AT LAST we see in our local paper some news relating to the closure of the footpath across Areley Kings recreation ground.

It comes, however, not as an official public notice, but as an open letter from Councillor Jamie Shaw in a manner not to seek political party gain, but as one who stands for right against wrong as an individual.

I have tried for several months to get answers from various sources responsible for the closure, but have always been informed that it was still not decided whether the path would be re-opened, and usually being referred to someone else.

When I inquired as to how many people had objected to the closure, I was told that the county footpaths officers had not passed the relevant information to Stourport Town Council.

I then contacted the footpaths officers as directed and was told there would be a meeting shortly. That was several months ago, and at that time the access at one end of the path had been closed for weeks, rather like putting the cart before the horse.

I personally still use this footpath several times a week by simply stepping over the one metre high fence. If I can step over at 65 years of age, it is in no way going to deter the youths responsible for anti-social behaviour.

It does, however, deny access to the more elderly and less physical, unless they are willing to walk the long way round via the new narrow path, risking being run into by a speeding cyclist, or, as I suspect may happen in the future, waylaid by muggers who find the underpasses and passageways perfect places to loiter.

I have been spoken to by many people when stepping over the fence, the opening remark usually being: "I wish I could do that" and then telling me how long they had used the path prior to closure, periods well in excess of 30 years and in one case 50 years.

Anti-social behaviour is best dealt with by an appointed police officer bringing before the magistrates an offender or offenders, whether acting on information received or an arrest at the time of the offence, not by our elected representatives deciding to take away what has for many years been accepted as a legal right of way.

ROBERT BROWN

Dunley Park

Stourport