Cleaning the streets: Just an idea …
Monday 15th June 2009, 3:00PM BST.
From Maurice Le Cocq
THE Constable of St Helier, Simon Crowcroft, has gone on record as saying that he would like to increase the rates for St Helier ratepayers to pay for more street cleaning.
In view of the current economic times, including frozen wages and huge increases in basic commodities like electricity, instead of increasing costs for cash-strapped ratepayers, surely he could be looking at other ways of getting the job done without increasing our rates.
We have an ever-growing number of people being sentenced to community service, so how about following other jurisdictions and getting these people to sweep the streets? If it’s good enough for Boy George to sweep the streets of New York, why can’t our own home-grown offenders sweep our streets?
(Before I get irate letters from the unions, they need to appreciate that if the money isn’t there to pay for extra staff, they aren’t going to be taken on anyway, so no one is losing out.)
2 Sydenham Villas,
Janvrin Road,
St Helier.
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I also feel that those in prison should put something back into the community. The streets should be cleaned daily with a rota of prisoners and youth offenders. Why should rate payers pay more when there is a labour force locked up in prison doing nothing.
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A man after my own heart I fully agree
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I wouldn’t let prisoners out on the street, part of the punishment is surely being contained and not seeing much of the world?
I agree about those sentenced to community service though. These are the people that should be sweeping up the seaweed off the beach and cleaning the streets. Why not? I also agree that maybe some people on benefits could be doing this work. Some are legitimate, some are not. Someone who has never worked a day in their life cannot know for a fact that they are unable to work (save for some obvious exceptions) so let them find out if they can or not.
No doubt it comes down to human rights nonsense, well if you don’t commit a crime you won’t have to do it, it’s that simple! You choose to commit the crime then you’ve chosen to accept the punishment. Why cannot the court of human rights not understand that if people continue to commit crimes then they are clearly happy to give up some of their human rights?
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How about those on income support who are capable of work.
They should be made to provide some kind of service to the community before picking up their nice cheque every week.
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Cleaning the chewing gum off the pavements would be useful too – might make some of them think twice before dropping it there in the first place.
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A good idea that deserves consideration.
I believe Maurice Le Cocq has already pointed to the main objectors though. It would require the unions to enter the 21st century and get out of 1973
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How true you are Big Bean. If we were to reverse the words Income Support we have Support Income however there are a good proportion who are not even earning an income. Why are we not calling it Dole money.When money was given in the parishes the father in our parish used to ensure those who could earn and couldn’t be bothered would put something back into the parish by way of cleaning it, chopping logs for the elderly etc;Then human rights reared it’s head and all that went to the wind.All the while we continue to give out money to those who are able to work nothing will change.I am certain some are better off on the income support with reduced rent, no tax,Christmas vouchers,no social, free doctors you can go on forever.While I work hard pay my rent and tax I still drive my old banger around outside La Motte St there they are making their claim and parking their cars on yellow lines because they are too lazy to walk.How can they afford cars on Income Support.It beggers belief.
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