I am writing in response to the article about the call to make Minster Lovell ruins safer after a boy fell and injured his foot.

The ruins are not unsafe – climbing them can be, as anyone using their common sense will realise. We all know that teenagers take risks, and I daresay children have always enjoyed exploring the ruins – and hopefully always will. But, as we learn in the playground: If you climb something, you might fall off.

Admittedly, 13 does seem a little late to be learning this lesson, though perhaps our risk-averse playgrounds and cotton-wool parenting are to blame for this.

I’m sorry the boy got hurt. At the same time I’m quite sure neither he nor his friends will be climbing any other monuments again in a hurry – useful lesson learned.

Let’s not ruin the ruins – one of our local beauty spots – by plastering them with health and safety notices but instead help our children learn about actions and consequences.

Isn’t that what growing up is all about?

Fiona Herron

Church Green

Witney

 

Today’s letters

 

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