Management companies and housing associations are ripping off residents by overcharging and not providing adequate services. Cambridge City Council pays the service charges to these companies for residents who receive housing benefit, but there is barely any scrutiny of whether these charges are legitimate.  Service Charge Justice Cambridge is aware of tens of developments in Cambridge where residents are paying overinflated, bogus or entirely unjustified charges, many of whom are recipients of Housing Benefit. Cambridge City Council is experiencing a £11.5 million 'budget gap', with vital public services facing being cut, all the while public money is being channelled directly into the bank accounts of management companies and housing associations whose residents say they are being overcharged and underserved.  It's vital that the Council investigates how much public money was allocated towards housing service charges for the financial year 2023/24, and supports Service Charge Justice’s campaign for better regulation of service charges.

The Lower Thames Crossing has been cited as the answer to all our traffic prayers for the last decade and at a cost of £800 million! However, even if this environmentally disastrous project does go ahead, it'll be nearly another decade before it's built. Projections show it will only help ease congestion for a short period of time and is expected to reach full capacity in a few short years. We currently experience an unacceptable level of traffic related disruption, with impacts on our businesses and health due to breathing in stationary vehicle fumes. We need effective short term and longer term solutions, such as the long promised monitoring of the Blue Star Roundabout. This is why as a community we have come together to form the Citizens' Forum on Congestion. The Dartford Crossing is the UK's highest-earning toll road. We the undersigned are asking National Highways to pay just a small percentage of the £200 million annual revenue from the crossing charges to invest in exploring effective solutions, to boost our local economy and help with infastructure problems.   We deserve to be compensated as a community....Now is the time for us to be heard! Written by Green Cllr Laura Edie, On behalf of The Citizens' Forum on Congestion  https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1E1xrgy6xp/

Raise Your Voice: Because Democracy Should Work for Everyone! Did you know that Disabled People make up 24% of the UK population, yet less than 2% of MPs are disabled? That means Parliament should have 12 times more Disabled MPs just to be truly representative. Is it any wonder that policies affecting Disabled People often miss the mark? The reality is, politics isn’t accessible. Many Disabled People can’t even get into the buildings where decisions are made, let alone run for office. And without fair representation, their needs are ignored. This isn’t just a disability issue—it’s a democracy issue. If one in four people in this country is disabled, why aren’t their voices shaping our laws?

This petition to rename America to its indigenous name, Hah-nu-nah, is crucial in the context of recent governmental actions that have altered significant geographical names, such as the Gulf of Mexico and Denali. These changes have been implemented without substantial consultation with indigenous communities, highlighting a pattern of disregarding the original names bestowed by the native inhabitants of these lands. By advocating for the restoration of the name Hah-nu-nah, we aim to honour the rich cultural heritage and historical significance of indigenous peoples. This act serves as a step towards reconciliation and acknowledges the deep-rooted connections between the land and its first inhabitants. In light of the recent renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America and Denali back to Mount McKinley, it is imperative to address the importance of indigenous nomenclature. Restoring the name Hah-nu-nah not only rectifies historical oversights but also fosters a more inclusive and respectful recognition of our nation’s diverse cultural landscape. Supporting this petition is a meaningful action towards embracing and preserving the indigenous identities that form the foundation of our shared history.

There are numerous travel challenges in Carholme Ward, which was last reviewed by LCC Highways two decades ago. There are issues with safe walking and cycling, especially for children going to/from school on foot or by bike. The 20mph area has increasing traffic levels, with many vehicles using the area as a cut-through between Yarborough Road and Carholme Road, regularly ignoring existing one-way streets. Parking is problematic for residents and visitors to the area. The area could benefit from a review of active travel opportunities and an assessment of how road markings could be improved to increase safety. 

The future of the iconic Prince Charles Cinema in London’s West End is under serious threat! We are beyond disappointed that our landlords, Zedwell LSQ Ltd and their ultimate parent company Criterion Capital, have demanded the inclusion of a break clause in our new lease. This could leave us homeless with only 6 months’ notice should they receive planning permission to redevelop the cinema. Losing The Prince Charles Cinema would mean losing not just an iconic cultural institution, but also an engine for the economy of the West End that brings people from all over London and the surrounding area to watch films, shop and eat and drink.  This would have repercussions way beyond the building itself. The Prince Charles Cinema was opened in 1962 as a live theatre before becoming a cinema in the mid-sixties.  Under our stewardship the cinema, which receives no public subsidy,  has become known for its unique range of programming spanning the history of cinema. At a time when cinemas continue to close throughout the world, we are happy to buck the trend with our thriving and fiercely independent offer. We feel that this demand amounts to a clear attempt by Zedwell LSQ Ltd and their ultimate parent company Criterion Capital to use their significant financial resources to disregard our legal entitlement to a new lease, and bully us out of the building once the existing one ends in Sept 2025.  We can’t let that happen.   ‘The Prince Charles has a place in my heart. It’s the people, the programming, the accessibility, feeling, texture... you cannot go wrong. You also know that on any given day, you can close your eyes, press your finger to the programme, and you’ll hit something great. It’s like tuning into your favourite radio station.’ - Paul Thomas Anderson  #SaveThePCC  

Expanding Heathrow Airport with a third runway would be catastrophic for our environment and would put the UK in breach of its legally binding carbon budget to keep the Government on track to meet its 2050 net zero emissions target.  And it could see ticket prices go up by £40 per flight, across the board. So it's bad for the environment - and bad for pockets too. Sign the petition today and tell the Government to drop these plans.

1. A Safe Space for Children • It provides a safe and welcoming environment for kids to play, learn, and build friendships. • Without it, families lose access to affordable, local resources for after-school activities and community events. 2. A Hub for the Neighbourhood • The Centre brings people together, strengthening bonds between neighbours and fostering a sense of belonging. • It supports local initiatives, events, and activities that benefit everyone, from children to seniors. 3. Protecting Our Heritage • The Soanes Centre is home to a historical graveyard, preserving a vital piece of Tower Hamlets' history. • Losing the Centre means neglecting an irreplaceable cultural landmark tied to the area's identity.

This petition has been started by Keep Cornwall Carpeted, a campaign working with food banks and communities across Cornwall affected by the issue. When social housing tenants move into their home they are often instantly faced with the big cost of carpeting their homes which often leaves them without enough money to afford the essentials, go into debt and need support from food banks" It is time for a Cornwall-wide response to the outdated national Decent Home Standard policy, and to ensure that homes in our communities without carpets are a thing of the past. We believe that in 2025 no social housing properties in Cornwall should be let without sufficient carpets and floorcoverings in the home. We are calling on Councillor Olly Monk, as portfolio holder for Planning and Housing, to ensure that no social housing in Cornwall is let without flooring. We want the Councillor to work with Cornwall Housing and other registered providers of social housing in Cornwall to guarantee that properties will have sufficient carpets and floor coverings before a new tenant moves in.

It is vital to stand against hate and division to protect the values of equality, democracy, and human dignity. Last summer’s hate riots in the UK, partly fuelled by right-wing misinformation supported by Elon Musk and other commentators on X, demonstrate the real-world dangers of enabling extremist narratives. Failing to condemn Musk’s gesture dishonours the millions who died at the hands of the Nazis and the brave individuals, including Americans, who gave their lives to defeat them. By joining this campaign, we can demand accountability for high-profile figures who spread division and ensure the UK takes a firm stand against the rise of dangerous ideologies.

  • Justice for Victims: The bonuses were awarded during years when sub-postmasters faced wrongful accusations, prosecutions, and personal ruin. Returning these bonuses would be a step towards acknowledging the immense harm caused. • Moral Accountability: By delaying and covering up the Horizon system's issues, Vennells concealed liabilities that would have significantly affected the Post Office's financial health, thereby enabling her to receive bonuses under false pretenses. Returning these bonuses would reflect genuine remorse and accountability for her part in one of the UK's largest corporate scandals. • Setting Precedents: This action would set a powerful precedent for corporate accountability, ensuring that executives cannot profit from systemic failures, conceal liabilities, and escape the consequences of their actions. 

Maryon Wilson Park is on Thorntree Road Charlton, London, situated nearby to Maryon Park. The animal care centre is hugely popular with both locals and visitors to the area. It's an oasis of calm in a bustling area and should be saved for all. Greenwich Council are seeking to offload the responsibility and costs of the animal centre in their budget cuts. Our petition aim is to convince the council that this is a mistake and is totally against the wishes of the local electorate. It is irresponsible of the council to expect the local community to provide a business case to run this service. The park is for all residents and benefits the community in supporting mental health and wellbeing, social cohesion, kindness and understanding.  It's highly educational and well used by schools and pre-school families.   The park serves many local schools and people travel from far & wide to visit. It is one of the distinguishing and defining features of the area - it's loss would be far-reaching, detrimental to the area and community. • The animal park is located in Maryon Wilson Park, which also includes woodlands, grasslands, and streams • The park is home to domestic animals like sheep, goats, pigs, chickens, geese, horses and ducks • The park offers free public tours where visitors can feed, stroke, and handle the animals • For the last 50 years the Charlton Park Riding for Disabled ponies have been stabled there, a fantastic charity supporting children with disabilities and their families • Maryon Wilson Park is a key feature of the Green Chain Walk, used by over 250,000 ramblers every year The park offers an unique opportunity for the whole community to connect with nature and experience animals up close. A treasured green space in a rapidly developing area, this park offers respite, comfort and joy to those who most need it. It teaches kindness, empathy and connection in a world that is becoming increasingly less so. This is a hub of wellbeing for young and old, no matter what your income.  We need to show the council that this park is loved and valued by residents in and out of the borough, so we ask that you write an email or letter to your Ward Councillors, copy in the Mayor of Greenwich, the executive lead of Greenwich Council and our MP, Matthew Pennycook.  A short email to all of them on what the park means to you will really help this campaign.  Find your ward councillor here: https://www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk/info/200155/councillors_and_elected_officials/598/find_your_councillor [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Thanks so much from all of the residents of Charlton for supporting this campaign.  Save the Animal Park (SOAP)!