W HAT A SHAME to see the Mill Adventure Centre at South Molton facing closure. I thought the world of outdoor sports was one sphere of North Devon's economy that could weather these financial conditions.

Our youngsters, and not just locals, have grown up seeking the kind of challenge that brings thousands onto our beaches, up mountains and across oceans in adventures that most of their parents and grandparents were unable to seek.

So it would be reasonable to think that a well-run complex for such training and activity would pay for itself. I wonder if this kind of centre shouldn't have some financial backing from our education budget? That might be just enough to help rescue the Mill.

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AND while we're talking about outdoor sports I wonder if you remember this from my column more than a year ago. I wrote in the

Journal

October 16 2008: "I was surprised to see a sign on the window of a local bus warning would-be surfers they can't bring their boards on board.

It strikes me that, since we live close to some of Britain's best surfing beaches, the bus companies could be using more imagination to answer the call. Not only would they earn the thanks of many families who otherwise have to take their youngsters to the coast by car, they would also make more money themselves if they could spend some time working out a safe way to carry these boards."

And what do I see now proposed by North Devon+? It's considering a surfboard-friendly bus to help people carry their equipment to and from the beaches of Croyde, Saunton and perhaps elsewhere. It turns out that youngsters had been asking for a surf-bus since at least November, 2007, and I imagine some had been thinking about it long before that probably.

So I can't claim to have inspired the new initiative, but I hope the column did its bit to encourage the idea. And I hope the bus company that runs such a service can make a profit as well. No one could begrudge them the chance to earn a living from it, but if they can't then, and here I go spending more of our money, I think the service should be subsidised. Helping our kids to be fulfilled while outdoors is worthwhile.

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MONEY is occupying all of us at the moment, and I don't just mean our personal finances. I mean the debate about how we're going to pay for our health services, education, roads and rubbish collection if the next government really reins in public spending. In the firing line will, of course, be North Devon and Devon County Councils which provide many of these services.

I'm diving into dangerous water here, but a fair proportion of our council's millions, and the nation's billions, is used to help many families who can't, or believe they can't, earn a living. If the children of these families follow that role model it becomes a cycle of dependence. By handing out public money to support this cycle are we ourselves becoming part of the problem?

We're unable, it seems, to find the right way to operate our welfare state. And it's high time we did. They're able to do it in Germany, I understand, by paying unemployed people a small amount to do essential work for the Government. I'm not suggesting we abandon all our citizens and children who can't or won't earn a living. But neither do I mean giving them everything they need so they never have to consider paying their way.

I believe every human being has a natural desire to be independent, and we must find a way to fulfil that desire instead of giving in to a guilty wish that we can wave a magic wand and make it all better. We don't possess that magic, but we have got the will, and now the necessity, to invent far better systems for spending these taxes in a way that encourages effort rather than dependence. Why are we caught in this cycle of dependence? It's a big question, but the coming financial crisis means we'll have to answer it to survive.

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I SEE that Barnstaple is offering a Christmas crèche in the town centre so parents can get their shopping done without trailing bored children around. About time. I remember questioning in this column last year why Barnstaple doesn't have a regular crèche. It followed the row about one mum's complaint that she was asked to leave a shop because her toddler was having a tantrum.

I still think that shopping centres are not the place to take children if you can possibly help it. Some families can't find a friend or relative to care for their toddlers for an hour or two so why can't there be a crèche all the year round instead of just at this time of year? Now that would be a good present for Barnstaple. Happy Christmas, and very best wishes for the New Year.