RE: The Ridgeway: My husband and I both have an interest in rights of way, his motorbikes, my horse.

Well, in the past two years I have been involved with the Wiltshire Bridleways Association and the Wiltshire Highways Department in getting and keeping open our local bridleways.

I am well aware of the difficulties and the time it takes to get and keep access to routes that I and many other horse owners see as rightfully ours to use.

There are a few things that I think Julia Drown, Chris Bonnington and Chris Brasher should take into consideration while pursuing some issues mentioned, which I don't think they have.

Firstly, if you ban use on the Ridgeway of all vehicles, you will cut off all access to the routes leading from it. By forcing these riders/drivers off the byways, where do you think they will go to from there? One thing is certain, they will not be sat at home in front of the television.

Walkers, as I know from my own experience are not often the most considerate people they can be seen walking anywhere, footpath or no footpath. I have spoken to many landowners who openly say that walkers are inconsiderate and rude. I have been brought up to respect the countryside, an attitude that seems almost lost nowadays. But everyone is entitled to access.

I don't understand how you have arrived at your "deny access to a minority" decision.

If you asked the people who use it, to help maintain the Ridgeway, through a toll or something, I am sure they would be more than happy, riders and walkers alike. This would make more sense to me.

A question for Chris Bonnington: I guess, you are obviously upset at the look of the Ridgeway and the abuse we have given it over thousands of years. Do you never look back on Everest and see all the rubbish avid climbers have left strewn over it?

I thought cyclists liked a challenge; when riding, is the Ridgeway not more of a challenge than a tarmac road? Please consider your actions with regard to the Ridgeway. After all Julia, are you not supposed to represent all of Swindon, not just the few?

It should be what all the local people want and not just walkers and cyclists.

Then, thinking out loud, it has never mattered in the past what people in Swindon really want, has it?

Teresa Flynn

Worsley Road

Freshbrook

Swindon