Join the petition to North Yorkshire Council to reduce the speed limits in Pateley Bridge by extending the current 20 mph zone to the remainder of the town limits:  • the B6265 (Ripon Road) past Harefield Hall entrance to the Methodist Church • Old Church Lane to beyond the entrance to the Springfield estate • the B6265 (Street Lane), Bridgehouse Gate, to the turn off to Bewerley to connect with the existing Bewerley 20mph zone • Low Wath Road (past Nidderdale High School and Sunflowers Day Nursery). Pateley Bridge is a lovely Dales town, known for its natural beauty with a close community of residents.  However, vehicle speeding and impatient driving has become an endemic problem and is making people feeling unsafe and making residents lives a misery in a number of locations in town. The Ripon Road residential area, a conservation area, sees a great deal of traffic entering and exiting the town, often at a speed too dangerous for the road and pavement lay out.   Ripon Road is not a main road, yet many drivers treat it like one.  Data from March to May 2025 on shows many vehicles speeding excessively, with over 27,000 going over 35mph, 4,300 going over 40mph, and some going up to 60mph which is very dangerous.  The current speed limit of 30mph is not enough to keep everyone safe.   Statistics from other towns that have implemented similar changes show a significant reduction in accidents, increased walking and cycling to and from schools and enhanced community safety. There has been a large number of concerns and complaints raised to myself and the Council from residents who feel they are now being very threatened by fast moving vehicles putting their lives at risk walking into and out of Pateley Bridge due to the speed and close proximity of traffic outside of the current 20mph zone.  Residents have reported being hit by car mirrors, feeling intimidated by close passing vehicles on the many narrow pavements, vehicles driving on pavements, vehicles overtaking on blind bends and road rage incidents.   Cyclists and horse riders also report feeling unsafe due to speeding vehicles passing too closely with many being forced onto pavements or driveways by impatient drivers.  These behaviours are not acceptable in our respectful town; speeding vehicles are putting people at risk of serious injury and in many cases vulnerable members of our community avoiding walking into and out of town or walking to local schools.  The UK government guidance on urban speed limits supports this proposal, suggesting that areas with high pedestrian activities and narrow roads and pavements, like Pateley Bridge, should have reduced speed limits to increase safety.  It is vital we protect those on foot and vulnerable highway users from speeding vehicles by reducing the speed limit.  The Town Council and our County Councillor are fully in favour of this proposal.  Change is urgently needed to protect our entire community, including our most vulnerable.  Without it the safety, health and well-being of the children, older adults and wider community remains at stake.  Road safety will continue as a barrier to walking and cycling in the area, including to and from schools.   Maximum speed limits of 20mph have been delivered in many other rural areas of North Yorkshire. We want these improvements for the entire Pateley Bridge community.  Evidence shows that people hit by a vehicle at 20mph are around five times less likely to be killed than at 30mph.  

3 & 4 Lows Lane isn’t just another old cottage - it’s part of Stanton’s proud industrial history and the birthplace of Hugh Oswald Short, co-founder of Short Brothers and a pioneer of British aviation. From this small Derbyshire home, the Short brothers went on to design and build Britain’s first aircraft, working alongside the Wright brothers and laying the foundations of our nation’s aviation industry. Their later designs - including the Short Stirling, a key training aircraft in the Second World War - helped free up Lancaster bombers for critical missions, directly contributing to the war effort. Demolishing this birthplace would erase a vital connection between Stanton’s industrial past and Britain’s technological progress. Almost everything else from that era has already disappeared - this cottage is one of the last remaining links to where it all began. Once these historic places are gone, they’re gone forever. By standing together, we can show that our heritage matters - and that regeneration in Erewash should protect, not destroy, the places that tell our shared story.

It is important because people keep their devices for good reasons; they're used to them, they don't have the money or desire to change them, they don't want to learn yet again how to work with another device. As stated above the only place they can end up is landfill as these operating systems are used world-wide and are equally useless in the poorest countries. As an aside: computing power is not as important today as complex tasks are often carried out in the 'cloud' not on the device itself

Dear Kent County Council, Dartford Borough Council, MP Jim Dickson, and all local representatives, We’re asking you to stand with us - the people who make up Dartford’s wonderfully diverse community, and listen to the impact that Operation Raise The Colours has had on local residents. While some may see these flags as part of tradition, for many they’ve become a source of fear and division. The symbol has been used by far-right groups, and its appearance across our streets has left people feeling unsafe and unwelcome. Public spaces should belong to everyone. No one should feel intimidated for walking down the street, doing their job, or standing up for what’s right. Yet we’ve already seen incidents where a council worker, a taxi driver, and others who have spoken out have been threatened or attacked. That’s not who we are as a community. We’re calling on our local authorities to: • Speak directly with our diverse communities - hear how this has affected them. • Stand publicly with residents in rejecting intimidation, hate, and division. • Ask Kent County Council to change its position and remove these flags from public property. • Keep our streets neutral and welcoming – places where everyone belongs. As we’ve said before: the meaning of this flag today is mixed – once a symbol of patriotism, now also used by those promoting hate. And we do not believe those putting them up are doing so for community cohesion. We want our councils and representatives to stand proudly with all who call Dartford home. Let’s show that hope and unity are stronger than fear and division. ❤️ Please share this and add your name below if you agree. ✍️ Hope & Unity, Dartford 

Cleft is for life – and so are the complex dental issues that often come with it. Yet people born with a cleft lip and/or palate are disproportionately unable to access the dental care they need. In some cases, they are even explicitly denied treatment because of their cleft.  Being born with a cleft significantly increases the likelihood of dental problems. Children with a cleft are around one-third more likely to have missing teeth, decay or fillings, and adults are around one-quarter more likely compared to the general population.  Despite this, CLAPA’s survey shows:  • People with a cleft are twice as likely to have issues accessing dental care.  • 42% have experienced inadequate care due to lack of training.  • 38% cannot afford treatment linked to their cleft. • Over 7% have been explicitly denied treatment because of their cleft.  This is unacceptable.

The simplest answer is that the political interpretation of “public interest” no longer matches the public’s true interests. Decisions that should protect people, communities, and industries are too often shaped to protect departments, reputations, and corporate influence instead. When that happens, trust collapses and accountability disappears. Across government, regulators, and public agencies, the public are expected to accept outcomes they had no real say in — and when they challenge them, their petitions are blocked or their concerns ignored. An Office for the Public Interest would act as an impartial referee between the state and the people. It would make sure public-interest claims are tested against evidence, not politics, and that no department or regulator can hide behind its own interpretation of what serves the nation best. If government truly works for the people, then the people must have a voice that cannot be silenced.

The right to protest is the heartbeat of democracy. It lets us speak out, challenge injustice, and hold those in power accountable. The Government’s plan would give police sweeping powers to ban repeated protests - with prison time for those who don’t comply. It’s a shocking erosion of our democratic rights in the core of our nation’s values. If we stay silent, our ability to fight for the issues that matter - from human rights to climate justice - could be taken away. Let’s take a stand and defend our democratic freedoms.

Please support this campaign If you feel that it to be an urgent priorty to guard against contracting Covid infections for the vulnerable of any age and for the  70-75 year age group. Maybe you yourself fall into one of these groups?  Maybe you see yourself as a useful  member of Society , rather than an abstract statistic  from within a wide section of the population which - from the current vaccine provision -  has been selected to be sidelined,  or even  dispensed with, for short term cost cutting.

This plan would mean the closure of Langley First’s site and the loss of a much-loved school that sits at the heart of our community. We believe this is not a viable alternative for our children, for the following reasons: 1. Disruption to children’s education Moving our children from a safe, familiar environment into another setting will cause unnecessary stress and disruption. Stability is essential for young learners, and merging schools does not prioritise their wellbeing. 2. Loss of a thriving school community Langley First School has a strong identity and supportive, close-knit community. Closing the site risks breaking up friendships, severing links with families, and damaging a school culture that has been built over many years. 3. Appletree Gardens cannot accommodate all Langley pupils The council’s own figures show that Langley has only 10% surplus places, which is within the acceptable range they themselves set. Appletree Gardens, however, has a much higher 25% surplus – but this equates to only around 15 spaces per year group. This is not enough to take in all of Langley’s children, meaning families will face uncertainty, displacement, and potentially longer journeys to schools further away. 4. Failure to exhaust alternatives Other options have not been fully explored — such as repurposing surplus classrooms for nursery provision, wraparound care, or wider community use. The council also suggests using the Langley site for Woodlawn SEN provision, but this would remove mainstream provision for local children without ensuring that SEN funding or support is guaranteed. 5. Impact on families Closing Langley First would lengthen journeys for many families, making school runs harder, reducing accessibility, and creating additional pressure on working parents. Our request We urge the Elected Mayor and Cabinet of North Tyneside Council to: • Reject the proposal to merge Langley First with Appletree Gardens First. • Protect Langley First School’s site and identity as a thriving community school. • Work with governors, parents, and staff to find creative, sustainable alternatives that support children without causing unnecessary upheaval. Langley First School is not just a building — it is a vital part of our children’s lives and our community. Closing it would cause harm that cannot be undone. This is not about the closure of a school - it would be the loss of a community. This petition is not just about Langley First School - it is about protecting children, families, and communities across North Tyneside. By signing, you are: • Standing up for children’s wellbeing – school closures and mergers cause unnecessary stress and disruption for young children. • Protecting community schools – schools like Langley are at the heart of neighbourhood life, and losing them damages the whole community. • Challenging unfair decisions – Langley only has around 10% surplus places, which the council itself says is acceptable. Closing it sets a dangerous precedent for other schools. • Demanding better alternatives – the council has not fully explored other options, such as using spare classrooms for community or nursery provision. • Holding the council accountable – strong public opposition shows local leaders that children’s education should come before short-term financial cuts. By signing this petition, you add your voice to a growing community that believes every child deserves stability, every family deserves choice, and every community deserves its school.

We’re asking North Kesteven District Council to reconsider their refusal of advertisement consent for The Bairns’ sign in Sleaford. The sign was created in good faith, following the same style and materials that were approved for the previous business on the very same building early last year. The Bairns is more than just a business. In only two months, it has welcomed over 650 different customers, many visiting Sleaford for the first time solely because of us! The sign is not only respectful of the town’s heritage but also vital in helping people find this much-loved new space. This is a small, family-run business using local suppliers, creating local economic benefit, and offering something much deeper: a safe and supportive space for families, parents, and especially mums struggling with postnatal depression and anxiety. The community has already spoken loudly in praise of the positive impact The Bairns is having. To force costly changes to signage would place an unfair burden on a young business that is already giving so much back to Sleaford. The existing sign causes no harm to the building’s character but plays a big role in the life of the town. We therefore urge the Council to allow The Bairns to keep its sign.

MTD ITSA will impose unfair costs and stress on sole traders, landlords and small businesses. Many will give up trading, reducing services, jobs and tax revenues. Instead of supporting small businesses during a cost-of-living crisis, the Government is adding more red tape. Parliament must debate this policy and scrap it before it destroys livelihoods. I work with hundreds of sole traders who are terrified about MTD. They already face soaring bills and high taxes, and now they’ll be forced into quarterly submissions and new penalties. Many say they’ll give up their trade rather than deal with the extra burden. These are hardworking people who keep our economy going — they need support, not punishment. Here are some of the reactions we are getting from business owners: "I'm finishing up at end of this year definitely" "That’s me packing it in then" "Will close my business" " I am retiring because of the changes in the next few months." "Looks like I'll close my UTR number an stop sole trading" Why this is important • I’m an accountant: I work directly with hundreds of sole traders, landlords and small business owners. Every week I hear their worries about MTD. Many already say they will quit rather than face the stress and cost. • It will force unnecessary costs: Sole traders will have to buy software (often £300+ a year) that they don’t need, just to comply. • It means more red tape: Instead of one annual return, they’ll be forced into five submissions every year, massively increasing admin. • It creates new penalties: More deadlines means more opportunities to miss them, leading to fines and stress — not more fairness. • It risks mistakes: Rushed quarterly reporting will mean more errors, leading to audits and penalties. • It hurts the economy: Skilled sole traders — plumbers, electricians, shopkeepers, freelancers — are already saying they’ll give up. That means fewer jobs, less tax revenue, and weaker communities. • It punishes the wrong people: While multinationals pay little tax and use loopholes, sole traders — who already pay their fair share — are being treated like cash cows. • It comes at the worst time: During a cost-of-living crisis, with high bills and weak growth, the Government is adding more red tape instead of support.

The leasehold system is an outdated relic that means millions of people own their home, but not the ground it's built on. This leaves them trapped paying ever-increasing ground rents and unfair service charges to a landlord who owns the land. This system is unfair and exploitative. It’s time to follow the example of other countries and switch to a system of commonhold, giving people genuine, full ownership of their homes and land. Let's give homeowners security and scrap this unjust system for good