First Bus have cancelled the 7A school buses which took Oaklands Catholic School children home, from the bus stop inside the school grounds to Cosham. This has been done purely to save money and increase profits by First Bus, with absolutely no regard for the welfare and safety of school aged children. To give you an idea of how many children have been affected by this, First Bus used to supply a double decker and a single bus, which were full of school children. That is approximately 150 children who no longer have a safe way of getting home after school. 150 children are now forced to stand on the main Stakes Hill Road after school. Currently a temporary bus stop due to road works. This is very dangerous on a very busy road with heavy vehicle and pedestrian traffic from St Peters Catholic School and Crookhorn High School. The children are spilling onto the road, with teachers acting as wardens to push them back onto the footpath. We have all seen in the local news lately of an increase attempted child abductions of children on their way home from school. Sadly, also an increase of rape and violence, with the latest being the murder of a young woman in Portsmouth only weeks ago. I feel strongly, as does Mr Quinn the headteacher of Oaklands Catholic School, that the children are in danger. Mr Quinn urged parents in a bulletin email to write to our local MP Alan Mak to stop First Bus cancelling the 7A school buses. There have been no additional buses or double deckers put onto the main bus route by First Bus. This has forced parents, who are able, to take and collect their children from school by car. This has substantially increased the vehicle traffic (and pollution levels) in the already heavily congested area during peak times. The school cannot accommodate parking for the parents of the 1000 school children. Parents are now blocking the roads in the surrounding areas and parking illegally in front of the school and next to the temporary bus stop. The school is struggling to cope and resorted to calling the police to manage the illegal parking and dangerous traffic congestion. I fear it is only a matter of time before a child is injured by a car. The school should not have to deal with this added pressure and be left to manage this dangerous situation. It is winter now. Temperatures are freezing and it is dark by 4pm. The buses (number 7) on the main route are inundated with passenger's from Havant and South Downs College, Oaklands Catholic School, Crookhorn High School, and St Peters Junior School, along with regular shoppers and commuters. School children are having three buses passing them that are full to capacity and not accepting more passengers. This means that children are waiting outside in the dark and cold for up to an hour after they have finished school (4:30/5pm). The journey home can take up to another hour for children living in Portsmouth. Children are then expected to have dinner and do their homework. They are losing a lot of valuable time and this is having wider impacts on their education. The children are tired. They are now also late for school most days because they cannot get a space on a full-to-capacity First Bus to get to school on time.

Our collective appeal is centred around the urgent need for a clear road map on targeted investment in biomedical and health research. We propose a comprehensive 5-step strategy that includes: 1. Dedicated Research Funding: Allocate resources specifically earmarked for biomedical and health research into both adult and paediatric Long Covid. By doing so, we can accelerate the pace of discovery by uncovering the intricate pathophysiology of the condition. 2. Collaborative Research Initiatives: Foster interdisciplinary collaboration between research institutions, healthcare providers, charitable organisations and those with lived experience to create a unified approach with shared expertise, resources, and data, leading to more robust and impactful studies. 3. Treatment Trials: Fund and expedite clinical trials for potential treatments. By streamlining regulatory processes and providing support for innovative therapies, we can fast-track the development of interventions that improve health outcomes. 4. Public Awareness and Education: Invest in public awareness campaigns to educate individuals about the potential long-term consequences of COVID-19 and the barriers and stigma they may experience with it. Early awareness can prompt proactive healthcare-seeking behaviour and contribute to more effective management of the condition which in turn will reduce the impact on healthcare services. 5. Service Provision: Continue funding specialised services to support adults, children, and young people (along with their families) who are suffering from Long Covid. Long Covid, identified as a chronic condition, has demonstrated varied outcomes in paediatric services, with 56% improving one functional severity category while 40% remain broadly the same level of impairment and 0.4% show deterioration. At 6 months, the largest UK service has demonstrated that the number of children and young people with over 50% school attendance has more than doubled. Moreover, individuals with Long Covid exhibit the highest healthcare utilisation over a 2-year period, spanning general practice, emergency department, and outpatient care. They also demonstrate the second-highest rates of hospital and critical care admission when compared to both pre-pandemic and pandemic control groups. Long Covid care, estimated at over £3000 per person per year, is nearly four times more than care for the same individuals before the pandemic and nearly three times as much as care in age- and comorbidity-matched individuals before and during the pandemic. Given these substantial healthcare needs and associated costs, patients require ongoing management, monitoring, and support through specialised clinical networks. These networks should be designed to seamlessly integrate research findings into clinical care, ensuring a comprehensive and effective approach to addressing the challenges posed by Long Covid.

15 December update. Dorset Council, at last, on Tuesday 12 December, has now carried out an inspection of the kennels. This should have occurred 2 months ago when Mr Grant originally applied for a new licence to commence 1 January. The inspection team stated that they were unaware of the challenge to Dorset Council's interpretation of the Regulations 2018 and associated DERFA statutory guidelines regarding the issue of a lack of integral exercise runs for each kennel and the statutory guidance that allows for multiple exercise opportunities in lieu of integral runs. Dorset Council, despite initially indicating it expected to send its inspection report to Mr and Mrs Grant on 14 December, does not now expect to do this until Monday 18 December - only 2 weeks before the current licence expires. In the meantime, Mr and Mrs Grant have to continue to turn away all business after 31 December, as they still do not know whether a new licence will be issued. This petition relating to Dorset Council's previously declared intention to close the kennels on 1 January without an inspection was sent to the CEO Dorset Council on Tuesday 5 December; at that stage it had attracted 817 signatures since it was launched 3 days beforehand. It was accompanied by a report amplifying the detail contained in the petition, demonstrating exactly why the Council’s original position was (and still is) in breach of the DEFRA guidance for boarding kennels, and thus unwarranted and unjust. The owners of Pets Haven kennels would again like to express their profound appreciation to all who supported the petition. As would all the dogs currently boarding there. Your involvement meant that Dorset Council was unable to ignore the issue. A further update will be published as soon as Dorset Council has sent their report to Mr Grant (expected 18 December). I can see no valid reason why it should not include a new licence - but Dorset Council's Animal Welfare department seem to be a law unto themselves.

The Isle of Wight, a beloved destination for hundreds of thousands of visitors each year, is currently facing a significant challenge. The primary means of reaching our beautiful island is through the ferry services provided by Wightlink and Red Funnel. Unfortunately, these companies have gained reputations as cash cows for their shareholders, seemingly prioritizing profit over the provision of quality services to both Islanders and visitors. Countless horror stories circulate about passenger experiences on these ferries, and currently, there is no effective system in place to address these complaints, such as a Ferry Ombudsman or Regulator. Despite the urgency of these issues, governments have consistently overlooked them. It is time for our concerns to be recognized and addressed. Whether you are an Isle of Wight resident who relies on these ferry services, a frequent visitor, or even someone considering a future visit, your voice matters. We urge you to sign this petition to demonstrate to our MP, Bob Seely, and the government, that we’ve had enough. It’s time for urgent action in the form of a Ferry Regulator with real power. Your signature can make a difference in improving the travel experience for everyone who visits or lives on the Isle of Wight. Thank you for your support.

Because if things go on the way they are you will be Charged for breathing????????????????????????????.

The BBC's Charter states that the first public purpose of the BBC is to provide impartial news and information to help people understand and engage with the world around them, and that the BBC should provide duly accurate and impartial news, current affairs and factual programming to build people’s understanding of all parts of the United Kingdom and of the wider world. 45 minutes on a weekday is not long enough to contribute effectively to this aim, and the proposal to cut it to 30 minutes is the wrong way to go.

Use of the bridge and ferry is necessary for many local businness and adds a cost that is not controllable. The cost also limits acccess for domestic and social interaction.

Ning has been trading for over 2 years on the original advice from the council. After successfully starting business from scratch and creating 5 seasonal part time jobs we have been informed that because the mobile units are there all the time then we need planning permission. This was brought to the attention of the council by a biased query placed by certain Blisworth Parish Council members acting in their own interests only our business in the village was singled out!...mmmmmm. Ning has created something in the village of Blisworth that is unique and so obviously needed as she is fully booked most weekends in the summer, she has created 5 seasonal part time jobs which are mostly for young people in the village who are attending college or university. As a business we welcome anyone and is very family friendly with a great atmosphere Ning provides the only eating establishment in the village as the local village pub no longer does food. She has over 1500 followers on Facebook and thousands of hits on her google search as she is one of only 3 Thai restaurants in Northampton. There has never been any trouble and people who come here fell safe and are happy to bring children of all ages to play with each other on the trampoline and slide etc. Ning feels that that her business is now a real asset to the village of Blisworth and in Northampton as a whole as most people who come are from Blisworth and the surrounding villages, although people come from as a far away as Daventry and wellingborough. So we are asking for your support to show Blisworth Parish Council and Northampton Council that Ning should be allowed to carry on providing a well supported restaurant and be allowed to grow as a business hopefully providing more jobs and a better service as time goes on. Thank you Ning and Jay x

Smoking is a major cause of premature death globally. Although the habit is on the decline there is still not enough being done. By increasing the age at which tobacco products may be purchased, this action might help the illumination of this dangerous habit.

Since it opened in 1973, the centre has proudly served generations of local people. Activities have included teaching adults and children to swim, aqua-aerobics, a wide range of exercise classes for all ages, such as yoga, palates, aerobics, spinning, etc. many of which are available under the GP referral scheme. The centre also provides up-to-date outdoor sports pitches that are heavily used throughout the year, as well as a diversely-equipped gym popular with young and old. The loss of this centre will not only deprive local residents of these treasured facilities, it will adversely impact the health and well-being of the people of north Broxtowe. This petition needs the support of current residents of Broxtowe, and also those who have left the area but benefited immeasurably from this centre when they lived here.

There has been a shocking spike in antisemitism and anti-Muslim hate in the UK since the escalation of conflict in Israel and Palestine following the October 7th attacks. From 7th October to 22nd November, CST have recorded 1563 antisemitic incidents across the UK – the highest total recorded within the same period since it began recording data in 1984. During the period from 7th October to 19th November, Tell MAMA recorded 895 anti-Muslim cases, a six-fold increase in cases from the same period in 2022. Many people are feeling hopeless and powerless, and desperately want a space to mourn collectively, and stand united against hate. The vast majority of people mourn the loss of all civilians in Israel and Palestine, and stand united against antisemitism and anti-Muslim hate. Add your name today and stand with us. Next steps We’re building a movement to bring communities together and show that whatever our disagreements over Israel and Palestine we can live together peacefully, stand united against hate, and collectively mourn all those we have lost. We recently held a small vigil in London, with hundreds of people gathering at short notice for a moment of reflection and togetherness. Now, we’re inviting people from all corners of the country to join us opposite Downing Street this Sunday 3rd December at 3pm for a mass vigil, with faith leaders, bereaved families from different backgrounds, and other speakers. Standing together, we’ll light thousands of lanterns and hold a symbolic moment of silence. No flags, no slogans, just people coming together. You can find out more at togetherforhumanity.co.uk.

Any Dog that grains a reputation for threatening people is at Risk, especially large and powerful breeds. Responsible Owners know that handled correctly with firmness and love, these dogs thrive and responding to behave beautifully within family settings. I'm a Canine Instructor (49yrs experience and 20yrs specialising as a Consultant with aggressive dogs) Please..... We know that none of this is, is due to dog's breed, but down to the Owner, how they train and treat the dog, or not. Address the Legislation towards the Owner. No Puppy is born Bad is Aggressive. It's purely down to the experience that have been subjected to.