SIR - It makes you want to cry - your story on Tarquin's memorial bench being stolen (T&A March 15). The people who commit such crimes are the lowest of the lowlife.

They have never had to sweat to earn money to buy their own possessions and have no idea of value.

They obviously have no love of people or they would realise the hurt they cause when they vandalise or steal personal possessions.

I think what I say next will shock the do-gooders in our society but has the support of the majority.

Let's put 1p on income tax to pay for more prisons and more police officers.

Let's have chain gangs and make young offenders clean the streets, build paths in the countryside or just smash six-inch stones into three-inch stones and then one-inch stones, because it appears to me they only understand pain.

Let's have a no-tolerance policy for the police to enforce.

Don't forget, the do-gooders may have a louder voice but they only have one vote the same as you and me.

A P Robb, Moorside Road, Bradford

SIR - Re David Barnett's column about abominable teenage behaviour (T&A, March 9). Some months ago I strongly criticised an article he wrote about corporal punishment.

Well David, the teenagers you came across are a product of ill discipline, bad manners and nil correction.

Your last paragraph, stating that these teenagers should know the difference between right and wrong, just shows how naive you are on this subject.

They know exactly what is right or wrong, and that they behave so sadistically simply because there is no fear of punishment. It is your generation that has created these 'untouchables'. You sort it out!

Gary Lorriman, North Walk, Long Lane, Harden, Bingley.

SIR - It is good news that Bradford city centre has had a noticeable reduction in crime since the introduction of wardens and an extra police presence.

But it would not be true to say that crime has not moved elsewhere. Shipley has had more than its share of crime for a comparatively small town.

There are very few shops that have not been the target of ramraiders or break-ins. Even the Bradford and Bingley was ramraided and long-established Henry Smiths suffered twice.

Youngsters are relieved of their belongings in broad daylight and it is not safe in Shipley Station at certain times.

It is time that the police were more pro-active in Shipley as Shipley contributes a sizeable amount in business and council tax to the Council's coffers.

Mrs E M Baxter, Hoyle Court Road, Baildon.

SIR - With reference to recent letters regarding the bridges over the Bingley relief road. I contacted my MP Christopher Leslie to express my concern regarding the height of the railings.

Chris contacted the Highways Agency on my behalf and their reply is as follows:-

"The Highways Agency has been liaising with the local police regarding the possibility of objects being thrown from the bridges and the best means of identifying any problems at specific sites. Unfortunately, there is no straightforward solution.

"The parapets are designed in accordance with established national standards, but no standard can be expected to deal with anti-social or criminal behaviour.

"The Highways Agency will continue to work with the local police to see what measures can be undertaken to deter anti-social behaviour on our bridges.

"The risk at each bridge has been carefully assessed and the Highways Agency is satisfied that the parapets are appropriate."

The police are as rare as hen's teeth in Bingley so we have to wait for a terrible accident before anything will be done (if then).

May I ask those readers who are as concerned as I am to please write to your MP and make a fuss.

M A Tetley, Queensway, Bingley.

SIR - Plans to build an industrial estate on Bingley South Bog should be scrapped, as the construction, the toxic fumes and traffic resulting would damage the health and well-being of local people as well as destroy a precious wildlife habitat.

Is the Highways Agency aware children use Wagon Lane walking to school when they plan for 44-tonne lorries on that road?

Although postponed, thanks to Bradford Urban Wildlife Group's protests, there is no doubt that the developers will be back. To prevent this the land should be re-designated on the Unitary Development Plan.

The Green Party predicted that ribbon development would follow in the tracks of the new A650. Who says we need a kitchen and plastics factory anyway? There's no shortage of kitchen units on the market.

Quentin Deakin, Green Party Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Shipley, Newark Road, Crossflatts.

SIR - I would advise Mr Barraclough (T&A, March 12) that plans to reopen Low Moor railway station are at an advanced planning stage, together with Apperley Bridge, while Glasshoughton on the Pontefract line is being rebuilt.

He is correct to argue that unless access to train services is improved, road congestion will worsen in the south of Bradford and the Spen Valley.

Thus reopening all the stations he lists between Bradford and Halifax is important if this problem is to be alleviated, together with reopening the Spen Valley line to Sheffield.

BRUG has been campaigning for the above and for a cross-city rail link across Bradford, which would allow continuous north-to-south journeys and vice-versa.

Such opportunities would make rail travel more attractive, rather than making journeys in heavy road congestion. As a result cross-city services would prove as popular as the services on the Aire and Wharfe Valley, with an annual increase of passenger numbers.

Unfortunately the benefits of cross-rail are unheeded by our Council or Bradford Regeneration, who instead advocate irrelevant and risible policies for the City's regeneration.

Alec Suchi, Secretary, Bradford Rail Users Group, Allerton Road, Allerton.

SIR - I am writing to you on behalf of Mind, a local charity based in Manningham, which is now entering its 15th year.

Some eight years ago the group moved into its current centre, which we have been regenerating and hope to upgrade fully.

For a long time we had to address the modern access issue, which was expensive, but alterations and changes to use of space mean we now have the maximum use of the building, an old mill.

We have developed a user-housing scheme and a telephone helpline among other things, one of these being our own gymnasium, situated in the basement.

In recent times the charitable status of our work has been brought into focus because all voluntary sector projects are like businesses and everything outside the main provisions are not funded by Health Trusts or grants.

With that in mind, some of our gym equipment needs repairing or replacing and I am appealing to any of your readers who may have either a rowing machine or similar gym equipment they no longer want to perhaps donate it to us so we can continue our work.

J Tyson, Vice-chairman, Mind, Tradeforce Building, Cornwall Place, Bradford,

SIR - I agree with everything Peter Meer says. If every group in Yorkshire joined the Yorkshire and Humber Pensioners Convention, it would make an effective fighting force. Instead of fighting each other we should unite.

Do what our group do, write to MPs and, if you get no satisfaction, use the force of the YHPC.

So come on everyone, put your money where your mouth is and support the YHPC now.

J R Smith, Chair, Retired Persons Action Group, Flawith Drive, Fagley.

Sir - There's been some wonderfully romantic stuff in your columns about a re-opened Bradford canal, complete with waterbuses, etc.

Has nobody noticed that large parts of the old canal route have been built over? The only waterbus that could operate now would be a yellow submarine.

Jim Flood, Redburn Drive, Shipley.