Sunderland Echo

No return of freedoms

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Even before the covid restrictio­ns became part of our lives, today's children would barely have been able to contemplat­e the freedoms taken for granted by their grandparen­ts when they were young.

Those living in the countrysid­e roamed freely.

Half the time our parents did not know where we were.

There were no mobile phones allowing worried parents to check that their children were safe.

In farming areas we would drive tractors and plough fields long before we were old enough to drive on the road.

When we finally got a driving licence there were no traffic lights in our little country town.

Road safety relied largely on common sense.

In towns, children also had their freedom.

They played out in the

street with little chance of seeing a car, let alone being run over by one.

They would go in and out of each others houses where doors would rarely be locked.

What we have got to fear from covid is not so much the disease itself but its aftermath.

The freedoms being taken from us now - we will never win back.

Scott Andrews, Ryhope.

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