Free hire to help us all

The overwhelming majority of clubs end up hiring one of the larger council venues, normally the Assembly Hall, and, having helped organise a number of these evenings down the years, I know the charge is certainly not cheap.

The over-riding theme of these evenings is a celebration of the youngsters' achievements. Not the winning but the taking part in the beautiful game.

Now, in a town where, whether we like it or not, we have a number of serious youth-related social problems, crime, vandalism and drugs, should the council not be doing more to help the clubs in providing sport for as many youngsters as possible?

What I'm suggesting, even just for this one year, is that the council lets all the clubs have the hall for free, on the proviso that the money they would have been charged is actually spent on kit or training equipment for the youngsters at the start of next season.

In the grand scheme of things the money we are actually talking about is minimal, given what the council spends on other events, but can we put a price on what the aforementioned kit and equipment does for our local youngsters and, in time, the local community?

The issue of urban foxes was again highlighted last week when, on the eve of the cricket season, Sussex County Cricket Club had to bring in a marksman to shoot foxes which were causing problems at the County Ground in Hove.

It certainly re-ignited the debate, coupled with the possibility that, with a potential change of government, there could a repealing of the fox hunting Bill.

In the last few days I've listened to both sides of the ongoing argument and I do have a couple of questions regarding the issue which I hope someone reading this can answer.

Since the banning of fox hunting, has the Worthing fox population increased?

And has that population ultimately become a nuisance?

If this answer to these two questions is yes, will there come a point that the council has to look at a humane culling policy?

But then, however humane that might be, will there always be a lobby vehemently against such a move?

My thanks for the overwhelming response from readers regarding my question about public houses in Montague Street.

I think I now have the definitive answer from 'JP' of Tarring, who lists the Albion, The Running Horse, The Stanhope, The Spaniard, The Kings Arms, The Victoria, The White Hart, The New Street Brewery, The Buckingham, The Montague and The Rose and Crown, and I would imagine, knowing 'JP', he has probably enjoyed refreshment at all 11 hostelries over the years.

A supplementary question to finish on, however; one establishment had the nickname of 'the bucket of blood', and I've had conflicting locations identified as to which one, so it's another definitive answer required from our learned readers.

Ian Hart's comment is published in the Herald series every Thursday

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