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We're tired of excuses

Friday, November 14, 2008, 07:00

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TO THE litany of classic excuses like Leaves On The Line and The Wrong Sort Of Snow can be added a new addition – Heavy Summer Rainfall. According to the Environment Agency, this is the reason for two Plymouth beaches in arguably one of the most picturesque locations in the UK failing to meet mandatory EU standards for water quality. Apparently, heavy rainfall over the summer months increased storm overflows from sewers and run-off from farmland and urban area, leading to the beaches at Plymouth Hoe East and West not coming up to the required standards. It is bad enough that Plymouth's showpiece waterfront should be one of only 16 sections of coastline in England which fell short of the EU standard. But that it should happen under the auspices of South West Water – which has long been the most expensive water company in the country and which is currently trying to bring in further price increases of up to 40 per cent over the next five years – is something which will infuriate its hard-pressed and long-suffering customers. With all the money spent on SWW's much-vaunted Clean Sweep project – which now stands at £1.5 billion – people are entitled to ask: "Just what is going on?"

NO-ONE should doubt the many positive benefits of sport. The feelgood factor of participation, the health boost and team-building elements are all well-documented. But there are other ways in which sport can play a key role in the life of Plymouth. Witness the tremendous lift the performance of our Olympians in Beijing this summer gave to so many people, or the way an Argyle victory can lighten the mood in schools, workplaces and offices across the city. Grass roots sport also has a key role to play, particularly in giving youngsters a positive focus and helping steer them away from trouble. So the news that Plymouth's Kickz project, which is having such a positive effect on reducing anti-social behaviour in Honicknowle, has been given an extra £25,000 grant, is a massive boost. This admirable scheme gives young people aged 12-18 the opportunity to get involved in football-based activities three times a week. More than 140 are already registered on the scheme, and now it is set to expand into Whitleigh. What a fantastic project, and what a tribute to the efforts of Plymouth Argyle and the police, fire service and council's youth service staff who work together to make it happen.

 

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