Inadequate tree maintenance by local authorities is a critical issue. We focus on the tragic, preventable death of Chris Hall in 2020, killed by a decayed tree limb in Wilmslow. The responsible council, Cheshire East, was fined £500,000 for failing to have a formal maintenance strategy. Currently, regular tree inspection is voluntary, creating a legislative gap that puts the public at risk. We explore the campaign for Chris's Law, which seeks to mandate that councils register and regularly in...
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Inadequate tree maintenance by local authorities is a critical issue. We focus on the tragic, preventable death of Chris Hall in 2020, killed by a decayed tree limb in Wilmslow. The responsible council, Cheshire East, was fined £500,000 for failing to have a formal maintenance strategy. Currently, regular tree inspection is voluntary, creating a legislative gap that puts the public at risk. We explore the campaign for Chris's Law, which seeks to mandate that councils register and regularly in...
The Exam Crisis: Why Educational Assessment Reform is Crucial for Youth Mental Health
The Bench Report
5 minutes
3 days ago
The Exam Crisis: Why Educational Assessment Reform is Crucial for Youth Mental Health
This episode explores the urgent need for educational assessment reform due to the profound impact high-stakes exams have on youth mental health. Current assessments, including SATs and concentrated end-of-course exams, are linked to overwhelming stress, anxiety, panic attacks, and even suicidal thoughts. The current system is criticized for prioritizing memory recall and disproportionately harming disadvantaged and neurodiverse students. We discuss calls for a more flexible, diversified syst...
The Bench Report
Inadequate tree maintenance by local authorities is a critical issue. We focus on the tragic, preventable death of Chris Hall in 2020, killed by a decayed tree limb in Wilmslow. The responsible council, Cheshire East, was fined £500,000 for failing to have a formal maintenance strategy. Currently, regular tree inspection is voluntary, creating a legislative gap that puts the public at risk. We explore the campaign for Chris's Law, which seeks to mandate that councils register and regularly in...
