Up to 33,500 badgers will be shot this autumn in an attempt to control tuberculosis in cattle, a huge rise from the 10,000 killed in 2016. The government has announced that 11 new badger cull areas have been licensed, adding to the 10 already in place. Devon now has six badger culls under way, with Somerset and Wiltshire having three each, with others in Cheshire, Cornwall, Dorset, Gloucestershire and Herefordshire. The badger culls are highly controversial, with ministers and some farmers arguing they are a vital part of curbing bovine tuberculosis (bTB), which led to 29,000 cattle being slaughtered in 2016 at a cost of £100m. However, scientists say there is little evidence that the current culls will help cut bTB rates, and could spread the disease even further by disrupting badger populations. Ministers also announced the resumption of a badger vaccination scheme in “edge” areas between high and low TB regions. The scheme, suspended for the last two years due to a shortage of vaccine, will fund 50% of the costs of successful applicants. Restrictions on the movement of some high risk cattle are also being put in place – some scientists say this is the key to ending the epidemic. “Bovine TB not only has a devastating impact on our beef and dairy farms, but causes harm and distress to infected cattle,” said the farming minister George Eustice. “We have a clear plan to eradicate the disease over the next 20 years. Vaccination is just one part of our comprehensive strategy, which also includes tighter cattle controls, improved biosecurity and badger control in areas where bTB is rife to tackle the reservoir of disease in wildlife.” Each badger cull is set a minimum and maximum number of badgers to be shot. This is to ensure the animals are not wiped out locally, while killing enough for the cull to be effective – although scientists have previously criticised the government-set targets as “rubbish” and “ridiculously easy”. Taxpayers spend £500,000 on radios for badger cull marksmen Read more The total number of badgers to be killed across all the areas this autumn has been set at a maximum of 33,347 and a minimum of 21,797. The largest cull is one in Dorset that could see more than 7,000 badgers killed. The culls all met their targets in 2016, though earlier culls did not and were not effective or humane, according to an independent expert group that was subsequently disbanded by ministers. Minette Batters, deputy president of the National Farmers Union, said: “The NFU has always supported a comprehensive and proportionate eradication strategy, which balances disease controls measures with business sustainability. We must have every option available to us to tackle TB.” She also welcomed a new TB advisory service for farmers in risky areas. However, Prof Rosie Woodroffe, at the Zoological Society of London and who conducted a landmark 10-year trial on badger culling, said: “It’s depressing that the government is pursuing badger culling over such huge areas when the benefits remain so uncertain. Data published today suggest that, after three years of culling, cattle TB in the first cull zones was still no lower than that in unculled areas.” Steve Trotter, at the Wildlife Trusts, said: “We work closely with many farmers, day in, day out, and we recognise the pain and hardship of those whose cattle herds have been devastated by bTB, but killing badgers will not solve the problem. The primary route of infection is cattle-to-cattle contact. The government’s badger cull is flying in the face of science.” He said vaccination costs £82 per badger, compared to £6,800 per culled animal. Peter Martin, chairman of the Badger Trust, said: “Shooting badgers has been condemned as ‘inhumane’ by both the government’s own independent experts and the British Veterinary Association. “But it it’s also a disaster for cattle, Britain’s farmers and the taxpayer.”

London borough of Hounslow canvassed sparrow farm and 85% of residence do not want 24 flats built in the middle of the estate and the destruction of our community they have again ignored the peoples voice

We would like you to reconsider the decision made in closing the school entrance gate based on Handsworth Wood Road and re-instate the caretaker at the start and end of the school day as in previous years. The walking time to school has significantly increased with the closure of the Handsworth Wood Road entrance gate - a 10 minute walk has now become a 30 minute journey. This has also resulted in increased congestion during peak hours on an already busy Church Lane as well as contributing to an increase in carbon footprint as even more parents drop and pick students to and from school. Furthermore, since the school has a responsibility towards safeguarding its students - does this not include their journey to and from school? Especially at a time when parents are hugely concerned about grooming gangs and their often discreet operations targeting students near Girls' schools in Birmingham. We do understand that the government has cut school budgets and currently balancing the school budget is an extremely challenging if not impossible task. But, as parents the safety of our daughters is paramount and we need assurance that the school journey is as accessible as possible. We hope that this petition will help you to review your decision and allow your students to feel safer by providing an easier route to school as well as focus their energy on their schoolwork rather than their lengthy journey times.

GCSE grades are being downgraded by the pursuit of A* only results. Children are being made to feel that their achievements are not good enough, and are just being taught what is needed to pass the exam, rather than a good understanding of the subject. Time and money would be better spent ensuring a wide ranging education, and not just exam passing. Children who need additional help could benefit from this wasted money being spent helping them to pass GCSE. The pursuit of A* at GCSE levels to such a degree is clearly for the schools benefit and not for the children's.

It means that the perpetrator does not have as much control over the family, as even though they may have got a divorce, it's still a way to hold power over them.

This affects the towns of Barton, Bottesford, Brigg, Broughton, Crowle & Ealand, Epworth, Kirton in Lindsey & Winterton. We believe its important to support volunteers in our community as our unpaid Town Councillors are and in doing so oppose slashing their numbers in half by cutting 67 volunteer posts. These volunteer councillors are people from all abilities and backgrounds who freely give up their time to come together to do their bit to make our towns better places for the future. Democracy and accountability are important, cutting these numbers wont save money but will harm the councils ability to function fully and support the communities as they do now.

Mental Health issues Effect everyone, but yet stigma is still huge. People shouldnt be left to get so desperate that suicide is the last option.

As the largest cemetery in Sheffield, and with a plot costing over £2000, we NEED more protection for our loved ones. My nana and grandad had their graves walked over and their flowers and decorations kicked and stamped on, along with countless others. Who would stop so low as to walk over someone's grave? They desperately need to be caught and charged, before the heartbroken families retaliate themselves.

Have you noticed the new metal cabinets at the end of Burmester Road? They are part of Vodafone's plan to build a 15 metre mobile phone mast on the corner with Garratt Lane. You may have heard about this before. The original plan for the Burmester Mast was opposed by numerous local residents and rejected by Wandsworth Council in December 2016. Vodafone have always been well aware of this. Thanks to a legal loophole, Vodafone consider they can build the Burmester Mast anyway, within metres of Burmester House, despite the objections of local residents. Indeed, they sent the diggers in at the end of August to start work by building the cabinets. Mobile phone companies such as Vodafone should listen to local residents. There are acres of industrial use land on the far side of Garratt Lane where the mast could be situated, which would still give us better 4G coverage. Wandsworth Council are trying to find alternative sites, but Vodafone consider that legally they could still build the Burmester Mast. If we unite, we can stop this. If you want your voice to be heard, please sign this petition calling on Vodafone to relocate the Burmester Mast. It will only take 30 seconds.....

There is no evidence that becoming an Academy improves the outcomes of our children & young people. Schools that have transferred from the democratic control of the Local Authority can find themselves in a far worse position. Wakefield City Academies Trust (WCAT) has said recently, it was unable to "facilitate the rapid improvement our academies need, and our students deserve". The Department for Education (DfE) said many of the schools within the trust were performing below the national average. We demand that: The Department of Education allows Local Authorities to take back democratic control of the academies in their area, that used to be part of the Wakefield City Academy Trust. That the Treasury compensates schools who are in deficit, or are financially worse off due to the financial mismanagement of WCAT, and provides Local Authorities the finances to complete the transfer and provide continuing support for these academies. Our children’s education should not be used as a political football and we want democratic accountability to be returned to our communities."

Both Peter Bone MP and Christopher Chope MP took turns in camping out in the House of Commons to ensure that they were first in the queue to present their Bills. Between them they submitted 73 Bills proposing the introduction of new laws. Their actions have prevented other MP's from presenting their Bills that would have had any chance of being debated up until November 2018. This important because this has stopped and MP from presenting their ideas for new Laws. Because of their behaviour your MP has been prevented from representing your interests .

Many families across the UK are already struggling financially. Just this week, many pupils were turned away from various Local Comprehensive Schools due to not wearing the updated and inflated priced trousers/skirts available only at exclusive school wear shops (this is also in breach of the 'Competion act'). Children are being excluded and left feeling humiliated and oustricised because they're from poorer or struggling families who are getting further into debt trying to purchase these ever changing requirements. This not only deeply affects a families finances, but also adds to stress within the family home, creating knock on effects. Schools were once about education, not business and profit making. A smart uniform displaying one logo on the blazer/jumper was enough and didn't affect a childs education - PE kits were also once plain and simple - Legislation states that Uniform should be affordable for all. We are asking you to join us in this cause and help make it illegal for schools to force these unnecessary changes, and keep the cost of uniform affordable for all. A plain smart uniform is adequate enough.