IN addition to the usual cyclists, who are hazards to pedestrians walking on pavements (as they are fully entitled to do) there are now additional  dangers in the shapes of children, some very young and very small, weaving their way through walkers at quite high speeds on scooters.

I don't want to be a spoil-sport but feel that a crowded high street is not the place for scooters, as many of the younger riders are not in full control of their machines, going much too fast and a real danger both to themselves and pedestrians, especially the very elderly and infirm.

I fear  that sooner or later there may be a bad accident involving a scooter rider and a walker. Who would be to blame and who is insured against such an incident?

I  feel that whoever is responsible for a child riding a scooter  should ensure that it is being ridden  safely and at a sensible speed, without any danger to a pedestrian or the rider.

After all, if a large dog, completely out of control, was tearing through  a crowded high street there would soon be action taken, most probably with the police being called in and the dog's owner being  held fully responsible for its behaviour and likely to end up having to pay damages to anyone knocked down and injured.

Busy roads are not suitable places for young scooter riders, but  parks are. Mid Devon District Council have notices in all their parks threatening fines of up to £1,000 to owners of dogs not kept on leads.

I am not suggesting such action should be taken against parents not controlling their scooter-riding children, but I do think the dangers of letting them ride with very little control should be well publicised; perhaps persistent offenders given ASB treatment.

One final moan. Riding scooters through the aisles of supermarkets is dangerous and usually very noisy!

Up to the store owners putting up notices banning them, I would have thought.

Peter Phillput

Redvers House

Crediton