independent retail community. Now, with retail council rates nearly doubling, many of us are struggling to stay open. If footfall doesn’t improve as these costs rise, we risk losing these small businesses—many of which are run by locals who contribute so much to Richmond’s economy and community. What We Need from Richmond Council We are asking for some simple but essential support to help increase foot traffic and keep our businesses alive: • Signage – A clear and visible sign at the bottom of Hill Rise, near Ottolenghi and the cinema, so people know we’re here. • Free advertising and promotional support – Visibility in Richmond town center and on council-run platforms to help raise awareness. • A conversation with business owners – A chance to work together on solutions that ensure Hill Rise remains a vibrant part of Richmond’s shopping experience. Richmond’s independent businesses are a big part of what makes this town special. If we don’t act now, we risk losing what makes Richmond different. Please help to support these measures and help ensure the survival of Hill Rise’s independent businesses.

Global Warming will, if allowed to continue, have a catastrophic effect on life on this planet.

The British spouse visa system is painfully unfair compared to the rest of the world. While many European countries prioritise family unity with lower costs and simpler processes, the UK forces couples to jump through impossible hoops just to be together.  The high financial threshold and excessive fees turn love and family life into a privilege only the wealthy can afford. Families are being torn apart, not because they lack love or commitment, but because they can’t meet arbitrary financial demands. No one should have to choose between love and financial survival — it’s time for change. 

More and more people in our society are being left with no option but to turn to a food bank to feed themselves or their family. From 1 September 2023 to 31 August 2024, Cambridge City Foodbank alone issued a record high 17,500 3-day emergency food parcels. Behind the 171 tonnes of parcels given out are thousands of stories. Some spoken. Others not.  Redundancy, in-work poverty, caring for a sick family member, relationship breakdown, arthritis. People who never thought they would have to use a food bank. Stories of hunger we are hearing more of in Cambridge that come from people claiming Universal Credit. People in acute crisis. Living day to day. Counting the pennies and making items stretch as far as they can. Many feel ashamed and judged for having to rely on welfare and yet are still not able to afford the essentials. If this was you, how would you feel? If this is you, why suffer in silence?  Most people would expect the levels of support offered by our social security system, if we face hard times, to cover the essentials; to cover the fundamentals for healthy living. But it doesn’t. We are calling on the UK Government to take urgent action and provide immediate relief for people facing hunger. By ensuring a new basic rate, some 8.8 million low-income families would benefit, including 3.9 million families with children and over half of all working-age families in the UK with a disabled family member.  By signing this petition, we send a strong signal to our local MP Daniel Zeichner that the people of Cambridge support these long overdue changes to Universal Credit to ensure we can all afford the essentials in hard times. We also show that as a city we support each other’s wellbeing and dignity, united and as a community. Let’s make change happen and end the need for food banks. Sign today and make it count.  Your name will be seen on the petition. See the Cambridge City Foodbank data protection policy here if you have questions about how your data will be used:  Privacy & Cookies | Cambridge City Foodbank To get involved with the campaign group, please send an email to: [email protected]

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.

Other people should join me in my campaign because the cost of living crisis effects all of us, lots of people need support/help from food banks and you may know someone who seeks help from one and you might too! For their benefit and for your benefit we should come together and ask the government for more funds to food banks because there just isn't enough money going into food banks.