What is it that I'm missing here, help me out, please... I'm being driven to distraction by the attitudes of many people who live in this area, and to be fair, I totally fail to understand why. Take today's poll in the Scunthorpe Telegraph for example. The ST ask readers "Are you excited by the baths hall" and a resounding 87% say NO! Why? It seems to me that people who live in Scunthorpe consistently under rate just how fortunate they are. Think back to what the town was like in the late 1980's and early 90's, back then we had one of the country's highest drug related crime incident rates and topped the list in the UK for teenage pregnancy! After the Axing of the steel works, the community, local business and yes even the council have all worked so hard to return employment to the area, to re-develop the town centre, encourage night life and entertainment and improve our environment and welfare through the development of parks, cycleways and safe streets. Yes there have been a few monumental cockups, (the bus lane at Howden's Hill being the most obvious to spring to mind �32K for 3 sets of while lines? some one was taking the Mick there); but generally speaking Scunthorpe does seem to get it right, more so over the last few years. This is why when I see pointless acts of vandalism (for example destruction of flower displays in central park), or stupid acts of petty (bike) theft, I just totally fail to understand why people would do this. All that's happening is that the environment is being ruined for all. Many community groups have worked so hard over the years to forge safer community's, to combat antisocial behaviour and improve health yet all that seems to come up in terms of feedback is negativity and malice. We've got such exciting new developments in town with the re-development of the Baths Hall and the Pods that we, as a community really should be proud of what has been achieved for Scunthorpe. I accept that opinions can differ, many people were in favour of keeping the old Baths Hall as it was and refurbishing it. And with that I certainly agree, it had the town's largest properly sprung wooden dance floor which has now gone for good. However we have what we have, which is better than what the last council did - which was take the Baths from us in the first place. Another typical example was the Tour of Britain coming to Scunthorpe last year. I'm not a cycling fan but I turned out to see it and was again so proud of the town for having attracted the tour and the efforts it made to host the event. What do we get on the ST website comments section? Negative comments about the free fireworks display and concert and complaints about the lack of stalls! Just look at the pods, what a fantastic facility; Yes the council will have to review other facilities (for example Riddings and the central leisure centre) but as better services are offered more people will in fact use them. There really is no satisfying some people, go and visit other towns in the North of England, look at their dirty streets, lack of facilities, poor health and fragmented communities. And then come and visit Scunthorpe, realise how lucky you are. A busy Scunthorpe high street, August 2010 showing building work at the new Baths Hall

Redevelopment of North Lindsey College, Scunthorpe, July 2010

Opening of Adizone play area, April 2010