DESPITE it being the subject of numerous letters by both local residents and visitors to the borough, it is still inadvisable to use the toilets at Bury Interchange shod in anything less than knee-high waders.

At the same time in our proud borough a proportion of our fine young citizens are getting pretty desperate to find something useful to do with their ample time (though rather limited imagination).

Flicking through the pages of last Friday's Bury Times, several similar reports catch the eye . . .

Page 1: Farmyard frenzy. Several very tame farm animals brutally clubbed and shot to death. A 17-year-old youth arrested in connection with the incident.

Page 2: Drive-by-shooters. Two 17-year-olds arrested after an air gun is fired at a pedestrian and cyclist from a passing motor car.

Page 3: A 15-year-old boy arrested in connection with a series of burglaries and thefts.

Page 4: School bullies, a situation felt to be so topical that a play has now been commissioned about it!

Page 5: Four youths assault a teenager.

Page 13: Family's cats maimed by air gun pellets.

Page 20: Local man finds his family of geese slain. I have by no means listed all such items, and bear in mind that this is from just one week's edition. In my own neighbourhood the local park is subjected to repeated acts of vandalism and arson.

Surely it is not beyond the wit of Man to reconcile both problems.

The shameful state of the public conveniences in Bury is presumably caused by a lack of human resources, and yet here we clearly have an urgent need to furnish some of our young folk with the opportunity to occupy their minds and boundless energy in a more constructive and socially acceptable manner.

It surely cannot be argued that - for example - to use such regular young offenders in servicing the toilets would deprive someone of a job, because I doubt whether those conveniences have seen a mop and bucket in a long time.

I am also sure that other like-minded citizens could find a heap of things to do round and about Bury which would keep a whole army of offenders occupied.

Such a spell of high-profile public service, suitably attired in distinctive uniform, would not do a lot for a guy's "street cred" - which might act as a major deterrent in itself.

Dream on readers . . . the only person likely to be banished to the latrines is yours truly for daring to suggest that some of our fine young citizens sometimes deserve more than just a slap on the wrist.

TNT

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