“Well we know that, try telling that to the government who according to a study (of who I have no idea) believe we all have jobs earning £30k a year and live in the lap of luxury!!! Our council gets far less funding from central government than is desperately needed - nothing and no one seems to be able to make this Labour government believe that we're anything but wealthy down here in the SW!!
Yeah right, your comments are ill informed and inflammatory! This country as a whole has the highest level of poverty known, even defeating Victorian times! The cost of living is too high and I personally take offence at your comments that the poverty stricken have plasma screen t.v's and all the current gaming devices known to man - I think you're confusing benefits fraudsters with those living in poverty!!!
There are kids who've never had a t.v and have no idea what a Wii, Playstation or Nintendo is because their parents can't afford them! Some get these items second hand from pawn dealerships, heavens knows there's enough of them around now, but to state they shouldn't have them at all and use their money on something else is both ill informed and insulting! You're obviously happy for them to live in poverty as long as they don't have what you class as luxury items - god forbid that they get a second hand telly or the current games, god forbid that someone actually gives these items to them to ease their burden!! I think you'll find those actually living in poverty though don't have these items much as you'd like everyone to believe otherwise!!
Why don't you try looking around you, poverty is not being able to afford food and the necessities of lfe to keep you going!! The cost of living is so high now that even someone earning minimum wage level can be classed as living in poverty!! Meanwhile this governments last budget once again hit the lowest paid and the pensioners in the back with a gold plated knife!! It will take decades to get this country out of the debt ridden state it currently exists in thanks to 12 years of Labour's misspending!
Meanwhile everyday more companies withdraw their business from this country as it costs too much now to be viable! Jobs are going everywhere but Plymouth has been especially hit hard, however tell that to the government and they'll say we're a University town with growing tourism possibilities and ever increasing opportunities!! If that's so Gordon you come and live here, I doubt you'd last a week without being made aware of the poverty, crime and true levels of wealth of the locals?!!
As for the nhs, Derriford is an absolute disgrace - the naval doctors and nurses as well as the army ones seem well trained and far more efficient than the civvies, there is a year long waiting list for an mri {unless it's an emergency of course!), the elderly are not at all well looked after (I've witnessed it first hand!) and although some good is done more harm is!! Derriford is horrific for cleaning, the food is disgustingly inedible and trust me you're lucky if you get what you want, if the trolley's empty you end up with a sarnie!! When anyone tries ringing any of the wards more often than not the phone is never answered, they're lax in informing next of kin and they're not at all a well oiled system!! Someone I know was in Derriford, they moved that person from ward to ward, the doctor had no idea where to go to see them as none of the wards had the information to hand!!! The physiotherapist couldn't find the patient and in the end everyone was running around trying to find them to treat them!!! It sounds like a carry on movie but in reality it's dangerous and badly managed - if you want to talk about plasma screen t.v's though Derriford now have them throughout the lobby to welcome you, by the lifts to welcome you etc!! That's a totally unneccesary expenditure that could have been used on beds, medications, nurses, doctors or even cleaners!!”

“Mr Zoot, Sir. Thank you for your additional kind comments. Refering to 'Zion', I quote its terms in the most loving sense; that is Zion: the original breath of God that breathed the breadth of love in Eden. Love welcomes all to its healing door.

So if you start itching, I know a good Doctor.”

“Plymouth and proud, and proud janner, perfectly make the popint as to why we are in this deplorable mess. They say that if anyone dares to criticise the city they should move. And so the place will slip further and further down the rankings. no one will make the slightest effort to uge or implement improvements and the standards will slip, comparisons with civilised cities and communities will be forbidden and as Norman says Jannerkultur will become a watchword for a miserable poor life followed by an early death.”

“So basically we have the hall marks of any city of the same size. And this is supposed to be news?

But at least we have a great location by the sea, and near the moors, and a rich heritage!

I wonder how much money is spent by the NHS and DoH employing people to do this "research"? At least it keeps them off the streets.

Oh, and it gives a chance for the likes of Norman to show off their intelligence.”

“Plymouth City Council, where are you when articles like this are being commented on? There must be someone employed to read these comments made by the local people. You need to let us know how this city is going to change. There are changes happening but not enough of it is publicised. Promote the City for the good things it has and improve all the facilities that are lacking.”

“Nev,
Deprivation areas in this city such as Devonport do get regeneration money so get your facts accurate.
We do have many professionals living around the city including those that live at Mannamead, Hartley Crownhill and areas close by. You are talking nonsense and as usual just trying to get a dig at us Plymothians. We have just as much talent living here as any other city without at the moment some of the negative things that forced multiculturalism brings.
Life must be so mcuh fun in Whitechapel for you to again knock Plymouth.
I for one am a business owner who enjoys life in this city and have lived in other areas around Britain, What is so wrong about being satisfied and contented with your lot?.”

“This is the same old sad story of Plymouth. The city is, and has been for some time, one of the worst poverty sinks in the country.

We have no professional class to speak of; the few who earn a decent amount move out, commute in and spend as little time in the city as they can.

This is a city with no culture, no aspirations, no vision, no leadership and no prospects. The intelligent few get jobs elsewhere, leaving the city to those who are easily pleased by its proximity to beaches and Dartmoor - and, presumably, don't mind putting up with living in this hole as long as they can get out of it for the occasional Sunday drive.

We need to admit facts and publicise our plight - then maybe, like the post-industrial north, we can shame the government into providing some regeneration money. Although we might have to import some forward-thinking talent to the council chamber...”

“Mavis, apart from the shopping centre you mention, (and that point is debatable), the only good thing you are saying about Plymouth is that it is near somewhere else thats nice.”

“Why does the Herald want us all to be the 'victim' mentality.
Plymouth has it's problems like many other places but the positives far outweigh the negatives.
Look what we do have, the clean open seas, the mild weather, the countryside and moorland and a new shopping centre with excellent parking facilites.
Stop complaining and get on with it, before your lives whizz by and you look back to see how good it really was.”

“Well, at least we now know that Zoot believes in fairy stories.

Although I can confirm his statement about his wife.”