How could anyone justify, having already spent £30m on preparing the British cycling team for the last Olympics, now spending £94m on a new velodrome for the London Games (Report, 23 February), when we have such a long history in this country of deep neglect of cycling facilities, and lack of respectable cycling networks, for the masses of current and would-be, leisure, touring and everyday-cyclists?
For example, cyclists have been waiting 16 years for a simple, but essential, route to link the 2.5kms from Bexhill to Hastings, when the only alternative is the busy A259. There is no sign of it yet. Safe routes such as this would stimulate cycle traffic enormously. A velodrome can only benefit a handful of elite (largely professional) specialist cyclists; it can serve no practical use. Our priority should be directed towards producing a better cycling environment for everyone.
Ted Prangnell
Ashford, Kent
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