Part of Oral Answers to Questions — Culture, Media and Sport – in the House of Commons am 2:30 pm ar 8 Mehefin 2009.
Gerry Sutcliffe
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Culture, Media and Sport) (Sport)
2:30,
8 Mehefin 2009
I hope the local authority will support its local sports clubs. Whether it is cricket, football, rugby or hockey, the role of the local sports club in our communities is vital. Clubs do work that is usually unpaid and usually done by volunteers, but the impact on our communities is large. The amount of vandalism we see in many sports fields and clubs is regrettable. Sometimes, volunteers are sickened by the mindless vandalism that takes place. If my hon. Friend needs my assistance to speak to the local authority about the specific case he raises, I am happy to provide it. The authority should understand the significant contribution that the local club is making.
Annotations
Nicholas Kulkarni
Posted on 9 Meh 2009 4:39 pm (Report this annotation)
Building Barbed wire topped fences to protect our sports grounds, funding from the council, Hush Hush surely you must not ask what are we already paying the Police for if not to deal with local crime?
You then have to ask if we are already paying them to do this why can't they do the job?
Could it be that the thin blue line is now so understaffed that it is the occasional blue dot?
Michael Bourne
Posted on 15 Gor 2009 12:26 am (Report this annotation)
Volunteers are always sickened by mindless vandalism, not just sometimes.
Perhaps the government should keep a dossier of all the acts of damage, arson, break-ins and burglaries, etc., and of the theft of machinery in particular, that occur at sports clubs and decide what real action should be taken. I can list many a cricket club that has suffered.
Pulling out a handkerchief in commiseration in not enough.