• I AM surprised to see the proposal to instal outside exercise machines in Talacre open space resurfacing.

I thought that anyone who wanted to keep fit, exercise, work out or whatever, nowadays joined a club (Gym not needed here, Letters February 23).

Talacre doesn’t have any changing rooms or hot showers or a bar where you can chat to your friends afterwards.

So who would the Talacre facility be intended for?

Runners like to do some stretching exercise after their exertions, and there are runners’ groups based in Talacre sports centre; but the centre has the equipment and the other facilities, too, in the warm and the dry.

Maybe occasional dog-walkers would try them out, from curiosity, but I think the notion that dwellers in the flats opposite would change into appropriate clothes, rush across the road, have a 15-minute workout, then rush back across the road and have a shower, is far-fetched.

Far better social use could be made of that space by providing an informal, free games area for kids too big for the playground.

Maybe they could even ride their BMXs there without incurring over-lasting damnation.
Just some thoughts.

JAMES BRANDER
Hadley Street
NW1