Yobs and drunks are in charge

ONCE again the farce that is St George's Park dominates the letters page.

All of the problems that are highlighted have been happening for years, but what, if anything, has ever been done to rectify the situation. Absolutely nothing.

They say that CCTV has been installed. If this is the case, then why is none of the yobbish and drunken behaviour been picked up on and the offenders prosecuted. As I said, this behaviour is nothing new and I thought there were bylaws in place to combat drinking in the park.

I have seen PCSOs and police officers walk past people who are obviously drunk or drugged up or both, drinking from cans and bottles and nothing is said or done. I was coming out of my doctor's surgery a couple of weeks ago and heard a lot of shouting. I looked over to the park and saw a couple drunks shouting abuse at people walking past. This is a common occurrence unfortunately.

What is the point of spending all this money on somewhere only for it to be constantly vandalised and decent people walking through being abused. All of these problems should have been sorted before now. It is about time there was a bigger police presence in the park and zero tolerance used against these people.

This park is supposed to be for the community but it seems that the yobs and drunks are in charge.

So come on the council and the police; get your acts together and sort out these problems before someone gets seriously hurt or worse. More than likely it would be a child that gets badly hurt.

JOHN DONOVAN

Clarendon Close

Great Yarmouth

THERE has been much public concern over Natural England's options concerning flooding of parts of the Norfolk coast.

I have had the opportunity of reading the the Hansard Parliamentary debate of Tuesday, May 6 (Flood Defences Norfolk) and I would like to refer readers to the statement of the Minister for the Environment, Phil Woolas, during the debate which puts things into perspective.

Quote: “I come to the nub of this debate and the issue that I imagine the people of Norfolk will be looking at. The Government have not changed our policy towards fluvial or sea defences in Norfolk. The report by Natural England considered the potential impacts of climate change, including on the natural environment, based on different possible options in a post-50 year scenario.

“The Government are committed to our existing policy to protect Norfolk as best we can for the next 50 years. The shoreline management plan is subject to discussion with the local authorities in the area, and many hundreds, if not thousands of people have participated in the consultation on it. Although it is in draft form at the moment, it is public and transparent and it commits to defence for 50 years. By April next year, although I intend to publish it before that, it will lay out proposals for the post-50 year scenario.”

DAVID RUSSELL

Coastal Issues Spokesperson

North Norfolk Constituency Labour Party

THERE was recently a television news report about the breaching of sea walls at Great Wigborough, Essex. Two hundred acres of farm land were flooded and a salt marsh created within the Black Water estuary. So not open to the full force of the sea.

This was hailed as a great success. Also mentioned was the similar scheme proposed by Natural England for a stretch of the Norfolk coast. The report did say there were no homes or businesses affected by the Essex action, as there would definitely be in Norfolk if such a scheme was to be allowed here.

If the sea wall was allowed to be breached between Happisburgh and Winterton on Sea, even if done in a piecemeal fashion, it is likely to create an inland sea of some 25 square miles. This would be at least four times larger then Breydon Water near Great Yarmouth, which is contained by a river wall and maintained.

So if we create this inland sea will we also need to build defences to contain it?

I cannot see the sense in causing such devastation to agricultural land, people's homes, businesses and natural habitat. It must be more financially sound to maintain and protect what is already in place.

FRED GOFFIN

Hemsby

AS one of the busiest taxi firms in town, we convey many people every day and by far they are all wonderful people.

Even though we have had a quiet start to the year, things are picking up and we believe that we are going to have a good summer, as more tourists stay in the UK, instead of going abroad. Nevertheless, there is a good local trade in Great Yarmouth anyway, and I wonder how on earth the government rates Yarmouth as the fifth poorest area in the country.

How wealthy are those areas in the top five?

One problem we have that seems to be increasing is non-payment of fares. In the old days we just used to get the odd “runner” but now a few, usually drunk, passengers just refuse to pay thinking that they will get away from it.

But whilst we have not happy to report it, one passenger who we got home safely, clocking up a £40 fare, was recently fined for non-payment. The total expenditure was around £300, that included costs, a fine and compensation to the driver; plus no doubt a day's lost work.

We would like to thank Norfolk Police, who are trying to help make our lives a little easier, as in the past we have had little redress with this matter.

ROY G SYMONDS

Orion Taxis

I'M not normally one to write to the papers, but this occasion I think is worthy.

On Monday, May 19 after returning from Caister to Southtown at nine in the evening I was a bit surprised to find traffic queuing on Lawn Avenue to access the roundabout, only to get to the front of the queue to see both lanes queued up on the new bridge road. So, I make my way across the roundabout and head down the quay to go over the Haven Bridge - only then to find it is closed for outward bound traffic due to maintenance. With this I make my way back to Asda to join the ever growing queue with regret, to make my way over the Breydon bridge.

The traffic on the Breydon was nose to tail, stop start, all the way to the Gapton Hall roundabout and then I discovered that three of the four lanes on the roundabout were closed for maintenance - leaving only the exit for the retail park free. With the added delay of the no-good traffic lights, it was no wonder the whole town was at a standstill.

This journey took 50 minutes, whereas normally it would have been 15 at the most.

I understand that roads require maintenance but to do both the routes to get south side of the river at the same time is absolutely ridiculous, how would emergency vehicle coped if need be. This is appalling, I write with anger representing a lot of people.

KEVIN GALL

Drifters Way

Great Yarmouth

HAVING read the letter in last week's Mercury by MJ Kenmore of the All Seasons guesthouse, I would like to say that I have lived in Great Yarmouth for 22 years and at weekends take my family to the Britannia Pier and always have a good time. The door staff are friendly, funny and very smart.

I have seen trouble there and I have seen the doormen at work, I've never seen them beat anybody up. I've seen them being hit, spat at and verbally abused and still they stay calm. Like you say Mr Kenmore, you only have one side of the story. If this beating did take place why didn't your guest football supporters from Hull report this, as the police have no records of this.

I would like to point out if there is a fight in a club why is it always the doorman's fault? Not everybody young is a thug, so are you saying older people from out of town can't get into trouble; but that's just one side of the story.

PETER GOULD

Rodney Road

Great Yarmouth

I AM very surprised that anybody can judge a situation if they were not there. How can you nip something in the bud if you in the first place Mr Kenmore, only have second-hand information.

You state in your letter that you only allow decent people to book into your guesthouse; how can you tell nowadays how people act when they are out, or whether they are decent just by looking at them.

I was at the Britannia Pier that evening on May 3. There were people there fuelled with too much alcohol and there were a lot more than four of them. They were very loud and intimidating. Abusing and punching each other, they had no consideration for other people.

As for the doormen, they are a great asset and they handled the situation in a very professional manner. The miscreants were asked to leave. The doormen were the ones who I felt sorry for.

L KING

Osbourne Avenue

Great Yarmouth

WITH reference to Ms Vera Traynier's letter (May 16), regarding the 1931 earthquake. I was a teenager at the time and I can assure her that it did happen, as I well remember.

CECILIA EBBAGE

Lovewell Road

Gorleston

I WAS dismayed to read the letter titled “Think of others” in the Great Yarmouth Mercury dated May 9 and in particular the last line “If football clubs are said to be the heart of a community, this one has only succeeded in blocking its own arteries.”

The tournament complained about was nothing to do with Caister FC. The field is a public field managed and maintained by the Playing Field Committee and they are within their rights to hire it to anyone they see fit, in this case a third party private company.

The tournament, and one at the end of the month, has brought in much needed revenue for the field which it is hoped will mean that fees will not rise for the organisations that use the field for next season.

This is our centenary year and this could mean the difference between the club surviving for another five years let alone another 100.

Caister FC host their own seven-a-side competition on July 27 and we will endeavour to cause as little disruption as possible for the local residents.

NEIL BOWMAN

Caister FC chairman

BY whose authority…? This was the question they asked Jesus. It is the question I would ask Gordon Brown and David Cameron. Leviticus 18:23-25 clearly prohibits this human-animal hybridisation and also warns of the consequences… the land itself vomits out her inhabitants. Is it a coincidence that the News at Ten preceded the results of the vote with video footage of the China earthquake? We had rumblings a few months ago. I hope the emergency services are well prepared. I would not be surprised if God does visit the iniquity of this decision on the land. Physically and in other ways. The King James uses the word “confusion” verse 23. I am sure this will be the result of trying to unravel the intricacies of embryonic development in the human egg by joining it with animal genes - apart from the blatant violation of the sanctity of human life and what we represent. The scientific/medical end does not justify the means. However the judgmental consequences are not in doubt -- unless what remains of the church leads the nation in repentance.

PETER GRAY-READ

Fulmer Close

Bradwell

I FEEL I must complain about the state of the pavements on Northgate Street (near the hospital). Some of the paving stones are protruding an inch or more, causing my husband (who is disabled) to trip several times. God help anyone walking down there after dark! Several thousands of pounds have been spent on the seafront - how about the council spending some money on renewing the paving stones for people who use this street daily?

BARBARA FERGUSON

Arundel Road

Great Yarmouth

WHAT'S going on with this council? Are they asleep at meetings about the town's redevelopment. Barry Coleman wants to get himself sorted out and find a site for a swimming pool and leisure facilities before the two years is up on the Marina Centre. I back Mr Castle 100pc. I don't think we will ever get a swimming pool in the next ten years; what a council!

Local people write letters in your paper every week about local issues and what does the council do about them, nothing.

Bobby Seach wrote a letter stating the beach at Caister has dog mess, broken glass, plastic bottles etc; what does the council do about it, nothing. It has been like that for years. What a place to spend your holidays.

All I hope is that things will improve in the future.

E A EGGLETON

Ashwood Close

Caister

ON a positive note in respect of St George's Park, I would like to say what a fantastic re-development has taken place.

Every day I see hundreds of people using it in the manner in which it can be enjoyed by everyone, whether it is sitting in pleasant surroundings, taking a stroll or children playing. I accept that a small minority have caused problems in some areas however the vast majority of users are able to enjoy, for the majority of the time, a lovely and pleasant green area in the centre of town.

MRS B WOOD

Email

SINCE I wrote my letter “nothing more than a façade,” complaining about St George's Park, I have been overwhelmed by the positive responses from so many good people. Indeed the other readers' letters say it all. Your article on the new vandalism in the park was sad to see but no surprise.

Does no one ever monitor the CCTV that allegedly covers this area? Barry Coleman was quoted in this paper last week “the more people who enjoy being in the park for the right reasons, the less it will appeal to the small anti-social element.” What planet are you on Mr Coleman?

These ferals don't care how many decent people are around when they behave the way they do. I know that for a fact, I've seen it. The park should be policed, perhaps PCSOs could be used and the Norfolk County Council attendance officers and extend their community truancy crackdown operation that has started in the area.

As Yarmouth has been chosen for this pilot police scheme why not extend it to the park? If these problems are not dealt with now by the authorities, the park will only decline further. It is not just local families that will suffer but also local hotels, B&Bs and businesses because tourists just won't want to come back here and who could blame them?

Name and address withheld

I REMEMBER Peter Jay's view of a united Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft way back in the class of '58 at Alderman Leach School.

If Peter recalls, I took the view of the old Scottish fisherfolk and their talk of an outer harbour that would, one day, be recognised by its invisible link quoted in the Seafarers' Code as Red Two Red.

This project is now materialising and gives the twinning committee grounds to consider mooting St Petersburg as an additional twin.

I suppose it's a question of priorities Peter, and by curious coincidence the singular of the word has been incorporated by PEC in their manifesto to which I have already responded, for the sake of “Old School Ties.” And for completeness I summarise as follows:

Old Wick Wheelers, Penrice Peelers, 101 meanings of yesterday's news, credit crunch, Gordon's lunch, Prescott's bulimia, egg in the eye, 10p less, and a week to reconsider. Teachers strike, refinery might, workers playing Scrabble Monopoly board over scored, Chaos T 5 travel.

JAMES (SONNY) LINDSAY

Trinity Avenue

Gorleston

THE Daleian Singers, the award winning male voice choir, travelled from North Staffordshire to perform two concerts to raise funds for All Hallows Hospital, Ditchingham. The first concert was held on May 3 at Holy Trinity Church, Bungay, and the second on May 4 at Newtown Methodist Church, Great Yarmouth.

Both audiences enjoyed uplifting evenings of a wonderful variety of songs, including a medley from Les Miserables, You Raise Me Up and Abide With Me. Thanks to the generosity of the audiences, the Daleian Singers and their families, around £1,000 was raised for the hospital.

DONNA OAKINS

All Hallows Hospital

Ditchingham

HERMAN First and Middle Schools are amalgamating in September 2008 and becoming a primary school.

Herman First is holding a reunion on Friday, June 27 at 7.30pm in the Celebration Suite at the Burrage Centre, James Paget Hospital, Gorleston. This event is open to all ex-pupils, teachers and friends of the school.

Were you a pupil of Herman First School? Or were you at Herman Infants? If so, here's your chance to meet up with friends and colleagues or anyone else associated with the school. Tickets, priced at £10 per head, include a buffet supper and will be on sale at the school office.

Telephone 01493 661247 or e mail office@hermanfirst.norfolk.sch.uk for further details. This event is strictly 18 years old and over.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Staff and governors,

Herman First School

ends