WEEKLY COLUMN by Stroud MP Siobhan Baillie 

I AM really pleased to see that Gloucestershire County Council Highways will look at measures to prevent the death and injury of cows and horses on both Minchinhampton and Rodborough Commons.

At least three cows have died recently and countless more.

I would like to thank the local councillors for their work in raising it as I know that cabinet member councillor David Gray will do a good job on the issue.

Farmers have every right to exercise their grazing rights on the commons without fear their livestock will be injured or killed.

I fully support this approach because I have long believed that we need reduced speeds on the commons. I look forward to seeing what the task group the council has said will be formed will recommend to try and stop these deaths.

The international matter that continues to dominate my inbox and social media is, of course, the conflict between Israel and Gaza.

Like everybody else locally, I was relieved to see humanitarian pauses to the fighting so that hostages could be released.

There are however still hostages being held by Hamas.

It has been made clear that if the fighting has any chance of being stopped then Hamas needs to hand over all the hostages they took in October.

To make matters worse, Hamas has threatened to harm those remaining hostages unless even more Palestinian prisoners in Israel are released.

The loss of innocent life on both sides is impossible to bear and it is right there is a focus on the victims of this fighting and on ending the conflict.

There have been some signs Hamas fighters want to surrender but generally there are no signs from the Hamas leadership of any change in attitude.

It even said it would repeat 7th Oct again – something Israel understandably fears and must do everything it can to stop.

More distressing information about the rape and murder of Israelis have come to light too over the last week.

The UK is also heavily involved in pushing for long term solutions and an end to the conflict.

It is imperative that such work continues and I will continue to share the views of local people in Westminster.