Too flawed to support...

On the Greenway cycle path through South Pond, I have some sympathy with Mr Henslow’s comments (Opinion, February 10) in favour of it since I too think it is important to promote cycling, and at first sight it does seem to be an obvious benefit, but if he does not use the South Pond as much as those who enjoy it, he might not know how much could be lost.

My main problem with it stems from the advocates’ claim that cyclists would use it frequently, a claim they have to make to justify the high financial cost.

Many walkers in the area have reason to fear frequent cycling along its paths because they cannot easily move aside, so they will have to be on the lookout all the time, a state of forced alertness that changes their whole peaceful walk.

They will include the elderly walking to the shops who feel frail, people walking their dogs and families pushing prams.

Unlike the cyclists, they cannot easily go elsewhere, so if they stop walking the net loss of exercise could well defeat the object of constructing the cycle way.

Then I also doubt that frequent cycling is compatible with watching the wildlife on the pond, bats in the air on a summer’s evening or ponddipping in the water with a class of schoolchildren or just sitting in the sunshine on a bench.

In essence we would lose a unique and tranquil pedestrian area and it would be to cyclists who have many other nearby places to go to.

We would also lose our unique and iconic wooden bridge, the image of which is the South Pond Group’s logo, plus trees and plants, some of which are dedicated to the memory of local people.

South Pond Group has also found out recently that the woodland around the stream is a mix of species consistent with ancient woodland, so I personally am wary of changes that might affect it.

On balance I still think this apparently good idea is too flawed to support.

DR ANDREW SUTTON

Elmleigh, Midhurst