Sir - Your June report on the Thames towpath at Fiddlers Island and Medley Island Major safety work on towpath due to start in September promises an end to the neglected state of this heavily-used part of the Thames Trail.

With our neighbours at Bossoms Boatyard, the Sea Scouts, Oxford Angling Society and River Thames Society, we have expressed our concern before about the failure to provide permanent strengthening to the eroded towpath, and many of us will remember the tragic death of a young cyclist here in January.

We, therefore, welcome recent news from councillor Jean Fooks that work will start this month on long-term repairs, funded by the county and city councils, and that a ferry service from Port Meadow will be provided by the Environment Agency while the towpath is closed.

Peter Ledwith, Medley Sailing Club