Since 1974 South Lakeland District Council (S.L.D.C - now currently Lib Dem controlled) and Kendal Town Council have been responsible for the upkeep, management and promotion of Kendal's historic indoor and outdoor markets. Due mainly to a lack of proper investment, management and promotion on their behalf, they now want to "outsource" the running of the markets into the private sector. This decision has come at a time when other nearby local authorities, such as Allerdale Borough Council are bringing back former "failed privatised" markets in their area back under public sector control. A recent survey of Kendal Market Traders undertaken by SOUTH LAKES LABOUR PARTY concluded that 90% of traders were opposed to outsourcing, 85% wanted the Lib Dem controlled S.L.D.C to continue running the market and 70% said that they had not been properly consulted. One of the most successful markets in the North of England is Skipton which is solely run by SKIPTON TOWN COUNCIL. We beleive that the Lib Dem controlled S.L.D.C and Kendal Town Council should re-think the situation that they, over the years has neglected. Our markets are a valuable, local community asset and with a small amount of creative will power, they could thrive without being flogged off.

Companies paying for pitches should not be more important to a children’s charity then the children they receive funding for to improve their lives. Coram football pitches are the only pitches in this inner city, deprived area. Being a children’s charity they have always allowed children and young people the use of the pitches. Even the evenings when they were available for hire there was one dedicated pitch for free play. The new pitch restrictions, means outside of the dedicated (1-3pm Saturday & Sunday) children are not welcome. Other times young people must book in advance. So as well as taking away young people’s safe place where they can channel there energy into something positive & participate in sports Corams is also preventing siblings, cousins and friends playing football together. As well giving them silly time slots. So if a parent works in the morning for example and wants to take the kids for a kick about in the late afternoon this is no longer possible. This is an important cause-Corams is a hub of the community. Half terms, summer holidays, after school & weekends our children and young people should have the same access to the football pitch (at least one pitch) like they have always had.

For renters, coronavirus is not only a major health concern - it’s a financial one too. People renting are some of the people most likely to be in the kind of precarious, low-paid work where taking time off to self-isolate is near impossible. If we're serious about containing the spread of the virus, tenants need to know that they won't face destitution for doing the responsible thing. That has to mean stopping rent collections for anyone affected - both those who are unable to work or who need to self-isolate - and making sure nobody faces the threat of homelessness or having to find another home during this time. If banks can grant home-owners ‘mortgage-holidays’, we need to see tenants given the same protections.

Sir David Attenborough has urged governments to ban deep sea mining, following a study warning of “potentially disastrous” risks to the ocean’s life-support systems if it goes ahead. The study, by Fauna and Flora International (FFI), warns proposed plans to mine the seabed could cause significant loss of biodiversity, disruption of the ocean’s “biological pump”, and the loss of microbes important for storing carbon. The process, requiring machines operating thousands of metres under the sea, could also create plumes of sediment that smother areas far from the mining sites and kill wildlife. Dozens of exploratory licences, two of which are sponsored by the UK, have already been granted for huge tracts of the sea bed, ahead of a race to mine commercially for ores and minerals such as copper, used in mobile phones and batteries. But the rules to govern the responsible exploitation of this global resource are not finalised – they are expected to be completed at a meeting in July at the UN International Seabed Authority. Source: Guardian.co.uk

Currently student midwives are allowed to include their breaks in their placement hours while nurses can not. This means that nurses then have to do 2 extra shifts for every 6 week placement on long days/nights. It should be equal across the board.

Right now people claiming disability benefits are having payments cut or withheld because of unfair and strict rules, called sanctions. It means money Disabled people need to pay for food or bills is taken away, for something as small as being late to an appointment. Imagine living in constant worry about having enough money to put food on the table, or being left in the dark about when you will receive payments again. And right now, week by week more news is breaking about the scale of this crisis. The government is under growing pressure to scrap the policy to make sure no-one claiming disability benefits ever has this vital support cut off. But right now their are dragging their feet. If thousands of us add our name to this petition today, together we could force them to listen and end disability benefits sanctions for good.

We already have a cinema in Folkestone! We love Folkestone, the most amazing thing about it is that we are teeming with so many local businesses that we support, and a new cinema would put our silver screen out of business! We already have a cinema, what about an arcade, or a roller skating rink? There’s isn’t anything affordable or fun in Folkestone for young people at the moment, apart from our cinema, but we already have one! We want something new, and to keep supporting our cinema that has been here for years!

Its Important to support Carlos & his daughter Myriam in their plight to remain together in Scotland as a family. Carlos needs his daughter since she is his main carer and he suffers with underlying health conditions, with no family ties in Chile that would be able to care for him in his elderly years. Carlos will have no access to the public purse. Deporting Carlos will be his death sentence. The Scottish people supports Carlos and his daughter. He has been welcomed in the past as a political refugee. Carlos has been tortured enough in his life time! The Home Office must learn to take into consideration relevant evidence supporting each application instead of "copying and pasting" refusals. NO MORE "One Glove Fits All" approach by Home Office.

The reason that this requires some regulation is because it is like the back door to gambling. Viewers are being bombarded with competitions with every programme that independent television companies are broadcasting. The public are being encouraged to spend two pounds per text plus network charges. They do not realise the true cost of multiple entries can impact on their lives, because they are in the majority of cases paying monthly for their phone contracts. For the television companies it is just another way of boosting their profits under the guise of providing a service.

This is important as recently, business rates are sinking small businesses with these extortionate costs. In particular two businesses in two separate councils that serve the whole community for their mental and physical well-being. Small Businesses in the health and fitness realm that can help with issues such as anxiety / stress / IBS to name a few. Sadly, these businesses look to take the pressure off the NHS but who have no real chance of growing + staying to help the community. Support local as we are told, however we need the government to lead on this message and help small businesses thrive.

The cafe in Alice Park has been a constant in the community for over a decade. opening 7 days a week throughout the year. Tony and the team have worked hard to improved the cafe and have built a large and loyal customer base. They also run community events including the Julian House Big Sleep which raises funds for the homeless. A recent plastic-free champion, (one of only 61 in Bath), Tony has led a crusade to do away with single-use plastics in the café substituting cardboard where applicable championing sustainable methods that supports the café’s park setting If you want the cafe to continue please support this petition.

Hounding and bullying celebrities and ordinary people. Harassing Grenfell Tower survivors. Stoking prejudice and hate against muslims, migrants and refugees. Some newspapers are getting away with ruining lives because the system that’s supposed to hold them to account is run by the very newspaper bosses publishing the stories. But it doesn't have to be like this. An independent regulator - with the power to really hold newspapers to account - could make sure there are real consequences when papers overstep the line. Broadcasters are regulated independently and soon social media companies could be too. Why shouldn’t newspapers be held to the same standard? It’s time to level the playing field. Nobody’s tweets should be more regulated than huge media outlets like The Sun and The Mail.