A new strain of COVID-19 has resulted in a surge of cases and the R level increasing at an alarming rate. Hospitals across Kent, London and Essex have declared major incidencies, as they are unable to cope with the current level of demand. The new strain appears to be spread more easily by children than previous strains. This has resulted in the government taking the decision to stagger the return of secondary schools and keep many primary schools in Tier 4 areas closed & they will not re-open after the Christmas holidays. This will be reviewed on January 18th. However, legislation for SEND (Special educational needs and disabilities) settings has been ambiguous throughout this crisis, and the majority of SEND schools will be reopening their doors to pupils from Monday, where all staff (aside from the CEV in the highest tier areas) will be expected to return. The current guidance from the Department of Health and Social care advises priority vaccinations to be given to "frontline health and social care workers at high risk of acquiring infection, at high risk of developing serious disease, or at high risk of transmitting infection to multiple vulnerable persons or other staff". Staff working with pupils in special needs schools also meet the above criteria. They work in environments where it is impossible to maintain social distancing, the use of masks may be very difficult and they are expected to carry out personal care. It will also be very difficult to carry out the mass testing of pupils in these settings, which the government have said is vital as a long term aim to stop the spread of this awful disease. Tragically a recent report from Public Health England, found that people with learning disabilities were 6 times more likely to die from COVID-19, during the first wave of the pandemic. If staff working in these settings were to be vaccinated as a priority, it would mean that not only were they protected, but it would also protect the vulnerable children in their care.

I think everybody should be taught about these things. It is very very important and will most likely make it easier to understand one another. Also, there is a high chance that the bullies of the school would learn about why everyone is valid, and hopefully stop bullying.

Without our paramedics and NHS staff, we have no hope of overcoming the virus. No more clapping for the NHS - they need our help - vaccinate them NOW.

Review and change the new regulation that calls for Dogs to be inoculated against rabies when travelling from England, Scotland or Wales to Northern Ireland. (from one rabies free country to another). Plus a vet's certificate obtained 10 days before travel for every visit.This certificate must be obtained before any visit so those people who travel frequently with their pets will find this very expensive. Please revert to the former free travel which is still there for people. We travel four or five times each year with our two dogs this could cost us nearly £1000 per year. Many of the people we see on board Stena line with their pets are elderly and their pets are their life.

Every morning, more and more parents have to fight for little space to park, our communities are too small to have almost every parent driving to school. If you can't find parking the kids will be late but most importantly, how much more emissions are we releasing into the atmosphere? I believe if only a few parents drive to school, and also because they have to go to work afterwards, I know it might to reduce emissions massively but that's a start. You will have a healthy society because more people are walking atleast Monday to Friday!

Transitional payments are there for people who are transferring to UC. but when other benifits get a rise. Those on transitional payment get benifits cuts or stays same as it comes of the transitional payment. So we lose out. Until the transitional payment is used up. So if dwp put £1 on benefits those on transitional payments lose it. This carries on till transitional payment are nil.

With all the additional online shopping the Food Banks are losing out as customers are not puting something into the collection baskets which are placed near the exits to the supermarkets.

Traders at Piccadilly Market were given a letter from Revd Lucy Winkett on 17th December 2020 advising them they can no longer trade after 23rd December 2020 - just one weeks notice!!! This was a bombshell for all the people whose livelihoods depend on trading in this market These people are fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers, uncles, aunts etc who have been employed there for many, many years. There was no consultation, no communication and it is grossly unfair and immoral of the Church to do this - it could have closed for a short period until things picked up and included the views of the traders in the process, respecting their position. This market is well known and well established for decades. Peoples lives have been shattered. I myself worked in this Market for 26 years and I am devastated at this closure. My wife was made redundant in July 2020 as the organisation she had worked for was put into liquidation at very short notice too after 28 years working there We could never have imagined we would both be out of long term jobs within 6 months of each other and in such a way. The other traders are understandably extremely upset and angry at what has happened and the huge impact this has on them and their families. No one should be treated in this way by anyone, least of all by the Church!

They have worked their socks off this year to deal with the worst cases of Covid and 2021 will keep them busy still - further Covid patients and the backlog of other procedures. Let’s give them a bit of a rest - even if it’s is just a few days.

The Brent is highly built up - with residential housing, shops and 2 bus stops along this one small stretch of road. Earlier this month a woman was knocked down by a car and badly injured whilst walking across the zebra crossing, which simply isn't fit for purpose! This is not a one off incident, and since then many have shared their own experiences of near misses. We the undersigned ask Kent County Council for the zebra crossing lights to be installed, replaced and properly maintained & for railings to be installed along the ends of the crossing, to stop people parking alongside and obscuring pedestrians. We also ask Dartford Borough Council for increased parking enforcement along here, to deter people from parking dangerously and stop reckless behaviour. We have formed The Newtown Road Safety Group, in order to make our ward a safer place to live, and ask that both the local authority and Kent council start working together, before we see yet more injury and tragedies on our roads.

The speed limit along Mowbray Road between North Bretton and Marholm Village is 60 mph. Therefore cars travelling towards Marholm Village from the North Bretton roundabout, and visa versa, can legally travel at 60 mph and most of them seem to do so. This makes it quite difficult sometimes to drive out of Dunsberry onto Mowbray Road. Furthermore, it can be quite hazardous to walk along the footpath to and from Marholm Village as cars travelling at the legal 60mph negotiate the bends towards the Peterborough Crematorium. It seems ridiculous that there is a speed limit of 60mph at the entrance and exit to the Peterborough Crematorium. In recent years there have been several minor accidents on this stretch of road. It would be common sense to reduce the limit to at least 40 mph before a serious accident occurs.

To recognise their efforts during this pandemic from March. To reward them sincerely for their hard work.