ON reading the article (November 8) about Southampton City Council's dreadful hesitance in getting on with planning the infamous ice rink, I should like to observe that the city is in great danger of losing its character altogether.

All the old fogies that sit in judgment on our council and hesitate to make decisions that would enliven our city, should stand down and give the young a chance.

Don't they realise that there are many youngsters out there that require taking off the streets, given a chance to exercise their minds and bodies and to learn to socialise again?

Teams of ice hockey players are queuing up to have somewhere to play their sport. At the moment they and their parents have to travel for miles to pursue this excellent sport.

The Quays swim centre and sports facilities provide part of the city's provision for the active but at what price?

If the ice rink does materialise I hope that the council's elders will not try to overprice it.

Young people and young families need a reasonably priced facility otherwise attendance is stunted and maintenance curtailed.

The West Quay development has proved to be a terrible blight on what was an elegant city.

From the closed shops and dirty streets I do not want to go shopping there and many other people say the same thing.

Please try to put something nice back into the city - you have the means!

MARY COLE, Bitterne Manor, Southampton.