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Your Politics is about the issues that matter to you. We'll use this page to update previous stories and include a selection of your e-mails.

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Update - Village Halls
Last year we told you about communities fighting to save their village halls. We filmed with Helen Austin, a resident campaigning for funding to rebuild a village hall near Purbeck in Dorset. We're delighted to report that Helen's application for lottery funding has been successful. A brand new village hall is to be built - and the community is planning a big party to celebrate!

Update - Railway phone masts
More good news. Last month we told you about a mobile phone mast being planned in Bourne End, Buckinghamshire. Network Rail has agreed to look again at the siting of the proposed mast - and it looks like agreement has been reached with residents on an alternative site.

Story suggestion - Kite Surfing
Havant's Licensing Committee has forced through a resolution to introduce a byelaw banning Kitesurfing on Havant Borough Council owned Beaches. They said "kitesurfers were forcing windsurfers on to the Blue Flag section of the beach". Many of the Councillors, from both sides of the political bench, sought more information and first hand experience of what kitesurfing was all about, but the vote ultimately came down to party politics with the Conservative group voting unanimously in favour of the ban.
Phil Elborough, Portsmouth

Update - Care Homes
In January, we filmed with Yvonne Hossack, a solicitor trying to save the Moreton Centre, a Sussex care home, from closure. Yvonne lost her case in the High Court and the centre is still due to close. But residents and day care users say the fight goes on - and last month they staged a sit-in in protest.

Story suggestion - Flouride
I am deeply concerned with the Government's plan to pass a bill to fluoridate our water. The public should be made aware of the controversy surrounding this practice. We are being sold the line that it is in the interest of our children in deprived areas to fluoridate the water. But there is much evidence that disputes the safety of fluoride in the water, and there is little or no evidence to prove that it improves children's teeth.
Christine Morgan, Carmarthen

Update - Supermarkets
After our report on supermarket expansion was broadcast, we learnt that campaigners in London are occupying the site of a proposed Asda Walmart development on the Old Kent Road. They say that local shops will suffer if the supermarket plan goes ahead and claim the area is already well served by supermarkets. More information can be found at http://www.corporatewatch.org.uk

Update - Fireworks
Last week a petition with 80,000 signatures was handed in to Downing Street, supporting plans to ban fireworks for most of the year. The issue was debated in parliament on Friday, with the second reading of a new fireworks bill put forward by Bill Tynan, the MP for Hamilton South.

Story suggestion: Parking
The increasing, indiscriminate, thougtless and uncontrolled parking of commercial vehicles (white vans) which are turning our suburbs into depots for the companies owning these vehicles. Since they have a policy of encouraging their driver/employees to park the vehicles at "home" without suprvising or monitoring where they are parked, the parking conflicts with the available spaces of the residents. Then conflict errupts.

The frustrating feature of this is that nobody seems to care and the agrieved residents appear to be unable to redress the situation. I personally have complained to the companies involved, their driver/employees who simply chorus the reply,"the vehicles are taxed and insured and can therefore be parked anywhere". I have even sought the assistance of my MP, but the company in question stopped replying to her qusetions. The MP subsequentlty advised me that since the company HQ was not in her constituency then they were not obliged to reply!

Update - Phone masts
We've covered many protests over phone masts on Your Politics, with ordinary people taking action around the country. On March 8th, many of these campaigners will be converging on London, for the first ever national rally against phone masts. More information can be found at http://www.mastsanity.org/

Story suggestion: Flooding
My familiy and I live in Chertsey, Surrey, which has beeen so badly hit by the flooding this winter. Yet, despite most of Chertsey being part of an urban flooding plan, the local council keeps granting planning permission for more housing , dangerously close to the river. Most recently there has been a new development which is only partially open, while the floods are going on, right next to the Chertsey Meads, a protected area which borders on the Thames. I lived in a house next to the new development, which was built in 1957 and when it was threatened by flooding, I was told it should never have been build where it stands. But now right behind my former property stand 120 new units of moden housing, right in the middle of the floodplane. Why is it that Development companies get the go-ahead, when waterboard and enviroment agency say this should not be built?

Story suggestion: Waterskiing
The situation on lake windamere regarding the 10mph ban is a topic that should be brought to peoples attention.Many people are under the impression that we are irresponsible cowboys and spoil the lake district for others.My family and the friends we share with are responsible people .We have with water sking found an activity the from grandad to the smallest of us at 8years old can enjoy.We all go as two families and stay together this has encouraged a better lifestyle for us all.Even me at 43 and in remission from breast cancer has ago Imay not be much good but it has given me back some self respect being able to do what others take for granted.If it is banned that I will be very sorry as alot of happy hours and good times will be lost.While the situation does need some managed plan to be put in force to ban it would be a loss.
Terry Gill & Adele Bagnall, Preston, Lancs

Story suggestion: Hedges
I think that one of the subjects that could be covered in the Your Politics slot is that of High Hedges, and in particular the coniferous Lleylandii hedges. Recently there was a hint that the subject was to be debated in Parliament, but once again everything has gone quiet. Will it ever happen that people have a right to daylight in their gardens? I've had none all winter.
Neil Buxton, Stoke on Trent, England

Update - Respite care
Last year we reported that councils were cutting back provision for respite care for the disabled. It seems that the situation hasn't changed. We received this email from a viewer:

"I have a 23 year old Severe Learning Disability son with a terminal heart condition. There is a terrible shortage of respite care all over the UK. Some places worse than the other. When The Carers Act came out and a carer was assessed for their needs, their is no resources to meet those needs. When is the NHS and Local Authorities going to do something? It is a dreadful strain on a Carer.

Also a lot of Learning Disabilities have NHS Care Plans, and that means 24 hour nursing care. The buck is passed over to Social Services, who have no medical training. There is a Human Rights Isuue, when this is happening to these unfortunate client group. When is the NHS going to wake-up and face up to their responsibilties as they entitled to the same health care as the rest of the population?

What now is required in every area a nursing respite care place, for children and adults over 18 years old."
Elizabeth McDonnell, Luton England

Story suggestion:
My friend and I live in Pokesdown near Kingspark. Kingspark could be absolutely gorgeous, however, we have cars being burnt out every week - there are two there now. There is glass all over the road and a child will eventually cut themselves.

We rang the council but no joy yet. There are no facilities for our teenagers here. We are two mums on a mission. Can you help us? We're hoping to be elected next year!
Jazz Selby, Bournemouth

Update - Right To Buy
In November we reported that council house owners were campaigning against plans to end the 'right to buy'. The government has now announced a compromise. The 'right to buy' will remain - but the discounts offered will be substantially reduced in property hotspots.

Update - Recycling
Last December we looked at Private Members Bills and met Joan Ruddock, a Member of Parliament who wants to make a law forcing councils to provide doorstep recycling.

Joan's bill has now been published and will be debated on March 14th. Campaigners have been lobbying parliament, trying to persuade their MPs to back her. Check this page in March for further updates.

Update - Phone Masts

Concern over mobile phone masts

Telephone masts are always a hot topic. Last year we met people with concerns over the masts being built for Tetra, a new police radio system. Since then campaigners say they've won a major victory.

In Devon and Cornwall, objections to mast planning applications has delayed the roll out of Tetra by two years.

But both the police and MM02, who run the system, say Tetra will be introduced eventually - and reassure people that the masts are safe.

Response - Bye laws
Your 6 o'clock news item tonight on unenforced legislation in the area of antisocial behaviour missed a major point regarding the recent change in the law, which outlawed cycling on pavements. Cycling on pavements is OUTLAWED!! This is a LAW, not a byelaw, but if it has resulted in a single prosecution I haven't heard of this. If anything, the practice has become more common since the law was passed.
John Scott, Weymouth

Response - Bye laws
I have just watched the 6pm news and seen the problems of trying to stop children playing. It made me angry about this country. No Ball Games, No Skateboarding, No this and No that etc.

My son Sean was also chastised by neighbours at building his own ramps for skateboarding in our quiet crescent. Doesn't this show initiative for a kid? I am shocked there is so little in this country for the average kid to do.
Janet West, Hook

Response - Bye laws
I was watching your programme this evening about local byelaws which are ignored. The thing that annoys me more than anything is cyclists riding their bikes on the pavement. I have twice had to literally jump for my life or limbs.
John Allen, Edinburgh

News
The Your Politics team has been given an award by campaigners in East London fighting for the rights of low paid workers. The East London Communities Organisation (TELCO) thanked us for covering their work and highlighting grass roots political issues in the inner city.

Update - Fireworks
Last year we reported on the growing calls for legislation to restrict the sale of fireworks. People across the country told us of the nuisance and distress caused by fireworks. Backbench MP Bill Tynan is trying to change things. His Fireworks Bill will be debated in parliament on February 28th.

Response - Village Halls.

Fighting to save the village hall

Surely the right way to repair and refurbish village halls is for the local community themselves to pull together and do the work.

The local Gardening club, Youth club, Morris Dancing club even Womens' Institute should all be able to give up their own particular activity temporarily and give time to this instead.

They must all have the ability to do the work. It would be the best possible way of pulling the community together.
D Gray Fisk

Response - Respite Care.
I was cheered by your report on the 6 o'clock news about the lack of respite care. There has got to be a better way to treat such selfless people caring for the disabled. Please make your feature the first of many. It is the case that those with the smallest voice get the least of what's going.
Pauline Scutt

Response - Respite Care
Hello. My name is Kevin. I'm 12 years old and live in Belfast city . My sister is disabled and I was hoping you could help.

I saw BBC news and heard about the respite facilities. My sister also has a very bad heart . She goes to a respite. But it is very small and does not last a long time.

My mother is very stressed . So is my dad and me. To make matters worse my brother is autistic .

I am sending this to show you how difficult it is to cope with a handicapped member of the family and how much we would appreciate some extra help.
Kevin, Belfast

Disclaimer: The BBC will use as many of your questions as possible but we cannot guarantee that all e-mails will be published. The BBC reserves the right to edit comments that are published.