HAVING just read the St Briavels, Hewelsfield and Brockweir Village News I felt I just had to write to give you my opinion in support of the proposed Wye Valley Cycleway.

I was born and brought up in Brockweir and still live in the area. I am a keen cyclist, walker and car driver and therefore feel able to judge the situation from all angles.

I would like you to know I am fully in support of a cycleway following the valley close to the river although I feel the preferred route should be on the west bank of the river. Cyclists need food, and as there is nowhere between Tintern and Monmouth apart from the pubs to buy anything, access to Browns in Llandogo would be an advantage.

Having said this, can I remind you that there is nothing to stop cyclists using the east river bank between Brockweir and Bigsweir at this present time as this is a bridleway and cyclists are perfectly within their rights to use bridleways. I have cycled this route myself on many occasions when I have not felt like doing battle with the traffic on the A466.

Now on to the argument over traffic problems. I feel that you should look at the Bristol to Bath railway path to answer this question, another route I have cycled many times. People do not drive to the centre of a linear route such as this one, they tend to arrive at its beginnings to start their cycle trip. In the case of the Wye Valley cycleway this would be Chepstow or Monmouth. People only drive to the Forest of Dean Cyclepath in droves because it is a circular route.

Why should we not encourage a healthy, quiet, pollution free pastime such as cycling in this age of sedentary lifestyles? It is common knowledge that children are not getting the exercise they really need.

We are privileged to live in such a beautiful area. Who are we to stop people less fortunate than ourselves enjoying its beauty by cycling through it and bringing with them money into the local economy? Tourism is one of the few thriving industries in this area and this has been badly knocked by the foot and mouth crisis this year.

Please, please come to your senses and stop likening a cycle track to a quarry. – Janice Lightly, Smithville Close, St Briavels.