I applied for a time extension from the SPSO believing I would get a reasonable adjustment under the Equality Act on account of my neurodivergence and was rejected. I am aware of similar issues and anxieties from my local autism community and local services, where I have established that this practice is quite common.
Many neurodivergent people struggle with executive functioning, including adhering to strict deadlines. The time restriction creates an unfair barrier to justice, preventing valid complaints from being heard. We are being excluded from the SPSO by design. Allowing additional time for us would promote accessibility, fairness, and equal treatment under the law.
The SPSO has no record of what types of disabilities are granted ‘exceptional circumstances’. I feel their policy is unreliable. I don’t think the service is transparent or understands the massive impact being ‘timed bar’ has on the neurodivergent community. My intention is to have a Scottish wide protection of inclusion to stop this practice.
Ban all non-essential single-use plastics
- 415 Signatures
I’m aiming to make Scotland the first country in the world to ban the usage of all single-use plastics for good; this would include items such a silage wrapping, disposable vapes, wet wipes, crisp packets, balloons, and single-use water bottles, which are all huge polluters. Visit my website Make Scotland Plastic Free for more information on my campaign so far.
Further information on the debate around single-use plastics and tackling plastic pollution can be found on the Friends of the Earth Scotland website.
The Environmental Protection (Single-use Plastic Products) (Scotland) Regulations 2021 set out the measures already in place, which would need to be strengthened.
Halt the production of hydrogen from freshwater
- 870 Signatures
Green hydrogen is touted as a replacement for fossil fuels. Hydrogen production requires extreme and unsustainable volumes of fresh water. Borehole water is seen as a source. Manufacturing takes 25 to 40 litres of desalinated or freshwater to produce 1kg of hydrogen. 1kg of hydrogen will power a class 1 or 2 Large Goods Vehicle for 6 miles. One plant under development plans to use 500,000 litres of water per day to produce 12,800kg of hydrogen. Similar plants are proposed/under development. Water will be extracted from a very wide geographical area depending on ground conditions and regional rainfall. Water is a major element of life and is in short supply in many areas. The volumes to be extracted will adversely impact the countryside, local industries, agriculture, fishing, and households, and possibly affect flooding. Extracting water will cause serious adverse impacts on aquatic life.
Responses to my enquiries show little knowledge of the volume of water used and I have seen no scientific studies to identify possible adverse consequences.
Ensure planning consideration for equestrian accessibility
- Final Signatures: 273
It is incredibly upsetting for the everyday equestrian to watch as their already limited opportunities to ride are being paved over and greenspace being designed without equestrian usage in mind. Urban development is knowingly being approved without respecting the nearby community and is reducing or severing links to important greenspace and off-road opportunities.
New residents to these developments may have limited or no experience living in rural areas or for when encountering equestrians both on road and in shared paths and greenspace. We are made to feel unwelcome on both because our presence in the area has not been designed for, advertised, or protected.
Urban development must include access pathways and signage for all. New greenspace should include horse access either as full access or as a link to further equestrian-friendly spaces or places of interest, such as other equestrian facilities or local riding spots like local monuments, parks, beaches and woodland.
In 2023, I bought a house valued in excess of £300,000. Very quickly I noticed that there were inaccuracies within the Home Report that were going to be costly to fix. Evidence provided to all showcased that the problems were there long before the Home Report was provided, yet there was no recourse to challenge the surveyor. The repairs are going to be costly and I have decided to sell at a loss simply to get rid of the problematic property.
Whilst a rented house must be watertight and safe, there is no recourse to ensure that the same can be said for a purchased property. This puts the buyer at complete and utter risk, which in my view is inappropriate. There needs to be adequate scrutiny over the content of survey reports and the information provided to buyers, which would create accountability within the profession.
There is a crisis in lack of support for CAMHS patients when they turn 18. CAMHS referrals to Adult Mental Health Services have declined. Young vulnerable people are instead inappropriately signposted to the voluntary sector, which cannot provide the specialist support they need. Families are left in limbo when they are incorrectly signposted and turned away from the voluntary sector. This does not follow the clinical process guidance for young people moving between Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and Adult Mental Health Services (Transition Care Planning action 21: principles of transition).
https://www.gov.scot/publications/transition-care-planning-action-21-principles-transition/
https://www.publications.scot.nhs.uk/publication/6327
https://syp.org.uk/project/transition-care-plan/
Not addressing this issue risks creating a lost generation that will cost more in the long term.
Develop guidance on child contact domestic abuse
- 71 Signatures
I experienced domestic abuse through child contact processes from an ex-partner but Police Scotland did not regard any of it as abuse.
Non-resident parents post-separation routinely need to fight in the courts to see their children. Abusive and controlling parents have no desire to use mediation to reach an agreement and will use malicious allegations and the court process to frustrate the non-resident parent. These parents often suffer significant mental health and financial problems as a result.
Grant protected status to primitive goat species in the Scottish Borders
- 12,587 Signatures
[Feral goats found around Langholm and the lower Scottish Borders have their origins in the native species of the Iron Age] (https://www.tafac.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/V28-p81-99-Smith.pdf) but are not recognised in any capacity other than general protections for wild and feral animals.
These neglected species survive in the last truly wild and free habitats of the Borders, and represent an independence of spirit reflective of our national character. Their numbers are dangerously low, and in danger of extinction due to loss of habitat, and systematic and ongoing culling.
The feral goats of the Cheviots in Northumberland, which share similarities with the native goats in Scotland, have been added to [the Rare Breeds Survival Trust watchlist] (https://www.rbst.org.uk/news/britains-oldest-primitive-goat-joins-the-watchlist) to support their conservation, and are also included on [DEFRA’s Native breeds at risk list] (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-breeds-at-risk-from-exotic-animal-disease-outbreaks/uk-breeds-at-risk-list-bar#goats)
[The British Primitive Goat Society summarises identification of primitive goats] (https://britishprimitivegoats.org.uk/what-is-a-british-primitive-goat/) and also explains the Cheviot goat herd protection process, close relatives to the Langholm herd.
Reduce council tax by 50% for single persons
- 69 Signatures
The cost of living is rising, council tax is rising, electricity and gas bills, not to mention the price of food at the moment. People such as myself who work full time but live on their own have the same bills as everyone else but with only one wage. It is getting more and more difficult to prioritise between health and necessities.
Ban the sale and use of artificial sweeteners in food and drinks
- Final Signatures: 42
Artificial sweeteners are a serious health concern and are in many foods and beverages, such as Coca Cola, Fanta etc. Many people do not realise what they are putting into their body and I believe it would be one step closer to having a healthier country if artificial sweeteners were banned.
Artificial sweeteners, such as sucralose, have been linked to increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, which is why I believe artificial sweeteners must be banned for everyone’s health.