All downhill

THE Hillend Ski Centre has been a fantastic resource for a long time, to generations of young people in particular.

In rural areas, we all know, there's very little for young people to do, and for a sizeable group of children this place has been a source of physical activity, a great place for acquiring skills and good for social networking. A friend of my son is now in the British snowboarding team, using skills acquired through many hours over many years with his friends at Hillend.

I have met skiers and snowboarders in far-flung places, North Uist, New Zealand and London, who have told me they spent their formative years pushing themselves physically and making life-long friends on the slopes of Hillend.

The skills learnt there have taken them all over the world pursuing their passion.

If this place closes it would be a tragedy. It would be hypocritical at a time when we are supposed to be concerned with children's health and when we all know boredom gives rise to all kinds of social problems for young people, and those in rural areas particularly.

ETTIE SPENCER

Stenton

East Lothian