We currently have 5 windfarms in the glen and feel that the accumulative impact from this planning consent would adversely affect our community, the wildlife, our heritage and economy.

Taylor Wimpey have submitted planning application to amend approved construction traffic route, via Meteor Close, for the remainder of the build of the Sewell Meadow development. The x3 proposals for the construction traffic route are duplicated from planning application 20190533—Option 1 being the approved route. Application has been called into Planning Committee for consideration to allow the public the opportunity to comment on the amendment (normal consultation period does not apply for amendments).

Allowing the construction traffic to use St Faiths Road will affect residents living and working in Old Catton, particularly near Repton Avenue and St Faiths Road

Have your say and keep the construction traffic on the approved route and out of Old Catton

“He who allows oppression shares the crime.”
[Erasmus Darwin - Charles Darwin’s Grandfather; who amongst other things was one of the leading campaigners against the British Slave Trade in the UK]

The MEKA Programme was established with a vision to empower students, young professionals, and businesses by bridging the gap between education and practical industry experience. Rooted in the belief that real-world exposure is key to fostering innovation, MEKA has become a platform for collaboration, skill development, and community growth.

Our Mission
At its core, the MEKA Programme is dedicated to:
1. Enhancing Employability: By connecting students with meaningful internship opportunities, MEKA equips them with the skills and confidence needed to thrive in competitive industries.
2. Supporting Business Growth: MEKA collaborates with SMEs, startups, and educational institutions, providing them with access to fresh talent and tailored mentorship.
3. Fostering Community Impact: Through partnerships and events, MEKA actively contributes to local economic development and innovation.

Achievements
Since its inception, the MEKA Programme has:
- Built strong partnerships with universities across the UK, enabling students to participate in impactful real-world projects.
- Supported countless small businesses and startups by matching them with skilled interns and providing strategic guidance.
- Received the Innovation Award, recognising its role in creating opportunities that drive regional economic resilience and growth.

Vision for the Future
MEKA envisions a future where every aspiring professional has access to opportunities that shape their careers, and businesses can easily access the resources they need to thrive. By securing additional resources such as a dedicated office space, MEKA aims to expand its impact, fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration in Birmingham and beyond.

Join Us
Whether you’re a student seeking experience, a business looking for support, or a community leader aiming to drive local impact, MEKA is here to partner with you in building a brighter, more inclusive future.

The UK Gov justifies the bombing campaign of Gaza on account of the Qassam Brigades' attacks of Oct 7th - but Hamas' designation as a terrorist body undermines its status as the democratically elected government of Palestine. The Oct 7th attack has been misreported: see www.redressonline.com/2023/11/israel-revises-7-october-death-toll-of-1400-israelis-dead-to-1200-plus-200-palestinian-fighters-without-declaring-that-most-deaths-were-at-hands-of-israel . Hamas is fighting for equal rights for its people and is obliged, like any government, to defend its people. Even former Labour Leader Tony Blair said in 2017 that “We were wrong to boycott Hamas after its election win.”

We British negotiated with Sinn Fein and that resulted in peace in Northern Ireland, at the same time as we were condemning their military wing, the Provisional IRA. When the IRA bombed Birmingham and Manchester, did our UK Government send the RAF and British Army to level Londonderry? Palestine is no different. And if we exclude a political partner, we cannot hope for peace. The British Government should consider returning to its position before 2021, when only the Qassam Brigades were banned.

On 11th January we delivered 1,410 copies of this open letter to 10 Downing Street (see the video at https://youtu.be/KA_7cuYMFB0 ) Please note names on this petition were NOT shared with the Home Secretary without the signers express written permission.

This petition is promoted by Pete Gregson, chair of One Democratic Palestine; more at www.onepalestine.land/hamas
See him promote this petition on Youtube www.youtu.be/LdieTTTvsVE
and TikTok www.tiktok.com/@pete.gregson/video/7294585329410002208
and Instagram www.instagram.com/p/Cy5jxWPOSYK/

Everyone out to Dennis’s East London Employment Tribunal Hearing 25th – 29th September.

BRING OUR MOVEMENT OF WORKERS & THE COMMUNITY INTO THE STREETS AND INTO THE COURTROOM

We must stop Newham Council from getting away with sacking one of Newham's best known and most effective union and community leaders, Dennis Carabott. Mr. Carabott has worked for Newham Council for sixteen years. He has been a refuse truck driver, team leader and teacher and mentor for new drivers for most of those years. He has an unblemished record of service. He was sacked by Newham Council on blatantly false, manufactured charges of misconduct because he was so successful at fighting for his co-workers as a union leader and for the community he served.

Mr. Carabott played a decisive role in the decision of Newham and Tower Hamlets refuse workers overwhelmingly yes votes on their recent strike ballots despite his termination. Win or lose his employment case, he is ready and eager to lead our upcoming strikes.

Dennis Carabott’s Employment Tribunal case begins on 25th September at the East London Employment Tribunal. The case is slated to go for 5 days. The Newham Strike to Win Committee must win Mr. Carabott’s reinstatement. We need our natural allies to join the fight, including the traders and shoppers at Queens Market who are also fighting against the Newham Refuse and Waste Department managers to save and improve the market.

We can win in court if we are putting the movement back into our strike movement by taking our fight to the streets, to the picket lines and to Newham’s Labour Party Council and Mayor. A win for Dennis is inseparable from the forging and emerging of new leaders for our movement. We need to win Mr. Carabott’s case to send a message to every Tory MP and Labour Party Council that victimising our leaders will accomplish nothing more than the strengthening of our movement.

Dennis’s Tribunal hearing Monday 25th – Friday 29th September, 9.30am onwards, East London Employment Tribunals, Import Building, 2 Clove Cres, London E14 2BE. Nearest station East India DLR.

Read Dennis’s full witness statement at movementforjustice.co.uk

Moreover, we have observed a growing trend where canteens at many colleges and events have begun to limit the food options available, often promoting plant-based selections without offering adequate non-plant-based options or even informed about. We feel that this approach undermines our individual choices and the importance of providing diverse dietary options. The May Ball's exclusively plant-based menu serves as a tipping point, and we believe it is time to address this issue.

Wasps Rugby went in administration and The Wasps badge was removed leaving an ugly empty space at the heart of our beleoved stadium, for all fans to see.

There is no voice to get back our beloved badge at the front heart of the stadium, it is not just a badge it is the soul of our stadium.

With new ownerhsip (Doug King) this is such as positive and exciting new start for Coventry City Football club, it is ideal time to get our badge back up proudly at the front location of our beloved football stadium so we can take ownership of our beloved CCFC souls, for ALL Cov City fans and generations of families to come.

As a club we are extremely grateful for the overwhelming support we have received since this was announced, and we are very excited at the prospect of further enhancing Meadowbank’s status as the hub of the community.

In response to these concerns, on 13 June 2022, a roundtable of experts was convened by the UKRI Six Clean Air Strategic Priorities Fund programme 7.

The meeting produced a Consensus Statement that summarises the issues around the use of flame retardants, and lays out a series of policy recommendations that should lead to more effective fire safety measures and reduce the human and environmental health risks posed by these potentially toxic chemicals.

Click here to read the full Statement

In brief summary, the Statement calls on the UK government to:

1. Minimise the need for chemical flame retardants by incentivising industry to develop benign-by-design furniture, building materials, and other goods. These should be made from materials that are inherently less flammable than conventional fabrics and foams.

2. Adopt a systemic approach to fire safety standards, evaluating the contribution of flame retardants to fire safety in the context of behaviours that initiate fires, factors that affect fire propagation, smoke generation, and toxicity during fires, and vulnerabilities that make people more likely to be harmed in a fire.

3. Improve the governance of standards, regulation, and testing of flame retardants and fire safety, ensuring that decision-making includes all stakeholders, and the integrity of deliberative processes is not compromised by conflicted interests.

4. Promote a culture of and funding for human environmental health research in the UK, to support the development, synthesis, and interpretation of the multi-disciplinary evidence base that is required for making evidence-informed decisions in complex regulatory environments.

5. Ensure that a very high level of certainty about the human and environmental safety of flame retardants is demonstrated before they are approved for use.

6. Develop a labelling system for tracking the use of chemicals in products, including flame retardants, that allows undesirable substances to be easily identified and diverted away from the circular economy.