This is important as each year the 109 and other local buses are becoming more and more overcrowded and with out investment into a new bus route this problem will get worse, most times during rush hour people are waiting over 25 minutes to get onto a buses.

A planning application was submitted to Highland Council to construct an 18-hole international golf course on Coul Links, Sutherland but the applicant is not Trump Golf. The target lies within Loch Fleet Site of Special Scientific Interest, Special Protection Area for birds & international Ramsar wetland, which is predominantly estuary. Coul Links is one of very few expanses of undeveloped & largely unspoilt sand dunes remaining in Scotland, & its special wildlife & landforms are protected by those UK & European legal designations & international treaty. Development would be at odds with Highland Council’s environmental policies. The government’s conservation agency, which objected, describes SSSIs as “areas of land & water that Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) considers to best represent our natural heritage - its diversity of plants, animals & habitats, rocks & landforms, or a combination of such natural features. They are the essential building blocks of Scotland's protected areas for nature conservation … It is an offence for any person to intentionally or recklessly damage the protected natural features of an SSSI." Trump got official approval to destroy Foveran Links SSSI after exaggerating economic benefits, much shenanigans & Scottish Government intervention. That site will probably be denotified as SSSI (confirmed Dec 2020). The present speculator is Coul Links Ltd. led by Mike Keiser, President of Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, Oregon, Trump Golf’s main global rival, & entrepreneur Todd Warnock who similarly claims 'I can make this environment better'. From Oct 2015, press articles publicised proposals for the golf course. Developers blithely spoke of perceived advantages to golf & economy, ignored conservation designations but mentioned new nature trails & wildlife ‘information’. Development propaganda has not informed the public what wildlife, habitat, landforms & amenity will be destroyed & degraded. Exhibitions in Aug 2016 & Oct 2017, to elicit public votes of support, paid scant attention to wildlife & presented flawed ecology. The former relegated a habitat survey to just a tiny cryptic map at Scottie dog eye level. The less truth people know the less insensitive the plans appear. Golf course construction would be an unnatural catastrophe. It would mean excavating, recontouring, burying wet slacks, reseeding with introduced grasses, addition of plastic membranes, irrigating & intensively mowing 40.5 ha, habitat fragmentation, under-grazing & eradication of (valuable grazers & browsers) rabbits & deer, fertilising & herbiciding (& run-off), with substantial collateral damage, immediate & insidious, & bulk habitat & species translocation of 4.5 ha. dune heath, with insects & rare lichens, & 100 rare dune juniper, with displacements on receptor areas, contrary to government's 'A Habitats Translocation Policy for Britain' (2003) recently relaxed. Size & connectivity of habitats are ecologically critical, affecting species populations, diversity, interaction & survivability. Construction traffic, borrow pits & sand-moving would disturb & damage the geomorphology, hydrology (water quality & seasonality), low-nutrient profiles (on which plants rely) & habitat biodiversity over a much wider area. Fine irregular patterns of topography, micro-habitats & vegetation mosaics, like dry hummocks & wet slacks, would be destroyed, displacing specialised, scarce, rare & vulnerable plants & insects. Human disturbance would reduce bird populations in surviving habitats. Dunes naturally have cycles of erosion & deposition. Plans include greens & fairways constructed near foredune crests & a burn outlet, eliminating important species & weakening natural sea defences regardless of risks. This would probably necessitate adding a culvert & an artificial expanse of boulder rip rap, leading to beach narrowing (part National Nature Reserve) & coastal erosion nearby, the judgement of leading geomorphologist Dr Jim Hansom of Glasgow University. Compromise from 'invasive' species, the result of management neglect & rejected SNH grant aid (£230,000 since 2010), & regenerating North American lodgepole pines (misidentified by golf's ecologists as Scots pines), is being grossly exaggerated to excuse 'remediating' so much natural vegetation with manicured mediocrity. Naturalness is a key criterion in SSSI selection. Bracken, gorse, tall herbs & rank grassland support more wildlife than lawns: https://butterfly-conservation.org/files/habitat-bracken-for-butterflies.pdf. Fonseca's seed-fly, thought endemic to Sutherland dunes, requires 'weeds'. Claims about biodiversity net gain from moving fragile habitats & species, controlling Scots Pine, rare & native at Coul, & cessation of duck shooting are ludicrous. Threatened habitats outside the SSSI, in a golf 'remediation' area, are of comparable biodiversity, including Fonseca's Seed-fly, Baltic Rush, Rough Horsetail, Moonwort, Skullcap, Butterwort, Fragrant, Frog & Creeping Lady's-tresses Orchids, Small Blue butterfly & plants at their northern UK limits, like Restharrow & abundant Rock-rose, the food-plant of scarce Northern Brown Argus butterfly. The developers talk of 'sensitivity', 'minimalism', ‘naturalness’, 'utmost care' & the high repute of its designers, but Oregon track record conflicts: https://oregoncoastalliance.org/bandon-dunesbiota-bulldoze-roads Leading dune ecologist Dr Tom Dargie describes the developer’s surveys & Environmental Statement as ‘unfit for purpose’. He judges the site worthy of (European) Special Area of Conservation (SAC) status, which would have prevented such development being considered. There is a superfluity of coastal golf courses in Scotland, many undersubscribed, some closing, mostly eroding. The environmentally responsible option is to avoid development within such special, rare & fragile habitats.

In Dec 2015 a young player in Essex was killed from a head injury on a hockey pitch. In October I had written to the FIH telling them I was so scared by the rules that I would not let my own children play and warning that it was only a matter of time before someone was killed by a head injury. I had been writing to the FIH on this subject for over 8 years. A year earlier a 27 year old narrowly escaped death from a hockey ball to the head with an emergency operation, and back in 2012 a young lady was hit by a ball and died instantly. The Mail campaigned on this in Dec 2014 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/othersports/article-2873726/Following-death-Lizzie-Watkins-does-hockey-refuse-protect-players.html However the unnecessary risks in this game are, in my opinion, far more threatening to children. Consider the fact that children must wear a gum shield, which plainly indicates that incidents around the mouth are a threat. However a ball or stick in the mouth will not normally kill but a ball or stick to the temple or throat can, and does, kill and a gum shield will do nothing to protect from that danger. Young players are closer to the surface and hence closer to the danger. They do not know the best ways to avoid the dangers, however they or their counterparts are able to learn skills today that used to only be accessible to expert player, and which are now legal and life threatening. Whilst I was at school a boy was killed by a ball to the head and another needed facial reconstructive surgery. That was just what I knew about. Hockey has had 35 years since these incidents to make this game safe and whilst they made good headway initially, over the past 17 years they have steadily relaxed the rules and consequently made the game more dangerous, even in schools. In 2015 the FIH removed the rule that prohibited playing the ball at or above head-height. England Hockey has a veto for all rules in domestic games. They canvassed hockey participators. Over 6000 players, coaches & umpires (parents were not specifically canvassed) responded. 59% stated that this was unsafe for use with children. However in Aug 2015 England Hockey ignored the warning and implemented this rule change across the 11 aside game – including with children. Club players can choose whether to place themselves in danger by entering a pitch, however school children are generally forced to play, commonly without them or their parents realising the mortal danger they face - and completely unnecessarily so. Former GB international and England captain Sarah Blanks, now director of sport at King Edward VI High School, Birmingham, stated, "Even in schools hockey, we see plenty of split heads. At Olympic level, it's more extreme still. You don't go into it without understanding the physical pain you'll encounter." GB Gold Medal winning keeper Maddie Finch stated ‘Any hockey goalkeeper who says they’ve never closed their eyes for a second and thought, “please don’t hit me” is lying,’ and that is for a heavily protected keeper compared to an outfield player who also ends up in the line of fire and is allowed only a gum shield and shin pads! Kate Richardson Walsh had her jaw fractured during GB’s first match at the 2012 Games. She had surgery to insert a plate — but returned just three games later wearing a protective mask. Something not allowed to other players and which does not protect the vulnerable and lethal temple or throat areas. The solution is not just about physically protecting players - it is about the simple process of making the game safe, or at least immensely safer, through simple, and in some cases obvious, rule revisions. Hockey is not like Football, in that the rules have not changed for decades, the FIH changes the Rules of Hockey almost every year and often in a number of ways. Indeed last season the FIH made 4 rule changes which resulted from issues and recommendation I had raised, 2 from 2009 & 2 from 2016 - however none of these improved safety and the many recommendations I made regarding safety in the same period were ALL ignored. Rule changes are simple to implement in Hockey and if the FIH will not implement them then schools should adopt a safer set of rules before they allow our children to face lethal consequences. If you are still not convinced at the dangers then before you let your child play hockey at school or anywhere else take a look at the pictures in the second half of this Mail news story: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3748170/Captain-fell-team-mate-goalie-called-Mad-Dog-vegan-star-striker-Great-Britain-hockey-stars-going-glory-tonight-today-s-game-sheer-savagery.html It is not just the threat of death that worries me, injuries are very common in the game. My professional warning (as an insurance expert) is that a) we do not know how common injuries are because they are rarely, if ever, reported to the insurer (people who have been negligent and allowed an injury do not want to admit that they could be sued) and b) we should not expect that a morbid injury will be protected and supported by insurance, because I doubt the cover in place will ever pay out. So please don't let your child be the next to hit the surface and not get up - support my campaign and let's get this great game made safe and enjoyable for everyone! Risks and Proposed Solutions People are asking what rules need changing and why? If you are interested read the following blog https://saferulesforschoolshockey.wordpress.com/ or see a set of proposed simpler and safer rules at: https://saferulesforschoolshockey.wordpress.com/proposed-safer-rules-for-hockey/ You can also see some of the ball and stick hazards below: https://youtu.be/DzDGUVjIprw

It is time for a new humanitarian approach. The French have done everything possible to prevent refugees entering the UK, although you wouldn't get this from the anti European UK press, so change the approach, stop spending on penning people in and help them with a job, training and a proper roof over their heads.

It was announced today that the renovations to the Palace of Westminster will cost up to £4billion and involved the MPs moving out for 6 years. This will leave us (the British people) with a magnificent looking building, but a parliament in the same state it is now with MPs involved in a scrum to attend each morning to bag a seat! In addition, the UK is already too London centric; despite rhetoric about building a "Northern Power House" the government has yet to do anything practical in this direction. The current debating chambers are not fit for purpose; there are insufficient seats for every member of parliament. A new building could provide to the needs of a 21st century and offer both space as well as technology solutions such as telepresence so that MPs can be involved in debates while not attending in person; allowing better use of their time as well as allowing a better family life / work life balance. Cost and time overruns are likely to make renovations cost much higher than the estimated £4 billion and we will still be faced by an antiquated building not fit for purpose. So lets look to the future not to the past and consider what is BEST, not what is convinient for individual MPs.

It is another step to privatisation of the NHS. Walk in centres are all-new buildings financed by local taxpayers. They alleviate pressure on A &E. It is always very busy and its usual for an hour's wait to see a nurse which proves how well used it is

The footbridge is the last of its kind in the country. It has been in place since 1892 and it is vital it stays in place to keep the Victorian ambience of the station which is one of the Gateways to the South Downs National Park. The wooden heritage footbridge at Alton Station in Hampshire was installed in 1892 by the London and South Western Railway. It is now the only surviving example of a wooden railway footbridge in situ anywhere in the UK. It has stood the test of time well, but it is now in need of a full repair and restoration. The footbridge is important for several reasons: it is part of the atmosphere for those visiting the Mid-Hants Railway (aka The Watercress Line); it is a second means for passengers travelling to London to cross the line (under cover) and it is part of Alton's architectural heritage. A new footbridge with lifts was built by Network Rail in 2013 and the old bridge was due for removal. A group of concerned local residents got together to form Friends of Alton Station (FAS), initially as a steering group in 2014, then as a membership organisation in 2015. In that time we have been patiently negotiating with Network Rail to save the bridge. After a number of surveys, and the closure of the bridge to the public, Network Rail have decided that they are not able to spend money restoring the bridge. However, they are willing to offer their budgeted removal costs of £250k to the pot if we are able to find other funding. In saying this, they have given us an ultimatum to find likely sources of external funding, possibly as much as £500k, before the end of December 2016. Therefore, there is a new urgency to take action. We are asking you to sign this petition to show your support. We also encourage you to sign our other petition on Change.org: www.change.org/p/network-rail-save-the-heritage-footbridge-at-alton-station-in-hampshire If you want to know more, please see our website www.friendsofaltonstation.org.uk and if you want to add extra support, please do become a member and/or make a donation. Many thanks for reading this and we do hope that you will be able to add your name to our petitions.

I'm a transgender myself and would love to have SRS straight away but the rules are preventing me for having my wish I feel extremely uncomfortable in my body and am scared of going out as people stare, I have noticed other people in the same position who would love to have the rules changed so they feel more comfortable and I think this would give us the freedom we always wanted and give us the correct body and allow us not to feel trapped.

Please ban the spraying of Monsanto's Roundup and other glyphosate herbicides on our streets and parks.The use of glyphosates has already been banned or restricted in 8 countries. It is not acceptable that ourselves, our children and the animals we share our community with are being routinely exposed to these chemicals whether we like it or not. Please help us ban the spraying of Monsanto's Roundup and other glyphosate herbicides on our streets and parks.This is a matter of great importance for those of us who care about each other's health and the health of our children, our cats, our dogs and all the flora and fauna of this town and its surrounding villages, of course including our beloved bees. If you don't live in this area, click here to sign or start the campaign for your city: https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/start-a-pesticide-campaign

I am the wife and carer for a gentleman with complex, permanent and debilitating physical disabilities and life-long mental health problems. Just before Christmas 2012, my husband was stripped of his Disability Living Allowance (DLA) following a Work Capability Assessment. He had received this vital benefit since suffering two unfortunate industrial accidents, which meant he could no longer continue to work. His DLA enabled him to access a Motability car, which he lost through the process. This meant he could no longer maintain the same independence in life. Now, this summer, another Work Capability Assessment this time for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), the DWP has found my husband to be "fit for work". However, he's not elligible for Job Seeker's Allowance - because the Jobcentre acknowledge he's too sick and disabled to work - so he has fallen into a welfare gap. He now has almost no income and is entirely dependent on me (I work full time as well as care for him), for all his care needs, his mobility and his home. This makes him feel about an inch tall. We now have the prospect of a stressful appeal process through an Employment Tribunal. From speaking with many other people in the same position as us, we realise that there is a serious problem with the Disability Welfare Reform process, that many able-bodied people in society are not aware of. There are a lot of very vulnerable people in our country who are suffering terribly - not only because of their disabilities but also from extreme financial hardship - from The Austerity Choice that our government has made. There are people dying because they have suffered shock, trauma, lost income and people actually can't survive without the care they once received. My husband is lucky - I earn a wage. Many people are alone, alone and uncared for. I think this is an issue that needs to be heard - in 21st Century Britain, the systematic disadvantage of the most vulnerable in our society shouldn't be ignored. Everyone has a valuable contribution to make to society, not just those who pay tax. I'd be nothing without my husband by my side. Surely we all have a piece of our heart we can find to care for people who are less fortunate than ourselves?

Because I am one of many people who is hard of hearing and hearing aids can cost as much as £1000 such as the ones l was issued recently, fortunately for me our trust hasn't stopped issuing hearing aids yet.

Because there are too many empty properties and too many homeless people