• HAMPSTEAD Heath has always been a place of peace remote from ordinary vehicular traffic and should remain as a precious place for pedestrians alone, (Should school cycle routes be allowed over the Heath? November 4).

Cycle routes have already been extended across the Heath during the past 15 years with entirely negative results for the huge majority of Heath users who are walkers.

Despite innumerable signs forbidding cycling on many of the Heath’s tracks frequent abuse by cyclists is seen every day with fast and dangerous bikers silently overtaking pedestrians and even weaving in and out among crowds of walkers.

It can only be a matter of time before serious accidents occur. On many occasions I have witnessed near-misses between cyclists – including the new electric scooters – and vulnerable pedestrians. These are all unlicensed, anonymous, vehicles which have considerable potential to harm.

The Heath police I have spoken to are apparently powerless to enforce the existing no-cycling rules and have done nothing to curb the growing menace. More cyclists will mean less peace and more abuse and no new cycle routes across the Heath should be countenanced.

DR TIM MEGARRY
Address supplied