Last Friday, while out for my usual walk with my Border collie, I noticed a small white bus parked in Jennycliff car park.

Written along the sides and back of the bus were the words ‘Groundwork UK Briton environmental volunteers’.

These are all young, unemployed people who do a very good job cleaning up other people’s mess.

Around about October last year I encountered Plymouth Environmental Action Group beach cleaning. Once again volunteers.

They informed me they cleaned up from Devils Point to Wembury, and a very good job they do.

Before Christmas there was work carried out at Camels Head by MVV Environmental, the Royal Navy, Groundwork Trust and the probation services – again voluntary.

Therefore, if all this work is carried out for free, then why do we residents of Hooe and Turnchapel pay the high band council tax and why do we all pay extortionate water rates for ‘cleaning up the coastline’?

The message from the city council and South West Water seems to me to be ‘shut up and keep paying’.

Nick Ellis, Turnchapel.