Give our young people support

Sir, - Bob Stark (November 12) is justified in his criticism of anticycling correspondent Clark Cross’s denial of young people healthy exercise.

Those of us who have lived a bit should be encouraging the next generation of Scots to be active.

There are enough possible distractions for

young people. Apart from the obvious risks of sedentary lifestyles or the constant temptation of alcohol, drugs and tobacco, our young people face a new threat.

Legal highs are promoted everywhere. Visit most small towns and you will see shops dealing in these dangerous products.

I am certain that Clark Cross would not want to see Scotland’s youths kicking their heels on street corners taking these chemical cocktails which could damage their brains.

Cycling is a cheap and accessible leisure pursuit. It has always been attractive to working-class Scots.

Mr Cross should help give our young people the support and encouragement they need to develop into wellrounded adults instead of attacking them for getting out and about.

Parents have had a hard enough time during the recession without saddling them with the added expenses of cycle licences.

Take a family of two parents and three children under the age of eight. A £90 cycle licence fee would cost that family £450. That would not be a one-off cost but an annual cost. Heartless. Robert Anderson. Kirkton, Arbroath.