England are in the Euro finals! Last night’s incredible win saw our men’s team edge closer to a historic victory. If they win on Sunday, well, there’ll be one hell of a party. Whether you care about football or not, moments like this bring us together and, coming straight after the election, could help rebuild bridges. But to mark the occasion properly, we need a bank holiday! PM Keir Starmer is a huge footie fan and backed calls for a bank holiday to honour the Lionesses’ World Cup win in 2022 - so it won’t take much to convince him. In fact when asked about it today he didn't rule it out! So if enough of us sign a petition, calling for him to commit to a bank holiday if we win, we can make sure we all get Monday off to celebrate.

The road in question is: Easternville Gardens, Gants Hill, Ilford, Essex. It runs parallel with the A12 Eastern Avenue, between Cranley Drive at the east side and Quebec Road towards the west side.  It's only a matter of time that an emergency would occur and if coincidentally, vehicles ARE parked (ie two vehicles on opposite sides of the road at the either end of this road, with all four wheels on the road - in accordance with LBR-Traffic Regulations) then only will it become apparent the problem this Traffic Regulation has caused. NOTE: Emergency vehicles would NOT be able to pass between vehicles parked in the manner 'legally acceptable' to LBR, as photographs taken to simulate this situation, will prove, if necessary. Having contacted the Ilford Police via an online pro-forma, with this concern, they responded by claiming 'this a matter for the Redbridge Council and not the police'.      Many drivers had previously and some currently, parked with two wheels on the footpath at the 'problematic ends' of the Easternville Gardens - especially at the end with Canley Drive - only to be issued with PCNs. Apparently, it would seem this 'absurd and ambiguous regulation' is essentially ONLY for financial gains from imposed fines and no concern for the 'latent' problems that will undoubtedly occur in an emergency situation.   

Cutting this ticket option would price families and friend  out of using buses together and comes after significant recent profit reports. It would force yet more into private cars or cut them off from social and other opportunities, hitting the poorest hardest. https://www.firstbus.co.uk/leeds/news-and-service-updates/service-updates/fare-changes-14th-july https://cbwmagazine.com/firstgroup-issues-trading-results/

Beaches are very beloved places n the UK especially during the summer. If the litter gets so bad it will stop litter and cause Southend to loose money and decrease the amount of tourists who visit.

Impartiality and parity of decision and representation is a must. Honesty, integrity and upholding of the law is a prerequisite. Being held to account an essential and with real punishment attached, with that we also need reward, and Salaries should be commensurate with teh request for open honest and transparent source of income. 

Buying your first home is a pipe dream for the majority. Rents are sky high. There has to be a radical rethink if ever this problem is to be solved

Ultra-fast fashion brand Shein stands accused of exploiting workers, damaging the environment, and avoiding tax. Yet it is currently ramping up plans to sell its shares on the London Stock Exchange. US lawmakers already rejected Shein's attempt to list on the New York Stock Exchange over alleged labour malpractice and tax avoidance. We must not let them sneak in and make millions on Britain’s financial markets - not while they stand accused of horrendous exploitation of people and the planet. It’s time to say no to companies that violate workers rights, exacerbate climate breakdown, and avoid taxes. It’s time to Say No to Shein.

Severn Trent has increased its payout to shareholders despite being responsible for 60,000 sewage spills last year. Severn hiked its final dividend by 9% to 70.1p a share after pre-tax profits swelled almost 20% to £201 million. This money needs ploughing into stopping sewage spills.

 This issue is very important to citizens of Ventnor and anyone who wishes or needs to travel here. The main road to Shanklin and Sandown is currently closed and the prospect of it reopening are slim. Meanwhile, the Undercliff Drive remains closed to traffic, belying its name, with no interest from the council in restoring it. Leaving just two transport access roads into the town. Soon the Graben will be closed, albeit temporary,but this problem has a habit of returning, leaving just the Whitwell  road and a major detour via Niton to anyone wishing to reach Shanklin or Sandown. The future of Ventnor lies in its shifting strata but letting it take control should not be an option. Maybe there is not much that can be done about roads damaged beyond safe use and who knows which will be next. But the rail link offers an inviting alternative to vehicle travel to some of the Islands major towns and the mainland ferry. There is also the dreaded net zero to consider. Electric vehicles are not the answer but electric trains could have a large part to play. Let us hope that one day the trains, so rudely taken, will come back to Ventnor, and with their success the rest of the Island’s towns may follow suit and once again see trains arriving in their newly built stations.  NOW MORE THAN EVER VENTNOR MUST HAVE ITS TRAINS BACK 

“We all have a connection to care work. Even if you can't immediately think of someone who draws on support or who is a paid care worker, every time you leave your house you are likely to be passed by care workers like me driving from visit to visit. I guarantee you have neighbours who are visited by carers and that there are care homes in your community. To ensure support is available when we need it, it is essential that we are at the very least paid enough to cover the essential costs of living. Currently, vast numbers of care workers are illegally paid below the National Minimum Wage as a result of unpaid travel time. Meanwhile, our income is often insecure, with zero-hours contracts the norm. This makes it practically impossible to plan and prompts many to accept any and all of the hours they are offered, causing burnout and poor quality of care. These terms of employment add untold pressure to a role which already carries a significant level of responsibility. Is it any wonder social care faces an acute recruitment and retention crisis? Paying at least a real Living Wage for care workers which takes into account time spent travelling between visits is an essential place to start in addressing the joint crises of care quality and availability in England. It has already been done in Scotland and Wales, now - a full four years on from the nation's clap for carers - it's time to do the same in England. This country depends on care workers, and the quality and availability of support depends on the UK Government taking action. Every care worker's dignity should be protected through payment of at least the real Living Wage.” Rachel Kelso, care worker and Citizens UK community leader

Since the 1980s, over 100 NHS Hospitals have been closed, and half of NHS hospital beds have been CUT while the UK population has grown by about 10 million. Our NHS is short of properly qualified Staff, NHS beds and NHS equipment due to deliberate underfunding. And the UK is the 6th richest country in the world with no shortage of billionaires.

In Swanage we are a long way from the major hospitals, we have an older population, public transport is limited and 25% of us have no access to a car. Yet local community hospital services in Swanage (and Wareham) are reducing, beds have been closed, and staff dealing with 111 calls or booking outpatient appointments routinely miss opportunities to support much needed access to local NHS care. Also, the Swanage NHS Dentist’s list is closed to new patients.