Gary's views

Gary's weekly views

Each week an article by Gary has appeared in the Plympton Plymstock and Ivybridge News in South West Devon. The articles are published here

A NEW PLAN FOR PLYMOUTH

Plymouth is changing its skyline – trading in the boring 1950’s flat roof monotone profile for a thrusting optimistic race to the clouds, high rise, dramatic and modern. I, for one, welcome this. May this vision be completed before any economic slowdown strikes. 3 years into the Mackey plan and our built environment is changing shape. I have never seen so many cranes on our horizon. Add to this the plans for substantial growth, the creation of new jobs and business opportunities, the sense of momentum in the private sector and it all adds up to a very positive outlook for our city of great potential. New Plymouth step forward and take a shiny bow.
But hold on a minute. Just look at the daily headlines: assaults, drug-induced crime, communities setting fire to schools, binge drinking, and anti-social behaviour. Six of our secondary schools are failing. Old Plymouth limps on, seemingly unaware that the new day is dawning.

I think of the endless meetings with high ranking officials that we three MPs have to pour over challenges in education, health, crime and all things related. The overriding sense is of intractable problems – whether drug abuse, alcohol consumption or mental health dilemmas. Social services are over-loaded, families with disabled children have to battle for every small victory, anti-social behaviour is rampant, teachers are abused, children pushed from pillar to post as families crumble.

The Mackey plan has been very successful in delivering up dramatic changes to the physical fabric of our city. I am beginning to wonder if we need to create a new plan for the social and spiritual fabric of our city. There has never been as much money thrown at the problem as in the last ten years, but who can honestly say that we have made much progress on these deep-seated issues. In many areas, such as drinking and anti-social behaviour, we seem to have gone backwards. Top-down initiatives do not work because they are not owned by the local community or shaped specifically to meet local needs. If the Mackey plan had been handed down to us from Whitehall we would have rejected it.

So is it time for a new plan to tackle the social and spiritual malaise of our city, something that the council, government agencies, the private sector, the faith communities and voluntary sector and politicians can all help shape and get behind?

posted by Nigel on Tuesday, November 13, 2007