Local councillors are calling on the Government to commit to a Summer Learning Fund that would support nearly 10,000 disadvantaged children across Sunderland to get ready for returning to school.

9,986 children across the city of Sunderland are eligible for free school meals and could now receive them during the six weeks holidays, following a recent Government u-turn.

An eyesore subway between Grindon, Hastings Hill and Pennywell has been vandalised in the middle of upgrade works, sparking fury from the local community.

The Hastings Hill subway under the A183 (Chester Road) is being refurbished to provide a brighter, cleaner way to get between Grindon and Hastings Hill estates and the new ALDI supermarket on the former Dewhirst site at Pennywell.

The notorious Hastings Hill subway under the A183 dual carriageway in Sunderland is finally being upgraded after years of complaints from residents - just in time for a new ALDI supermarket opening on 11^th June.

Upgrade works have begun on infamous underpass beneath the A183 Chester Road.The Hastings Hill subway links the former Dewhirst site at Pennywell with Grindon and Hastings Hill estates on the south side of the road.

A Sunderland City Councillor who campaigned for Council Tax to be suspended during the COVID-19 crisis has welcomed a cut in bills for those who need help.

In March Lib Dem councillor for Grindon and Thorney Close Stephen O'Brien called for people in Council Tax bands A-E to be given a 6-month holiday from payments, to help those struggling with the financial impact of the Covid-19 crisis.

Sunderland City Councillors will convene for their first online meeting next month - but there is anger as the public won't be able to have their voice heard.

Sunderland City Council is due to hold its first online meeting of all 75 city councillors on 10^th June.

But opposition Liberal Democrat councillors on Wearside have hit out after they were told that the public wouldn't be able to ask questions as usual.

Grindon and Thorney Close councillor Stephen O'Brien has hit out after residents have complained that trees planted as part of a £160,000 scheme look like they're dying.

A scheme which has seen 424 trees planted across Sunderland as part of the government's Urban Tree Challenge Fund to see more trees in urban areas has come under fire after complaints some of the trees are already starting to die.

Sunderland City Council won't be flying the England flag at the Civic Centre this year, as it doesn't feel it can do so due to social distancing requirements.

A Wearside local councillor who wanted Sunderland City Council to fly the Engla nd flag at the Civic Centre to mark St George's Day has said that England's national day should be used to reflect on and celebrate the way the country has come together during the coronavirus crisis.

City Councillor Stephen O'Brien is calling on the Government to give a 6-month holiday on Council Tax payments to help families cope with the impact of Covid-19.

Stephen O'Brien, Liberal Democrat councillor for Grindon, Springwell and Thorney Close wants people in Council Tax bands A-E to be given a 6 month holiday from payments, to help those struggling with the financial impact of the Covid-19 crisis.

Reacting to the announcement in today's Budget that the government will relocate 22,000 civil service jobs outside of central London, Lib Dem campaigner for Grindon and Thorney Close Paul Edgeworth said:

"Moving high quality civil service jobs out of central London is absolutely the right thing to do - but the Government must realise that the North doesn't stop at Manchester and that bringing these jobs to Sunderland would be a huge game changer for our city's prosperity, in a way that moving them to Manchester, Leeds or even Newcastle just wouldn't for those places.

Commenting on the former Farringdon Hall police station in Sunderland being set on fire earlier today, local councillor for neighbouring Thorney Close Margaret Crosby said:

"For years local people have been concerned at the deteriorating state of the former police station building which has become a hot spot for fly-tipping and vandalism. Thanks go out to the fire brigade for dealing with today's fire.

Local Lib Dems are demanding answers from the City Council about their plans for the future of the Thorney Close Primary School site, after it was announced that the school is due to be demolished.

A local councillor is demanding answers about Sunderland City Council's plans for the future of the site of Thorney Close Primary School.

Local councillors are urging Northumbria Police's Crime Commissioner to come up with a plan to tackle repeated arson attacks in Thorney Close after a spate of vehicles being torched.

Liberal Democrat councillors for Thorney Close Stephen O'Brien and Margaret Crosby are asking a local police chief for more resources to keep residents on an arson-hit estate in Sunderland safe.

Motorists on Tay Road, which links Grindon and Thorney Close estates, had glass bottles and rocks thrown at their vehicles by a group of young people last night (26th November).

A local councillor is urging anyone with information about those responsible for attacks on people driving between two Sunderland estates to contact the police.

Safe standing campaigners on Wearside have welcomed a commitment in the Liberal Democrats manifesto published today (20^th November) to introduce safe standing at football grounds in England.

The Liberal Democrats manifesto for the General Election on 12^th December has been published today, and includes a commitment to "move towards introducing 'safe standing' at football clubs, requiring the Sports Grounds Safety Authority to prepare guidance for implementing this change."