For a country that is so wealthy, there is no excuse for people to be sleeping in the streets.

The Independent Living Fund makes a massive difference to disabled peoples' lives and it's a far better alternative to the very limited help provided by council-funded care agencies, or living in an institution. The ILF is the only way a lot of us disabled people get the care and help we actually need, because we directly employ our own PA's (or carers), who can help us in the most appropriate way. Many disabled people are skilled and talented individuals who have a lot to offer society, but we can't offer our skills to the world if we are either shut away in an institution or having to rely on the massively restricted help that council agency 'carers' provide. Like non-disabled people, we all have individual needs, and it is only through being in charge of our own care that we can ensure our needs are properly met and we can reach our full potential as human beings and members of society. The Government has argued that the care provided by agencies contracted out by local authorities is sufficient for disabled people. This is completely wrong! These agencies are expensive for the councils to use yet they pay their own 'carers' a very low rate of pay. The way it works is, the more clients a council-funded agency 'carer' can take on, the more money she or he earns. This of course means less time is then available to provide help to each client. In addition, there have been well-documented cases where clients receiving help from council-funded agency carers, (either in an institution or via home visits) have been subjected to physical and mental abuse. If the disabled person can directly choose and employ their own PA, then this is far less likely to happen. The current plan to scrap the Independent Living Fund is not only inhumane but it doesn't even make economic sense! For example, it will cost a lot more to keep someone in an institution for a year or to pay the wages of an agency 'carer' than it would to provide that same person with an annual budget to pay for and control their own care. To the next UK Government: Please show some humanity and common sense and ditch the plans to scrap the ILF!

1)The Breast Cancer Unit at Ysbyty Gwynedd , Bangor has been created over many years by a team of highly motivated , highly skilled and passionate staff that go above and beyond to offer the best care available to the patients and families of Breast cancer sufferers. It cannot be destroyed by this callous move. 2) Time, Distance and expense of travel for patients and loved ones make this move unacceptable . It removes support contact from patients who are already experiencing unbelievable fear, upset and pain . A major part of the repair and healing process during this time is provided by this support. It cannot be removed from the patient's reach as it destroys any concept that the NHS is there to treat and care for all members of the community.

Some of the anticipated problems include: - building works and roadway disruption (including potentially restricting emergency service routes) - 4 new extra large, 3-storey, houses (out of character with the street), each with 2 parking spaces PLUS a driveway - removal of parking spaces outside the church on Annandale Road to accommodate the above new houses - therefore leading to increased parking problems (not to mention nowhere for the numerous weekly church visitors to park) - abolishing the trees and hedges surrounding the venue In addition to signing this petition, please feel free to comment on planning application numbers 15/00237 (houses - deadline 19 March) and 15/00238 (church - deadline 31 March) via the Bexley Council Online system: http://www.bexley.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=2638 OR send your comments in writing (including the above planning application numbers): BY EMAIL TO: [email protected] You may wish to copy councillors: [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] BY POST TO: Miss J K Bansil, Bexley Council Civic Offices, 2 Watling Street, Bexleyheath DA6 7AT. You may also wish to copy the above councillor names at the same address. Thank you to those who signed the petition/submitted feedback by 19th March (the deadline for the houses proposal). THERE IS STILL TIME! Please sign this petition/ object by email/post by TUESDAY 31ST MARCH which is the final deadline for the church proposal. Thank you for your time.

As small hive beetle (SHB) is now present in Italy we should ban imports of queens and bees from this country until further notice. If SHB reaches our shores it will be almost impossible to eradicate it. Surely the advent of varroa has taught us that we should strive to keep out other exotic pests from our country. We are an island and we can protect our bees in ways beekeepers on the continent cannot. Our honeybees are already under stress from varroa. If beekeepers have to contend with another exotic pest many beekeepers will just give up keeping bees. It will be too much effort to deal with another problem. Our honey production will go down and, more importantly, the pollination of crops will be adversely affected. The beetle eats brood, honey and pollen and destroys combs thereby spoiling the honey. If left unchecked it can multiply to huge numbers in an affected colony.

Scotland's economy has lost out since 1999 when Tony Blair and Donald Dewar moved the continental plate to take in 7 of Scotland's oil platforms. This was done the night before the Scottish parliament was resumed after 300 years. It did not get debated on, it was done underhandedly though we do not get the taxes directly to Scotland the revenues from these 7 oil fields should count towards Scotland's taxes. Instead Westminster is claiming them towards their tax revenue and undermines what Scotland is actually contributing.

Afghan government minister, Mr. Hussain Alami Balkhi, has stated that returned refugees will not be accepted and will be turned away at the airport. Despite this warning, the UK government is still willing to waste thousands of taxpayers money, with an average charter flight costing £218,617, and the government having spent nearly £4m on deportations to Afghanistan in 2011/2. On 10th March 2015 the Home Office sadly went ahead with the deportation of 32 people to Afghanistan. However, 20 people were taken off the flight though, including Sherdil, Shafiq and Izatullah. Sources:https://kabulblogs.wordpress.com/2015/02/21/afghan-minister-for-refugees-and-repatriation-stop-deportation-to-afghanistan/http://www.corporatewatch.org/news/2013/jan/24/cost-charter-flight-deportations-increased-eight-fold-over-last-decade n We would like to continue collecting signatures to show opposition to further deportations whilst Afghanistan remains unsafe. We have more time now to really build our opposition- if we collect 100,000 signatures, the issue will have to be put forward for discussion in Parliament.

Hale library and community hub, situated in the heart of Hale village, is one of the most used libraries in Trafford with a footfall of 80,000 visits a year and over 30 groups who use its rooms and services. It is a well loved and vibrant community asset which is under threat because Trafford Council want to reduce their running costs and realise a capital receipt from the sale of the library site. Thousands of residents and local business people have voiced their opposition to the downsizing or closure of this valuable community asset which is more than just books. From a wide range of children's activities through to services for older people the library provides the embodiment of social provision and community spirit. Friends of Hale Library, an independent charity, working in partnership with other community groups has listened to the needs and aspirations of the people in Hale and has come up with a long term and financially viable solution for the future of the library and community hub. We request that Trafford Council fulfil its obligation to Hale residents by engaging positively and openly with Friends of Hale Library and its partners who represent the voice of the people.

This is important because the mismanagement within the NHS has reached epic proportions due to budget cuts and staff shortages. The staff that are there are so overworked that they are getting really exhausted, depressed and are looking for other avenues to get out despite their passion for the job at heart. In the last few years the system has deteriorated to such an extent that nurses feel that the current system is failing them. Nurses are currently 4 times more likely to commit suicide, and doctors twice likely to kill themselves, than people outside the healthcare profession - such are the current stress and depression levels in our healthcare system. I am appalled to see that bankers are getting millions in bonuses, while our humble nurses are being grossly exploited and are being taken advantage of their good and helpful nature. I think we as a nation need to at least treat them well and improve their working conditions here - they did not come into this profession to be PUNISHED. As a nation, we the people of United Kingdom, demand better working conditions for our healthcare staff.

It is important because such revolting developments are chipping away at our London and sucking it dry of its lifeblood and individuality. This is a marvelous piece of London where independent traders can sell their wares which allow W11 a truly authentic edge ; and now they are proposing a sanitized shopping experience akin to the Westfield that does not enhance or reflect our beloved Portobello . This just has to stop so please sign and pass on. This outlines their plans : http://www.westway.org/news/shaping-future http://metro.co.uk/2015/03/12/londons-portobello-road-faces-redevelopment-with-westfield-style-shops-5101200/ http://metro.co.uk/2015/03/12/londons-portobello-road-faces-redevelopment-with-westfield-style-shops-5101200/

In April this year Mr Riley plans on moving to America whilst still retaining his seat on the council and collecting the £10,273.74 a year it pays, although Mr Riley plans on travelling back every six or seven weeks to deal with council work. He is quoted as saying " he did not feel it would be possible to remain a member of a district or parish council while living abroad because they deal with “nitty-gritty” issues." “But as a county councillor my role is more strategic and I don’t think it will be a problem doing my work from Raleigh.” I personally wholeheartedly disagree with Mr Riley, I do not see how he can serve the Hadleigh Community at best while some 3,966 miles away. What we need is someone on our door step that is easily contactable when they're needed, yes there is skype and what not, but there are many people in Hadleigh that do not have internet access, and/or prefer to have face to face talks in person. I think the actions of Mr Riley are detrimental to the local community of Hadleigh. Mr Riley should resign by March 20th to allow a by-election to happen the same time as the general election, otherwise he will keep that position until 2017. Its about doing whats right for the people of Hadleigh, and staying on whilst living in America does not meet that criteria.

12,000 people used the pool last year in the four short months for which it was open. The council are representing the pool as a burden, but you cannot measure the value of a public asset in pounds and pence. What value can you put on the civic identity of Abingdon, living by the river, playing by the river? What value on the mental and physical wellbeing afforded by splashing about outdoors? What value on the happy memories of days out with the family enjoying the pool, the park, the relaxed atmosphere? Wallingford, Hinksey, even a small village like Woodstock manage to have outdoor pools, why not a large and growing town like Abingdon. Why do we have to lose our pool? We're set to have new houses built on every margin of the town to add to the 10 years of in-fill (brewery, penlon, etc). Will Abingdon residents have to get in their cars and travel to access leisure and recreational facilities? Is such a scenario good for Abingdon socially or economically? This is the last portion of Thames riverside with public recreational access, everything else has been sold off and built on. Can we afford to lose Abbey Meadows by letting the pool be turned into a 'riverside restaurant', only available to those that can afford it? If this happens, we will be paying to bulldoze over a public asset to set up a private commercial business. Another restaurant to add to all those in Abingdon and two new ones in the Old Gaol. The outdoor pool is part of what makes Abingdon unique. The pool is an asset not a burden and a confident town should invest in the pool and make it as good as Hinksey, Wallingford and even Woodstock. Does Abingdon deserve less? I don't think so. IMPORTANT: Please also go to www.saveourpool.org.uk and vote option A in the Vale of the White Horse public consultation. Options B & C will see the pool lost forever.