I couldn't agree more with the views expressed by Mrs Morgan (June 22 Kids are priced out of sport).
I think that there are two main issues that need to be addressed: one of which is cost and the other is that there seems to be a marked lack of provision for teenagers.
My 16-year-old daughter decided to join Crook Log Sports Centre so I paid the annual membership fee of £15. Recently she went there to play badminton with her sister. The court cost £8, plus an entrance fee was payable for the non-member. If they had travelled there by bus, this would have added at least another £4 to the total. The cost of one hour's exercise soon starts to look rather expensive.
When they were younger, my children spent many hours enjoying the local parks and open spaces; participating in the Bookworm Trail and other activities provided by the council. However, once they reach their teens they are too old for children's activities but are excluded from adult activities due to the high costs.
I feel that this is totally unacceptable, especially when we are being warned by the British Medical Association of a teenage health time bomb' with 20 per cent of all 13-16-year-olds already overweight.
I sincerely hope that Bexley Council re-thinks both its charging policy and its provision for this age group, thereby allowing our teenagers to access the excellent sporting facilities we have in this borough.
Mrs J E Archer, Rydal Drive, Bexleyheath
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