I had the misfortune to spend some time in Scarborough last week and it made Bridlington look pristine.

The main shopping street was filthy, littered with thousands of discarded bits of chewing gum. And trying to find a working cash machine was almost impossible.

Better shops do not always make for a better place.

l WHAT will make for a better place, hopefully, is the Spa.

I can't wait to see it. There really is so much potential. And so much potential to get big star names.

Well, within reason.

Some fools will no doubt moan when they see the line-up for this summer doesn't involve Peter Kay, U2 and Elvis Presley, but some people's expectations will always be somewhat unrealistic.

But there is surely a big market to exploit out there.

Not many other places round here can offer venues with a 3,000 capacity.

I promise this is not the bash Scarborough column this week but the best it has to offer is the clapped out Futurist Theatre, so that is surely 1-0 to Bridlington.

For a city of its size, York is very limited when it comes to music venues and you could even level that accusation at Leeds. Hull has its City Hall and New Theatre, which might prove more attractive for comedians or opera, but how many young and trendy rock bands want to play at a city hall?

I'd love to hear the new Spa is going to be filled with something exciting every week, instead of the tired old tribute acts that were trotted out every year before the development.

And while Gordon Ramsay doesn't inspire me – I always feel people should be able to make a beef wellington and a creme brulee without swearing 50 times – he shows the standard of people we can get here. I'll be watching developments with interest.

* IT'S coming to something when police officers have to travel on school buses.

You'd expect it in the Bronx but not Brid. What next? Community wardens assigned to Scout groups? Security guards at playschool?

Paper Clip

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