Ancient path (From Penarth Times)

Ancient path

I MUST protest at the article "Ancient pathway is a wonderful walk in Cordell Country" in the Penarth Times (Penarth and District Ramblers, April 28).

I cannot let this go without countering some of the inaccurate statements.

This area is not suffering from "damage caused by off-road vehicles", and has not been "almost destroyed by motor vehicles driving along them".

This road is completely legal to drive along, and it is in fact closed for most of the year to protect it.

The weather does more damage, together with land management traffic. This is not a loophole in the law; the impression given in this piece is deliberately erroneous.

Large parts of the A48, from Gloucester westwards through South Wales, is surfaced over the Roman road!

The following statement "widely condemned by walkers, who could not inflict the same kind of damage in walking along the same track" is very wide of the mark; indeed large stretches of favourite walking routes have been expensively repaired at public expense because of walking damage.

I think there needs to be a bit more give and take in enjoying the countryside. It is not the exclusive right of a few prejudiced people, but for all to enjoy.

J J Herbert

Highfield Close

Dinas Powys

via email