Mile Oak Library has been told it must permanently close its doors on 21 July 2023 as part of council wide saving cuts. Whilst low visitor numbers have been given as justification for the closure these are the result of library opening hours structured around the needs of the school it is now based in rather than that of the community, limiting its accessibility and the activities that can take place there. This decision removes the only remaining community space and essential family educational resource from an area with significant levels of depravation. Libraries are essential community spaces and the closure of any public library should be opposed by everyone who cares about communities, families and education.

Why is this important? Redcatch Park is the hub of the community with hundreds of people of all ages, from small children, famillies and the elderly using it for sport, play, walking and socialising. It is essential for their physical and mental wellbeing. It is only popular following years of hard work by volunteers but now needs essential funding for some major improvements, especially as the nearby development will see a huge increase in use.

It is vital that provision for health and social care should be vastly improved

We need to ensure the deal - which is ready to go - gets signed. Horizon allows scientists to work on protecting bees and build upon work from the Covid vaccine to protect us from future health emergencies. If we want a better future, this type of research is vital. 15 Nobel Prize winners and scientists across the UK are asking the Prime Minister to sign the deal. If he rejects it, that compromises the future of science in Britain. That’s why we need to put pressure on Rishi Sunak to put pen to paper.

We need to be free to live and work on, move through, and deliver to Walkley Road safely and easily. We deserve streets which create community, not chaos.

The impact on a persons' mental health when their cat is hit by a car can be profound and devastating, and cat owners should be entitled to the same due process afforded to dog owners. Under section 170 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, a driver is required to stop & report accidents involving specific animals including dogs, but not cats. This requirement arises from their status as working animals rather than as domestic pets, but many dogs are pets, not working animals. Motorists should be required to report collisions with cats in the same way as collisions with dogs, so that the cat's owners can be informed. Many cat owners feel excluded by the law. This needs to be changed especially as all cats must be chipped by 2024.

This would make it hard for people like myself to get train tickets. It's important to make sure that we still keep the train tickets office so we can get train tickets without having to mess about with tickets machine as some people don't know how to use them like myself.

Psychological Well-being: Swimming has been shown to have positive effects on mental health, reducing stress, anxiety, and depression. Women-only swim sessions create a supportive and non-judgmental environment where women can relax, rejuvenate, and socialize with fellow participants. This social connection and emotional support further enhance their well-being and contribute to improved mental health outcomes. Increased Comfort and Privacy: Women-only swim sessions create a comfortable and private space for women to engage in physical activity. Many women feel more at ease and confident in the absence of male spectators or participants. This environment encourages them to embrace swimming as a regular exercise option and helps overcome barriers such as body image concerns and self-consciousness. Zahra, a Muslim woman, felt excluded from traditional mixed-gender swim sessions due to her religious beliefs and modesty requirements. However, when the community pool introduced women-only swim sessions, Zahra finally had a safe space to enjoy swimming while adhering to her faith. This inclusive environment allowed her to connect with other women in her community, fostering a sense of belonging and cultural expression. Zahra's participation in women-only swim sessions became a vital aspect of her self-care routine, providing both physical exercise and spiritual rejuvenation. Rachel, a devout Jewish woman, had always enjoyed swimming as a form of exercise and relaxation. However, due to her religious beliefs and modesty considerations, participating in mixed-gender swim sessions became challenging for her. She longed for a space where she could swim comfortably without compromising her faith. When a local swimming facility introduced women-only swim sessions, Rachel's excitement was palpable. She eagerly attended the first session, not knowing what to expect. As she entered the pool area, she was greeted by a diverse group of women, including some from her own Jewish community. Rachel's story highlights the significance of women-only swim sessions for Jewish women who seek to maintain their religious observances while embracing an active and healthy lifestyle. It emphasizes the importance of providing spaces that respect cultural and religious diversity, fostering a sense of community, and promoting well-being for all women.

Unfortunately the machines and that includes laptops etc do not speak or have braille on their touch screens to help the visually impaired listener or have a facility for the deaf. They cannot read if a deaf person writes their requirement down nor can they sign if that is the deaf persons means of communication. They also are unable to tell customers if there is a cheaper ticketing option, such as splitting the ticket available

An investigation shows that Asda, Morrisons, Tesco and Sainsbury’s overcharged drivers by £900m in 2022 alone. Supermarket bosses are in trouble with the Competition and Markets Authority and the Government for lining their pockets at the public’s expense, and it’s all over the news. It’s a PR nightmare, but right now the voice of the public - those affected by eye-watering prices - isn’t part of the conversation. If thousands of motorists across the UK add to the Government and regulatory pressure, we can force these companies to bring their prices in line with other forecourts.

Communities across Huntingdonshire are suffering from NHS dentist closures and the widespread lack of accessible NHS dentistry provision. Toothless in Huntingdon was founded in the wake of multiple local dentistry closures to hear testimony from patients and to urge authorities to take action. As health inequality continues to rise, patients are being put at considerable inconvenience and distress. The physical and mental pain suffered by those who are unable to find an NHS dentist local to them has all too often been matched by the financial hardships of being forced to 'go private' as practices are not taking on NHS patients. From the 1st April 2023, Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) took on the commissioning of NHS dentistry from NHS England. We note that to date, since the Cambridge and Peterborough ICB was formed, the issue of access to NHS dentistry has not appeared on board meeting agendas. Toothless in Huntingdon are calling for: 1. An NHS dentist for everyone 2. Reforms to the NHS dental contract that will encourage dentists to provide NHS treatments 3. Revenue to cover the 50% of the population that are unfunded by the government 4. NHS dental treatments to be free at the point of use 5. People to be prioritised before shareholder dividend - no more privatisation 6. An end to the two-tier system - hygienists, routine check-ups and preventative treatments must be a core NHS function The NHS was founded as a free-to-all service back in 1948. We pay for it, in part, via national insurance and taxation, yet our NHS dentists continue to disappear. We want them back! No society can legitimately call itself civilised if a sick person is denied medical care because of a lack of means or availability.

It’s almost impossible to live without internet access these days. Looking for jobs is just one of the things that you need to be plugged in for. That’s why the Government worked with providers to bring in social tariffs for people on benefits who can’t afford internet bills, because not having data keeps people locked in poverty. However, big companies like EE, Vodafone, Virgin Media O2 and Three aren’t letting people know they can access these rates. Only 5% of people who are eligible are accessing these lower prices and it’s no surprise when the companies seem to keep the information buried on their websites. It's about time the UK’s biggest internet providers make sure eligible customers can access lower prices.