For many families in Potters Bar and South Mimms, choosing Nicholas Breakspear School was based on the promise of a safe, direct and reasonable school bus route. The 355 and 356 services have been reliable for years, giving children a manageable 15–20 minute journey and giving parents confidence that their children could travel safely and independently. That has now changed overnight. Without any consultation with the families affected, these buses have been withdrawn for our area. Children have been reassigned to the 330 route, increasing their journey from around 15–20 minutes to over an hour each way, with 07:00 pick‑ups and 16:20–16:30 returns, leaving many students waiting at roadside stops in darkness throughout autumn and winter. From September, students will be standing at roadside stops in complete darkness at 07:00, returning home as late as 16:45, exhausted before they even begin their homework. The new journey adds 1 hour 40 minutes of travel every single day - the equivalent of an extra transatlantic flight every week. This is not a small inconvenience. It affects children’s sleep, safety, wellbeing, learning, routines, and family life. It affects parents’ ability to work. It affects the whole community. Families were not asked. We were not informed until the last day of term. Many had already paid nearly £1,000 for annual bus passes that no longer serve our area.  We are asking for a safe, direct and reasonable school transport option to be reinstated for Potters Bar and South Mimms - something comparable to what children had before, and something that protects their wellbeing and educational prospects. This matters because no child should have their school day extended by nearly two hours of unnecessary travel, and no family should be left without a voice in decisions that affect their children’s safety. If we stand together, we can push for a fair and workable solution.

This proposal isn't just about building another data centre – it's about fundamentally changing the place that my family and I call home. Like many of my neighbours, I worry about the constant background hum from cooling equipment, increased pressure on local infrastructure, the loss of Green Belt land, and the impact such a development could have on the value of our homes. For most people, their home is their biggest investment and the place where they expect to enjoy peace and quiet. We should not have to accept the prospect of living next to a massive 24-hour industrial development that primarily serves global technology companies while local residents bear the environmental and social costs. This development would industrialise land adjacent to established residential communities, threaten the Green Belt, create unacceptable noise impacts for nearby residents, place additional pressure on energy and water resources, and provide limited long-term local employment.  This isn't just my concern. Thousands of people in Bishopbriggs and the surrounding communities could be affected by the long-term consequences of this development. Once Green Belt land is lost and a project of this scale is approved, there is no going back. We are not opposed to technology or investment, but development must be in the right place and put communities first. Local residents deserve to have their voices heard before irreversible decisions are made. Decision-makers must put local people first by protecting Bishopbriggs from inappropriate industrial development and preventing this proposal from progressing any further.  If you believe our homes, our environment and our community should come before inappropriate industrial development, please sign this petition and help us protect Bishopbriggs.

Our local church in Stafford (Trinity Church) is home to a lot of elderly people. Not only that but youth group organisations and also a theatre company for those who would potentially get over looked by mainstream companies due to difficulties.  This year the council have put in plans to knock down what used to be Wilkinsons to create more space for Stafford College which is great. However, the car park which separates the two buildings is planned to be removed.  This car park is a fundamental access point for the church and youth group organisations. With the church having the majority of elderly attendees, having this car park removed would mean they would have to walk from further afield for a service.  This in my eyes would reduce the amount of people attending and slowly but surely shut the church down completely. 

We have lived on Whitworth Road for numerous years, and we recently saw a notice near where we live saying they are planning to paint double yellow lines outside our homes which will restrict not only our parking but also others parking along our road. It will restrict the number of available parking spaces along the whole stretch of Whitworth Road which is already an issue. Very often we are not able to park outside our homes as the parking is not available, and as we have elderly and people with medical conditions as well as children living here it will make it more difficult for us to leave as our cars will have to be parked further away from our home. i.e. on the other side of Whitworth or on the main road of Herbert Road. This can also affect peoples insurance premium as it requires your car to be parked outside your property. Also, the value of the property can be affected because of the lack of parking spaces available.

I am an OFSTED registered childminder in Bradford. Bradford Council have charged me 10% of my funding terms income for an administrative error. This equates to 50% of this month's wage. With staff to pay, household bills and a business to run, this isnt manageable. So many childminders in Bradford have been affected by this fee, which is wholly disproportionate to the work needed to fix the error. This needs replacing with an administrative fee which reflects the work undertaken to rectify any administrative errors.

Keep full Post Office services in Fort William town centre – Community Petition Fort William is facing the possible loss of its main Post Office after the TGJones premises at 4 Tweeddale, High Street, were placed on the market. Attempts have been made locally to obtain clear information about the future of the premises and the Post Office service, but no firm answer or replacement plan has yet been provided. Angus MacDonald MP and Andrew Baxter MSP have also approached the chief executives of Post Office Ltd and TGJones, seeking accurate information and asking what action will be taken to secure alternative premises in Fort William. Fort William is the main town serving Lochaber, and its Post Office is much more than somewhere to send letters and parcels. The branch serves people throughout Fort William, including Upper Achintore, Plantation, Inverlochy and Claggan, as well as residents from Caol, Lochyside and the wider Lochaber area. It is also used by local businesses, churches, charities and visitors. Services currently available in Fort William Fort William Post Office currently provides: • Cash withdrawals, cash deposits and cheque deposits  • Royal Mail and Parcelforce services  • Drop & Go and Parcelforce Express 48 Large  • Bill payments and top-ups  • Paper Passport Check & Send for new applications and renewals  • Document Certification Service  • Vehicle tax  • Foreign currency  • Travel insurance  • Travel Money Card  • Western Union  These are important postal, banking, passport, identity, travel and financial services. None of the other Post Office branches in the surrounding area provides the same complete range of services in one location.  Why Corpach is not a replacement Corpach Post Office provides everyday personal and business banking, mail services, Drop & Go, Parcelforce Express 48 Large, bill payments and top-ups, euros, Travel Money Card services, savings application forms and savings account identity verification. However, it does not provide passport application checks, document certification, vehicle tax, general foreign currency, travel insurance or Western Union. The Corpach Post Office counter is also located inside a relatively small Co-op store. Redirecting customers from Fort William would place additional pressure on the premises and staff, and the branch may not have the space or capacity to absorb the extra demand. Travelling between Fort William and Corpach can also be difficult for people without a car. Those relying on public transport may face delays, particularly during the busy summer months when traffic congestion affects bus services. Other Post Offices in the surrounding area Kinlocheil Post Office Kinlocheil provides cash withdrawals, cash deposits, cheque deposits, mail services, Drop & Go and the Travel Money Card. It does not provide bill payments and top-ups, passport services, document certification, vehicle tax, foreign currency, travel insurance or Western Union. Spean Bridge Post Office Spean Bridge provides everyday banking, mail services, Drop & Go, Parcelforce Express 48 Large, bill payments and top-ups, euros and the Travel Money Card. It does not provide passport services, document certification, vehicle tax, general foreign currency, travel insurance or Western Union. Ballachulish Post Office Ballachulish provides everyday banking, mail services, Drop & Go, bill payments and top-ups, vehicle tax, euros, travel insurance and the Travel Money Card. It does not provide passport application checks, document certification, general foreign currency or Western Union. Strontian Post Office Strontian provides everyday banking, mail services, Drop & Go, bill payments and top-ups and the Travel Money Card. It does not provide passport services, document certification, vehicle tax, foreign currency, travel insurance or Western Union. These branches provide valuable services to their own communities, but they are too far away to be practical alternatives for many Fort William residents. They are outside the town, do not offer all the services currently available in Fort William, and may be difficult to reach for people without access to a car. The nearest comparable full-service Post Office          The nearest Post Office offering a comparable full range of services is in Oban, approximately 44 miles from Fort William. Oban Post Office provides banking and mail services, paper and digital Passport Check & Send, SIA licence applications, document certification, in-branch identity verification, DVLA photocard renewal, vehicle tax, foreign currency, travel insurance, Western Union and savings services. Expecting residents to travel approximately 44 miles each way to obtain services currently available in Fort William is not reasonable. It would have a particularly serious effect on older people, disabled residents, people without private transport, local businesses, churches, charities and anyone needing access to passport, identity, banking or financial services. The loss of Fort William Post Office without a suitable replacement would leave a major town and the surrounding communities without reasonable access to essential services. 44 miles is not a local Post Office service. Please note: there is no need to chip in financially.  Signing and sharing the petition is all we are asking you to do.

Too many people are falling through the cracks with regards to mental health and the learning disability criteria. There is a huge grey area between the ones that meet the criteria, and the ones that fall just outside. A psychologist explained that in a line of 100 people, 1 & 2 meeting the learning disability criteria to number 100 - being, let's say, of mainstream intellect. If anyone scores outside the 1 & 2 criteria, even if they score a 3 or 4, they are not deemed to have a learning disability. This is where the system needs to be changed.  These people are extremly vulnerable to explotation and manipulation. It's just really not fair. They get caught in a system that fails to provide the necessary support to keep them safe simply because their learning challenges don't fit into the narrow definitions currently in place. By signing this petition, you are helping to bring attention to the need for a change in identifying learning disabilities, ensuring that everyone has the right to the support necessary for a successful and fulfilling life. Please, join me in advocating for a system that meets the needs of all individuals by lending your signature. Natalie Winstanley Petition Starter

Thousands of Bearsden and Milngavie residents are currently cut off from Glasgow's growing network of safe, segregated cycle routes because two short sections of missing infrastructure leave the area disconnected from the city. The Glasgow City Region City Deal has delivered high-quality cycle routes across Glasgow. By the end of this summer, it will be possible to cycle safely from George Square to Kessington Road using a combination of segregated Avenues, the Forth & Clyde Canal, the Kelvin Walkway and quiet residential streets. Yet most Bearsden and Milngavie residents still have no safe route to access this network. Key arterial roads such as the A81/Milngavie Road remain significant barriers for anyone who is not a confident cyclist. Cyclists using these roads often report close passes from drivers, speeding and distracted driving - so it's understandable why so many choose to drive short trips instead.  The solution is to complete the remaining sections of the Bearsway cycle route - approximately 900 metres through Hillfoot and a further 600 metres connecting to Milngavie town centre. Watch this excellent video which explains the history and benefits of this route:  https://youtu.be/YtR3YqwKEYc?si=2fRlewe03Ax2gndp&t=180 This could then be linked up with Bearsden Cross, creating a network between homes, schools, workplaces and leisure.  Completing just 1.5 kilometres of missing infrastructure would connect local residents directly to more than 270 kilometres of planned traffic-free and low-traffic routes across Glasgow. It would provide safer transport options for commuting, education, shopping and leisure, while supporting healthier lifestyles and reducing congestion. Where safe cycle lanes have been built, there has been a huge uptick in people cycling: https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/article/13887/Cycling-trips-surge-by-43-as-Glasgow-s-active-travel-network-grows - in spite of our wet climate.  https://oursafestreets.substack.com/p/the-weathers-too-bad-to-cycle-in Funding could be sought through Scottish Government Active Travel programmes, significantly reducing the cost to East Dunbartonshire Council. These funds are ring-fenced for active travel, so can not be spent elsewhere - we're missing out by not bidding on it!  We call on East Dunbartonshire Council to prioritise completion of the remaining sections of Bearsway and deliver a continuous, safe cycle connection between Bearsden, Milngavie and Glasgow's wider active travel network.

Our park is very well used. People from the community put time and energy into taking care of it - cutting the grass and maintaining the park.  Other parks nearby are vandalised and not used, but we take pride in our park and want it to be a place children and families use and love. We were promised an upgrade a few years back, but nothing has changed.  Most days the swing park in the community is packed full of children. I am a mother of a child who is  constantly asking to go to a swing park however the one close to home is ‘boring’ for most of the children in the community.  This park is a vital resource for my family and others too - it's worth investing in activities that get our kids outdoors, active and socialising. Please help us secure investment to improve the park.

Yes. As of July 2026, the UK Government has confirmed that a mileage-based tax for electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids will begin in April 2028. The scheme is officially called Electric Vehicle Excise Duty (eVED).  The confirmed headline details are: Vehicle type From April 2028 Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) | 3p per mile Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) | 1.5p per mile Standard (non-plug-in) hybrids | No change, existing VED rules apply The mileage charge is in addition to the existing annual Vehicle Excise Duty (road tax) introduced for EVs from April 2025. It is not a replacement.  Other confirmed points include: •  Drivers will normally self-report their annual mileage.  •  Mileage will be checked against MOT records once the vehicle reaches three years old.  •  The Government has dropped its earlier proposal for mandatory annual mileage inspections on vehicles under three years old.  Example annual costs Annual mileageEV (3p/mile)PHEV (1.5p/mile)   5,000 | £150 | £75 10,000 | £300 | £150 15,000 | £450 | £225 20,000 | £600 | £300 This means an owner of a typical electric car registered after April 2025 could, for example, pay: •  Annual VED: £200 •  Plus 10,000 miles of eVED: £300 • Total: £500 per year Luxury EVs that attract the Expensive Car Supplement would continue to pay that where applicable, on top of the above, during the relevant years. 

No barrister in British legal history has ever faced contempt proceedings over the content of a closing speech. Rajiv Menon now faces up to two years in prison for words that barristers have recited in court for centuries. His case has become a test of a far larger principle: do jurors have a right to acquit according to their conscience, even where a judge's directions point toward conviction? Barristers can now be forbidden by judges from mentioning this principle — sometimes called jury equity — even though the independence of juries has been recognised in law since the 1670 case of R v Penn & Mead, and is honoured on a plaque at the Old Bailey itself. In January 2026, when Rajiv Menon KC referred to this history while defending Charlotte Head, one of the Palestine Action defendants charged over the 2024 Filton factory protest. Head was later acquitted, and the trial judge accused Menon of contempt of court — despite later accepting there was nothing improper in citing the 1670 case. Menon now faces a two-day contempt trial on 28 July. If the independence of juries can no longer be spoken of in court without risking prison, every defendant's ability to receive a fearless defence is put at risk. Alex Norris and Ellie Reeves: do you want to be remembered on another plaque in the Old Bailey as those that destroyed Britain’s juries? 

Falmouth needs this car park, and for it to sit almost empty and unused during peak shopping hours is a disgrace. The removal of this bollard will also facilitate easier access for the elderly, disabled and young mums who currently have to struggle through the streets laden with shopping bags or pushing buggies. The small car parks, such as The Moor and Well Lane are restricted on spaces, and the larger long stay car parks such as Grove Place and Town Quarry which are situated at either end of the town, are not that accessible if you have baggage or mobility problems. Local Businesses want it removed, and so do locals. Please help keep the High Streets of Falmouth alive, and support local traders.