Observations

Access to household waste recycling facilities in Sherborne

1. The petition of residents of the constituency of Glastonbury and Somerton,
2. Declares that Somerset residents should be able to use their closest household waste recycling centre; further declares that the decision to charge Somerset residents £8.50 to use a Dorset Council household waste recycling centre in Sherborne is wrong; further notes the recent separate petition highlighting the strength of community feeling on this issue; further declares that this move will force residents in Milborne Port, Henstridge, Charlton Horethorne, Corton Denham, Templecombe and the surrounding areas to travel up to a 28 mile round trip to access a free household waste recycling centre; further notes the possible environmental impact of this decision and the possible increased CO2 emissions and fuel costs for rural residents; further declares that easy access encourages residents to separate waste properly rather than disposing of recyclables, hazardous items, or bulky furniture in standard household bins; further notes with concern that this charge has been implemented after the latest annual statistics show there was an 9% increase in fly tipping incidents in 2024-25; and further notes that 62% of fly-tips involved household waste.
3. The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Government to take into account the concerns of the petitioners and to encourage Dorset Council and Somerset Council to take immediate action to ensure that Somerset residents are able to use their closest household waste recycling centre without charge, including in Sherborne.
4. And the petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Sarah Dyke, Official Report, 21 April 2026; Vol. 784, c. 297.]
5. [P003188]
6. Observations from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Mary Creagh):
7. Local authorities are legally required to deliver waste collection services to households in their area. Householders must be allowed to deposit waste deemed to be “household waste” for free. There is no specific obligation to provide such a service for residents in another area, although a local authority can make arrangements with a neighbouring authority for its residents to use the neighbouring authority’s facilities.
8. We have issued guidance for local authorities on factors to consider when delivering household waste collection services to ensure they meet local need and deliver value-for-money for the taxpayer.
9. Local authorities are independent bodies and are accountable to their electorate rather than to Ministers or Departments. If citizens have concerns about their local authority, they should try to discuss these with their council in the first instance. The Local Government Ombudsman is charged by Parliament with investigating complaints of injustice arising from maladministration by local authorities and is free of charge.

Flooding in Ladygrove, Didcot

1. The petition of residents of Derwent Avenue, Thurne View and Eden Court in Ladygrove in the constituency of Didcot and Wantage,
2. Declares that Thames Water must take all possible measures to mitigate against repeat sewage flood occurrences from manhole 2201.
3. The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to ensure that Thames Water confirms that all possible measures will be put in place to mitigate against further sewage flood events from manhole 2201.
4. And the petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Olly Glover, Official Report, 25 March 2026; Vol. 783, c. 367.]
5. [P003180]
6. Observation from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Emma Hardy):
7. We sympathise with residents of Derwent Avenue, Thurne View and Eden Court who have experienced repeated sewage flooding and the ongoing risk this poses to their homes, and thanks the petitioners for raising this serious and distressing issue.
8. We are committed to reducing the risk of sewage flooding and to holding water companies to account for the performance of their waste water networks. Water companies have a legal duty to maintain their sewerage systems to ensure they are effectual and do not cause pollution or harm to communities. Where companies fail to meet these obligations, regulators have strong powers to intervene.

Banyamulenge Community

Government review of the National Planning Policy Framework

Houses in multiple occupation

Stockport Green Belt

UN International Day to Combat Islamophobia

Antisocial Behaviour in Holton Heath