Dear Angela, We are all aware of the need for warm, affordable housing across the country. However, recent announcements from yourself and the government have sadly sought to pitch communities against local decision making processes and nature against people. The new Planning Reforms seek to take power away from those who have been elected to represent residents, overriding democracy and playing into the hands and ultimately pockets of developers. Developers already hold too much power and people will continue to be locked out of buying and even renting in this, their home town 💔 As one of the most nature depleted countries on earth, we can't afford to keep building without a thought for nature. Not only are green spaces essential to relax in, flooding is an increasing risk in over built locations, such as this. We rely on biodiversity, eg pollinators such as 🐝 bees and 🦋 butterflies to pollinate our food, however if all of their habitats continue to be concreted over, long-term this will effect every species, including our own. In order to reassure local people, who are understandably dismayed at these new proposals, please can you offer comfort with the following 🏘👇 - To bring empty properties back into use as a priority. - Setting an expectation for all developers to build a minimum 50% Affordable housing. - Abolish the disastrous Right to Buy scheme - Commit to respecting Local Plans - The expectation for developers to build warm, affordable homes. - Environmental measures such as solar panels, flooding protections, swift & bee bricks & hedgehog holes to be delivered as standard for all builds. - Ensuring environmental protections such as Sites of Scientific Special Interest (SSSIs] are adhered to - thereby keeping important nature havens such as Swanscombe Peninsula safe. Thank you, Written by 💚 Cllr Laura Edie On behalf of Dartford Borough residents

Charles' Coronation cost at least £72 million. Elizabeth’s funeral cost £162 million. The Royal Finances Report shows we lose £510 million to the monarchy every year and now we, the taxpayers, are expected to pay £46 million for a memorial to Elizabeth.  Enough is enough. This money is desperately needed for better causes - hospitals, schools, housing and more. If the monarchy is as popular as certain media outlets make out, then let monarchists pay for the memorial. As loyal and devoted subjects, why wouldn't they be able to raise that much?  Crowd fund the memorial and spare us overburdened citizens!

"Support Local, Accessible Eye Care for All – Sign the Petition! Did you know that many patients in our area face challenges accessing urgent eye care due to limited local services? Rooley Lane Opticians at Asda is perfectly equipped to provide a Minor Eye Conditions Service (MECS), which could deliver fast, effective care for common eye issues, such as: • Dry eyes causing discomfort or irritation. • Foreign objects in the eye requiring urgent removal. • Red or painful eyes caused by infections or inflammation. • Sudden vision changes, including flashes or floaters, that may need immediate attention. • Eye infections, such as conjunctivitis or styes. • Irritation or allergies, including swollen, itchy, or watery eyes. • Minor injuries to the eye or surrounding area. Currently, patients may have to wait for GP appointments, travel to distant hospitals, or face long delays for these treatable conditions. By granting Rooley Lane Opticians a MECS contract, we can ensure that people in our community receive timely care close to home—putting patients' health and convenience first. Your signature can make a difference! Help us show decision-makers that we need local, accessible, and high-quality eye care. Let’s break down barriers to essential healthcare and improve the quality of life for our community. Sign today to support a MECS contract for Rooley Lane Opticians!"

• 976. 976 people died while homeless in the UK in 2020, a 37% increase from 2019. • Rough sleepers are 17 times more likely than the general public to experience abuse. • Someone sleeping rough is 9 times more likely to die by suicide than a member of the general public.

Statutory Sick Pay is the legal minimum employers must pay workers who need time off to recover from illness or injury. At just £116.75 per week, or £3 an hour, it simply isn’t affordable for millions of workers across the UK.  Sick Pay is supposed to be a lifeline. But imagine if you or your loved one, recovering from illnesses like cancer, chronic fatigue or depression, were forced to go into work when sick or risk falling behind on bills.  That's the reality for many people. One in four employees across the UK rely on Statutory Sick Pay when ill. And Citizens Advice estimate that 78% of people on the lowest incomes would go into debt after only a short time off sick. We have an urgent opportunity to change this. The Employment Rights Bill is currently making its way through Parliament. This is our best opportunity this generation to get support for a rise in the rate of Sick Pay.  Do you agree that sick pay should be enough to at least cover the bills? Please sign the petition and show your support for #SafeSickPay!

We urge you to sign this petition if you enjoyed the atmosphere of the The Driver Era shows this year (as Your Favorite Color certainly brought the vibes to get us all going) and new 80s 90s inspired music. We garuntee that if you sign this petition and all works out, you will NOT regret it. The Driver Era please give us what we want. Your Favourite Color AND The Driver Era sharing the stage was the BEST concert experience many of us have had. We would love to do it all again next year ❤️

The future of Goole and District Hospital could be under threat. The local NHS trust has "started work to look at future potential opportunities" and staff were informed last week that several wards have been earmarked for closure in the new year. Gooles population is vast and growing. The closure of the hospital will be detrimental to patients, especially to the elderly who will find it much harder to access the care and treatment they need. The Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust has said no decision has been made over the potential closure of wards which is why we need to let them know exactly what the public thinks about such plans. Sign the petition now!  

Meat and dairy production is having a devastating effect on our environment, both here in the UK and globally; contributing to climate change, deforestation, water pollution and the depletion of natural resources. Moving to a plant based diet is the single most effective way that people can reduce their carbon footprint. We know that having a liveable planet now and for younger generations is important to local people. Croydon Council declared a climate emergency five years ago and we now call on elected members to show leadership in this area by showing that switching to plant based catering is easy to do and is the best option for the health and future well-being of our diverse community.

Because it is ruining peoples lives and they are afraid to speak up about it ,because clearly they realise that they have a gambling problem and if the industry is doing their job these people will be safe and able to recover from their mental health issues because gambling is a big mental illness and people don't talk about it enough

At a time of ecological and climate emergencies we need bold action, now. Research demonstrates that transitioning to a plant-based food system could free up around 75% of global agricultural land, offering incredible potential for rewilding, carbon sequestration, and biodiversity restoration. Additionally, plant-based systems can reduce food-related greenhouse gas emissions by up to 70%, making this shift one of the most effective solutions for tackling the climate crisis. By embracing plant-based solutions, we can create a healthier, greener planet while still producing enough nutritious food for everyone.  This campaign is an opportunity to drive positive change that benefits both people and the planet. Councils can lead the way by adopting plant-based food systems, reducing their environmental footprint, and setting a powerful example for others to follow. By joining this movement, we can build a sustainable future where thriving ecosystems and a stable climate are within reach. Together, we can ensure our food systems work for the benefit of all life.

The residents of Otley are trying to halt the unnecessary felling of trees in Tittybottle park in Otley. One of the trees at risk is a 180 year old Oak tree, another is a large Tulip tree.  The trees are due to be felled in order for a large crane to access the site to erect a temporary footbridge over the River Wharfe, during repair work on the old medieval bridge. This temporary bridge is due to cost in the region of £2m. (Repair work is due to cost £1m) Due consideration has not been given to these trees during the design process of this temporary bridge. With some careful design these trees could be saved, for example if the bridge was constructed in sections and fed out over the river, then the crane access would not be required. This also presents an opportunity to design a footbridge that remains accessible even in the event of a flood. The environmental impact of losing these trees, that sit on a flood plain beside the river Wharfe, would be devastating. The river bank would become less stable, the thousands of species of insects and animals living within these trees and their roots would lose their habitat, and we would lose the most effective carbon capture factories on Earth. We cannot casually accept the loss of oaks without also accepting the loss of thousands of other plants and animals that depend on them, oak declines in the UK threaten the survival of 2300 other species of plants and animals. (Mitchell RJ et al 2019, collapsing foundations: The ecology of the British oak, implications of its decline and mitigation options. Biological conservation 233:316-317.) We must stop thinking ‘It’s just one tree’ this situation is being repeated too often around the world, we are in the middle of an environmental collapse. Please sign this petition to help stop the felling of these beautiful trees.

In the United Kingdom, the lack of salary transparency in job adverts perpetuates inequality and disadvantages certain groups, including women, LGBTQIA+ individuals, ethnic minorities, and people with disabilities. This opaque practice contributes to systemic barriers in the workplace, enabling pay discrimination and reducing opportunities for equitable employment. The Issue Hidden salaries are more than just an inconvenience; they actively perpetuate inequality: For Women: Women in the UK continue to face a gender pay gap of 13.1% (as of April 2024). Lack of transparency exacerbates this issue by making it harder for women to negotiate fair salaries, particularly in male-dominated industries. Research shows women are less likely to apply for roles when salary information is absent, fearing they may be offered less than their worth. For LGBTQIA+ Individuals: Members of the LGBTQIA+ community are already at a disadvantage, often facing workplace discrimination. Hidden salaries make it easier for employers to offer unequal pay, relying on stereotypes or biases about perceived “value” rather than qualifications. For Ethnic Minorities: Ethnic minorities in the UK face persistent pay disparities, with Black and South Asian workers earning significantly less on average than their white counterparts. Without transparency, there is no accountability for these disparities, and workers may unknowingly accept lower pay due to systemic discrimination. For People with Disabilities: Disabled workers experience a disability pay gap of 17.2% in the UK (as of November 2024). Many disabled individuals feel compelled to accept roles without salary clarity, fearing their disability may affect pay negotiations or job offers. The Problem with “Competitive Salary” Phrases like "competitive salary" in job adverts are vague, unhelpful, and allow for significant disparities in pay. This lack of clarity disadvantages candidates in several ways: It Masks Pay Inequities: Employers can exploit the ambiguity of "competitive salary" to offer less to candidates based on gender, race, or other biases. It Discourages Applications: Many candidates, particularly those from under-represented groups, may avoid applying to roles where compensation is unclear, fearing they won’t be paid fairly. It Wastes Time: Job seekers and employers both lose valuable time when salary expectations don't align. We demand that employers be required to disclose a definitive salary or, if not possible, a salary range that is narrow enough to provide meaningful information to candidates (e.g., £30,000–£35,000).  Broad, vague ranges (e.g., £25,000–£50,000) are insufficient and undermine the purpose of transparency. The Need for Transparency in a Cost-of-Living Crisis With the country currently experiencing a cost-of-living crisis, where prices for everyday essentials are rising on a near-monthly basis, it has never been more important to have clear, upfront salary information. Inflation and Rising Costs: As energy bills, food prices, and rent continue to increase, many workers are finding it harder to make ends meet. Salary transparency would allow job seekers to quickly assess whether a role meets their financial needs before committing to time-consuming applications or interviews. Financial Planning: Clear salary information gives workers the ability to plan their finances better, making it easier for them to navigate economic uncertainty. Equity and Fairness: In these challenging times, it is crucial that everyone, regardless of gender, race, ability, or sexual orientation, has the opportunity to earn a fair and equitable wage. Lack of transparency in salary only further perpetuates the struggles faced by many groups already disadvantaged in the workforce. The Solution Salary transparency in job adverts is a proven strategy to tackle these disparities. By mandating that all employers disclose salary ranges or fixed salaries in job adverts, we can: Ensure Accountability: Employers will need to justify pay decisions based on qualifications, not bias. Empower Marginalised Groups: Workers from under-represented communities will have the confidence to demand fair pay. Close Pay Gaps: Transparency forces organisations to address and rectify unjust disparities. Countries like Canada and certain U.S. states have implemented similar policies with positive outcomes, showing that transparency is both achievable and beneficial.