Part of Oral Answers to Questions — Culture, Media and Sport – in the House of Commons am 2:30 pm ar 8 Mehefin 2009.
Brian Jenkins
Llafur, Tamworth
2:30,
8 Mehefin 2009
The Minister realises of course that for young people to play cricket there must be cricket clubs. What advice can he give Wilnecote sports and social club, which runs two teams, but is suffering from a high level of vandalism and needs £20,000 to build a perimeter defence to reduce it? The club has made applications to our local council, which has reserves of 200 per cent. in its annual budget but refuses to pass on to local clubs the money the Government have sent down. Of course, it is a Conservative local authority. What advice can my hon. Friend give?
Annotations
alan handley
Posted on 9 Meh 2009 6:02 pm (Report this annotation)
Mr Jenkins, perhaps our newly elected Conservative County Councillor Mr Lee Bates can assist his constituents(as you well know, he is also the local ward councillor).
The pledges he made in his recent electioneering was to be, all things to all people?
Michael Bourne
Posted on 15 Gor 2009 12:16 am (Report this annotation)
First, I totally agree with Mr Kulkarni and his 'annotation' to Mr Sutcliffe's reply to this question. He shows a greater knowledge than politicians of what is needed.
But well done to Mr Jenkins for, at least, highlighting the problem of wilful and malicious damage at one of his local cricket clubs. Scores of other clubs around the country are also suffering. As well as damage, add on arson, break-ins and theft, particularly of machinery.
As for a solution, would not the £20,000 be better spent on catching the culprits and handing out really stiff sentences, including six hours of compulsory sitting on a wooden bench on a Saturday afternoon whilst being forced to watch a game cricket?