I felt compelled to write to you in full support of the works being carried out on the old Meon Valley line and I am horrified to read the partisan views of Sean Woodward and his equestrian supporters posted on Facebook and in the media.

I am looking forward to being able to walk safely the full length of the route, something Mr Woodward (from his comments) will find incredible.

I regularly walk the boring and busy roads to get to the (up to now) soggy and squelchy old Meon Valley railway line.

I know my grandchildren and I will be greatly relieved that horses will potentially not be able to canter at breakneck speed past us on the new surface; a ton of horse on the move is a scary and intimidating site – far more than the odd enthusiastically ridden cycle.

I have been discussing these recent developments with friends and we are all fully in support of the ongoing works and cannot wait for them to be completed.

I have read on Facebook Mr Woodward’s comments and letter to The Head of Countryside at Hampshire County Council and am disgusted to read that he, as a member of the council seems to be posting a rather one-sided view and representing a minority group of which he is apparently a member and not those of the wider user groups who will benefit from the track improvements.

I have also read on Facebook a claim to have halted the work and am absolutely disgusted to hear this at the 11th hour before the final rolling and finishing has taken place.

The uncompacted surface will soon be messed up and will be hard to walk on not to say a waste of all the public money that has been spent so far on the improvements.

I find it staggering that despite the advance publicity things could be stopped by a vocal group who wish to retain their private playground.

I intend to lobby Hampshire County Council to find out when the 500-metre missing link between Knowle and the Meon Valley line will be completed, enabling keen walkers, families with buggies, those who are less able bodied as well as horse riders and cyclists to travel off road from almost the centre of Fareham to East Meon.

I know there are many who share my views and wholly support the work, quietly waiting their turn to be able to use this improved facility when completed.

MICHAEL STEVENS, Fareham