Author: hollylaw84

Renters deserve better

Today I attended the local Tenants Forum hosted by Acorn and North Somerset Council and I am left contemplating the power imbalance between renters and landlords. As with most injustices, it doesn't have to be this way. "Improving Housing Conditions" We heard about the council's 'action area' scheme which aims to improve the quality of … Continue reading Renters deserve better

Weston high street & town centre

Is Weston high street and town centre the best it could be? Probably not. Which is why it’s exciting that Weston could be in for a share of the £675 million Future High Streets Fund pot. North Somerset Council officers are currently hard at work talking to businesses and other stakeholders about the challenges the town centre … Continue reading Weston high street & town centre

What do we expect from our MP?

What do we expect from our MP? This thought has been occupying my mind following the circulation of two pictures of the current Weston-super-Mare MP, John Penrose. You may have seen John yourself, smiling while collecting food for our local foodbank or surrounded by volunteers at the new ‘homeless shelter’. The first thing to say … Continue reading What do we expect from our MP?

Climate change – are we doing enough?

If you haven’t heard, climate change is an existential problem and we need to do something about it. Yes, I really do mean existential – the existence of humans is literallyat risk. On this subject, I was lucky enough to hear Nicky Jones, a local freelance researcher and writer speak about climate change in the UK at … Continue reading Climate change – are we doing enough?

‘Lost Connections’ Book Review

'Lost Connections' written by Johaan Hari made me cry, in the best possible way. Don't be put off by a fear this is a self-help manual intended to get you thinking about yourself. It is the opposite. It is a refreshingly accessible overview of key scientific studies highlighting the exaggeration of biological explanations of depression and … Continue reading ‘Lost Connections’ Book Review

‘Utopia for Realists’ Book Review

I felt intellectually (perhaps ideologically...) hugged by this book. Not only because it shares my belief in human nature and what constitutes equality and fairness, but because it contained reams of evidence to support what a good idea Universal Basic Income (UBI) is. A good idea and an inevitability. A bit like the next Labour … Continue reading ‘Utopia for Realists’ Book Review