In the heart of Midlothian, like many residents, I've faced a troubling issue with our waste collection schedule. Our household grey waste bins, often overflowing by the third week, are not only an inconvenience but a growing health concern. We've experienced the unsettling problem of rats making their way into our garden, drawn by the accumulation of waste that builds up due to infrequent bin pickups. This isn't just an isolated incident, but a common frustration shared by many in our community. Currently, our council has scheduled the collection of grey waste bins every third week, while recycling bins such as those for paper, cardboard, and other recyclable materials are collected on the same schedule. However, the capacity usage of these recycling bins is significantly lower compared to the household waste bins, often reaching only three-quarters full by collection time. This disparity suggests an imbalance in waste management practices that urgently needs to be addressed. Overflowing bins lead not only to unpleasant sights and smells but also pose direct health risks. Rodents and pests are drawn to the unmanaged waste, creating unsanitary conditions that threaten the safety and well-being of our communities. As neighbours and residents invested in the health of our environment and community living standards, we believe it is vital that our local government listens to our voices and acts promptly. Our proposal is straightforward: adjust the waste collection schedule to have grey bins emptied every fortnight instead of every third week. This change will alleviate the overflow issue, reduce the attraction for vermin, and ensure that our streets and gardens remain clean, safe, and sanitary. By making this adjustment, Midlothian can improve its waste management system, demonstrating a commitment to the health and safety of its residents. It will also reflect positively on the community's quality of life, fostering a healthier environment for families and future generations. We understand that changes in council services need careful consideration, but the current system's inadequacies demand urgent attention. We urge Midlothian Council to prioritize our community's needs and protect us from the escalating waste problem. Support this initiative if you believe in a cleaner and safer Midlothian. Please sign this petition to urge Midlothian Council to adopt a more effective waste management schedule.

For generations of skiers and snowboarders, Ski Sunday was more than just a TV programme. It was the spark that inspired people to try snowsports for the first time, join local clubs, take family ski holidays and follow British athletes on the world stage. In the UK, approximately 1.28 million people participate in snowsports, yet there is very little regular free-to-air television coverage dedicated to these sports. Without programmes like Ski Sunday, future generations are less likely to discover the excitement, skill and passion that skiing and snowboarding can offer. At Snowsport England, we see every year how people progress from watching elite athletes to getting involved themselves, whether that's joining a club, taking part in competitions, learning new skills or becoming members of Snowsport England. Visibility matters. Inspiration matters. As Chemmy Alcott, four-time Winter Olympian and former Ski Sunday presenter, says "the biggest worry is the next generation not seeing the mountains on TV, not hearing the stories, not believing that they can be part of our amazing community". Bringing back Ski Sunday would help inspire new participants, celebrate British talent, and reconnect audiences with one of the BBC's most loved and iconic sports programmes. We want today's young people to have the same opportunity to fall in love with snowsports that so many of us had when we watched it growing up.

As a skier and snow sports follower I feel the connection with ski racing, which was formalised by British people in the Kandahar Club is being erased by this error of judgment to abandon BBC TV coverage of snow sports during the winter period. I feel there are millions of others who feel similarly. 

Timothy Taylor’s has recently rebranded landlord to look like a generic beer similar to Madri, removing all character and heritage from the beer. I can only assume they have done this to attract a younger market and as a person in their mid twenties, young people are drinking landlord because of the great taste but also the idea of this is a heritage beer with history behind it, reflected in the robust logo. The new design alienates all audiences from this historic beer and should be changed back. The new generic badge serves no one and they will also struggle to serve it to customers. We want our balding landlord back!

I’m increasingly concerned that Britain is sleepwalking into an American-style arms race in vehicle size. Cars are getting bigger, heavier and taller, while our roads, parking spaces and neighbourhoods aren’t getting any bigger. This isn’t about telling people what car they should drive. It’s about deciding how large and heavy a vehicle should be before everyone else has to accommodate it. Larger vehicles take up more public space, can create greater risks for pedestrians and cyclists, and put additional demands on roads and parking infrastructure. What we are asking for We are calling on the UK Government to introduce a Right-Sized Vehicle Standard for new passenger vehicles sold in Britain. The standard should establish evidence-based limits and requirements covering: • maximum vehicle width, length, height and mass; • pedestrian and cyclist visibility, including direct vision from the driver's position; • protection of people outside the vehicle in collisions. These limits should be based on independent evidence covering road safety, public space, infrastructure and environmental impact. What we are NOT asking for This is not a call to ban SUVs, ban cars, or take existing vehicles away from their owners. Nor is it about preventing people from buying vehicles that genuinely meet their needs. It is about stopping the continued supersizing of new vehicles and ensuring that cars sold in Britain remain appropriate for the roads and communities they share. We should decide what size of vehicle is appropriate for Britain — before the market decides for us.

I moved to Cornwall when I retired, and fortunately have an NHS dentist in London who I still see.  This means a £100 return train journey for each appointment, which is difficult for me but not impossible.  Many Cornish folk are not so fortunate. I recently spoke to a nurse at West Cornwall Hospital who couldn't find an NHS dentist and, as a result, had lost three teeth.  The daughter of a neighbour of mine was receiving ongoing treatment until she turned eighteen, at which point her mother received a letter from their dentist saying the family could no longer be treated on the NHS.  Private dental treatment can only be afforded by the few.  This dire state of affairs in Cornwall is totally avoidable. Many of life's problems are difficult to solve, but this just requires proper funding.  Health care matters every bit as much as education, housing or defence.

 If you stand at the level crossing at School Road, Hythe and look up and down the Waterside line, you’ll see a beautiful tree-lined nature corridor curving invitingly out of sight. The old sleepers and rails are almost hidden by dense undergrowth.  The last oil train to Fawley refinery ran almost exactly a decade ago in September 2016. The last passenger train from Hythe departed 60 years ago on Valentine’s Day in 1966.  Network Rail has mothballed the line south of Marchwood and removed level crossing barriers. Successive official studies, including a very detailed one in 2022 which cost £7m, have concluded that restoring passenger trains to Hythe would be extremely expensive (£113 million in 2022 prices) and very poor value for money.  Rail campaigners have been trying for several decades to persuade different governments to restore trains. Unfortunately, the costs are far too high, projected passenger numbers too low and there are numerous practical difficulties, such as lack of room in Hythe for station parking.  There is another way of making good use of this wonderful public facility. For a small fraction of the cost of restoring trains, the line between Hardley and Marchwood, via Hythe, could be turned into a 4.7 mile traffic-free walking, wheeling and cycling route and linear park: Waterside Greenway.  Waterside Greenway would enable people to travel safely on foot, by mobility scooter or by bicycle between Hardley, Hythe and Marchwood. Currently, 40,000 people living in the Waterside south of Marchwood cannot safely walk, wheel or cycle to Marchwood, Totton or Southampton. Main Road past Dibden Golf Course and  Church Farm Close has no pavements, blind bends and speeding vehicles.  The real choice we face in the Waterside is not between restoring passenger trains or creating a walking, wheeling and cycling route. It is between allowing the line to remain closed, rotting and wasted for another decade or reopening it for peaceful, traffic-free walks and nearly-level rides through lovely countryside with fine views of the cruise ships on Southampton Water.  We are calling for a feasibility study into creating Waterside Greenway. Initial estimates from the Walk Wheel Cycle Trust (formerly Sustrans) suggest such a study would cost £12,000 to £28,000, or between 0.17% and 0.4% of the cost of the last feasibility study into restoring trains to Hythe. For more details or press queries please email: [email protected]. Note: there is currently a technical issue with the email button at the head of this petition. Thank you.

Disabled people have already borne the brunt of austerity cuts over the past 16 years including huge cuts to the health element of Universal Credit that began in April this year. We demand that the council scraps these callous cuts that will further impoverish and isolate disabled people.  These cuts will further impoverish and isolate disabled people. 

Vinted has quietly integrated Australian listings directly into UK search feeds without clear default warnings or a quick way to opt out. We are demanding that Vinted introduce a simple, permanent "Domestic Only" toggle in account settings so UK users can choose to buy locally. My Story: I became a dedicated Vinted user because it offered a brilliant, accessible way to buy and sell second-hand clothes. Choosing pre-loved items over brand-new retail wasn't just about saving money; it was a conscious decision to shop more sustainably and reduce my personal environmental impact. Recently, that experience completely changed. While scrolling through my feed, I bought an item only to discover after purchase that it was shipping all the way from Australia. The initial listing showed misleading low postage rates ("from £2.04"), hiding the true financial and environmental footprint until checkout. When I looked closer at my feed, I realised it was flooded with Australian items. What used to be a tailored space supporting local circular fashion has been overridden by an aggressive cross-border algorithm pushing individual garments on 10,000-mile flights across the globe. It is frustrating to have the ability to make eco-friendly choices taken away by corporate decisions that prioritise cross-continental volume over transparency. Air-freighting fast fashion around the planet directly undermines Vinted’s claim to be a green alternative. I have paused my shopping on Vinted until they restore user control. We are calling on Vinted to stop hiding international listings and give every user the option to filter by their own country by default.

As Swanscombe residents, we know only too well that parking in the local area can be extremely challenging on a daily basis. With an ever increasing population due to mass development in the surrounding areas, bringing an increase in commuters using the local train station and an increase in use of local amenities, the demand for parking has never been higher.  With on-street parking at such a premium, residents, businesses, employees, community groups and visitors regularly rely on our local car park in The Grove, Swanscombe to alleviate the issues surrounding the frequent lack of on-street parking. Many local residents, businesses and community venues in the immediate vicinity to The Grove, do not have the luxury of private off-street parking and will often utilise The Grove public car park, particularly overnight and at weekends.  If Swanscombe and Greenhithe town council's proposal to introduce a significant increase in daily charges, new overnight and weekend tariffs, all managed via ANPR cameras, go ahead, we fear that, not only will further demand for on-street parking increase dramatically, resulting in residents having nowhere to park due to the car park becoming an unaffordable option, but we also risk - * Public safety, particularly for more vulnerable groups in our community and particularly after dark. *Accessibility risk - for emergency vehicles, for refuse collections due to increase in on-street parking. *Increase in illegal and dangerous parking due to lack of space to park safely and legally. *Negative community cohesion due to disputes over parking. *Businesses and community groups suffering as a result of staff, customer and visitor parking issues. We realise and appreciate that SGTC need to raise funds, with their finances falling into disarray, however this should NOT be at  expense of local residents, businesses, community groups, visitors etc. We understand that SGTC will reconsider these proposals and ask that throughout your re-evaluation, you take on-board all of our concerns and treat this proposal with the time, care and consideration it deserves and not to make knee-jerk decisions over something so potentially impactful and detrimental to the local area and it's residents.  Thank you.

Also resurrect the idea of a Water grid to not only alleviate areas of prolific flooding but allow the areas of high rainfall to provide water in areas of low  rainfall and drought like conditions. This could be done using rivers, large streams and canals. We're an island surrounded by millions of litres of water.  Scientists advise that climate change is causing the ice caps to melt, thus sea levels are increasing. Building reservoirs requires using farmland or land that can be built upon.  Desalination plants could help alleviate the lack of water for building but also help with the continued demand once the houses are built. Farmers and Nurseries would be more efficient and produce more in the way of crops etc., thus reducing the need (and air miles!) to import produce from abroad. It's not rocket science, the UAE, Israel even Malta & Gozo already have desalination plants, even Navy ships and Cruise liners have them! So it's not like having to re-invent the wheel, the technology is already here.

We are calling for the unused space above the changing rooms at The Stadium on Church Road, Folkestone to be properly utilised for the benefit of the local community. After learning more about the situation from the Council, we understand that the space has been largely unused for around five years, since the facility was built by Taylor Wimpey. The MOD currently controls the space and, as we understand it, only uses it around once a week, while retaining access to offices and a large shared area that are otherwise largely unused. Previous attempts by the Council to utilise the space have also been unsuccessful. What is particularly frustrating is that the space also goes to waste every Saturday and Sunday when football is being played at the stadium. Even a small business running a café and providing refreshments for players, parents and supporters could make an immediate difference. But in the long term, the large shared space could be so much more — supporting welfare and community meetings, yoga, drama, art, children’s activities, family events, local clubs and community groups. We believe this is a wasted community asset, and we are asking Taylor Wimpey, the MOD, the Council and other relevant organisations to work together to find a practical solution and finally put the space to use. Please sign this petition to show your support for turning an unused space into a genuine community asset for the people of Folkestone.