Sir — Local walking groups have long been raising concerns about the future routes of well-used paths from Warneford Meadow and Barracks Lane on to the Churchill site, particularly after the construction firm concerned not only encroached on the wildlife corridor along the Boundary Brook, but built an unscheduled and ugly concrete wall. This replaced a gently sloping grass bank with a steep area, now planted with non-wild creepers and uniform rows of trees, in stark contrast to the natural wild growth beside the stream.

For about a quarter-century, I and my late husband were able to walk from our East Oxford home to the Churchill, as out-patients, and he as a cancer ward in-patient. Until last year, I've been visiting friends either in wards or in Sobell House. It meant a long detour past the chainlink fence and back to reach Sobell House last year.

I was glad to notice today that foundations have been laid for a reasonable sloping path up to the Sobell House entrance. but there was no sign of any paths up from the streamside to Churchill Drive and other parts of the Churchill site. This is in contrast to the well-worn paths which used to cross the grass.

The Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust doesn't seem to have published any map showing definite footpaths and definite dates for their emergence from behind the fenced-off area. It could speed things if they were to agree routes with local walking groups, and to publish them as soon as possible.

Even on a drizzly evening I passed fellow walkers (and one intrepid cyclist) but far fewer than before the path was spoiled.

It seems funny that the local health people have been spending money on training people to lead 'Health Walks' (which involve dreary paperwork and no stopping if you come across anything of interest) while discouraging staff, visitors and patients from walking to and from the Churchill, as they used to.

Patricia Wright, Oxford