AS A CYCLIST I was dismayed to read Jane Honey's article on the objection by Okehampton Hamlets Parish Council to the proposed cycle track/walkway which is needed to skirt the edge of Bluebell Wood in order to connect Okehampton with the Meldon to Sourton cyclepath.

If Bluebell Woods were bequeathed by the Ryan family for the benefit of the public then I am sure that they would not have objected to more of the public having a better opportunity to enjoy its beauty too, or is it there only for the benefit of a few?

From reading the comments of Mr Allen Gammon, it is not clear what the objections are. Is it the noise? Damage to endangered species? Danger to the wildlife?

I am afraid that I am always sceptical when I hear of claims of 'hundreds' of phone calls of support.

So do cyclists cause more noise, damage paths and endanger wildlife more than walkers and horseriders?

I do not think so and they both seem to have been accommodated, with a path for walkers running through the wood and a track for horses leading to Betty Cottles.

As for the noise, I can hear a horse coming from a greater distance than a bicycle and in my experience groups of walkers are far from quiet.

The irony of it is that, currently, in order for most people to gain access to the Meldon to Sourton cycleway, which in my opinion is actually currently used by far more walkers than cyclists, in particular families who wish to cycle safely with their young children, they have to use a car to drive through Bluebell Wood.

This seems to me contrary to the aim of the parish council, ie to preserve the tranquillity of the area and preserve the environment.

What in fact is planned is a designated track on the edge of the wood with no place for bikes to go off-track.

This path will form part of the Sustrans, a charity which is developing a national cycle network across Britain to encourage people of both sexes and all ages to take part in an activity which brings them into the countryside.

With an extension to the route from Sourton all the way to Plymouth it will pass some of the most picturesque scenery in the West Country.

How sad to think that with 3,000 miles of cycle network already open it all comes to an end at Okehampton. I think we need a little more dialogue and compromise from the Hamlets Parish Council rather than a simple objection to the proposal.

M D Rice, Downside, Parklands, Okehampton