Friday's letters including 'Train time targets need to be set higher'

Use prisoners to help with dredging work
SIR – Time and time again we turn on TV or open our newspapers to read stories that the rain has caused floods, which have devastated homes and businesses. 
It’s clear to the vast majority of mankind that we need to ensure that these flood waters can be routed away as quickly as is possible from our homes and our places of work.
 I’m somewhat fed up of hearing that MPs believe there’s not any more money to do this, giving lame excuses as to why a simple dredging operation can not go ahead. 
Yet sitting in our prisons and leaving our courts on a daily basis is people who owe society a great deal. 
Is it not possible to get these people to clear our ditches streams and tributaries as part of their punishment? 
It’s been suggested that, to carry out such operations would need considerably more guards or warders, well how about using servicemen or TA troops to assist or I’m sure there’s some electronic means that could be used.
Before the so-called do-gooders leap to the writing table, claiming that this is an infringement of these prisoners’ rights, perhaps they should consider it is an infringement of our rights to think we tax payers are paying for them to live in warmth and light while there are tax payers who cannot afford to put food in their kids’ bellies.
IVAN CARTER
Worcester
 
Appropriate action over flooding problem
SIR – We have again seen the results of our rivers flooding.  
When is someone going to ask the question what is causing our river to keep flooding and the answer is do not blame it all on the weather. 
The blame lies with the environmental agency and conservationists for blindly following EU regulations  which say that you must not dredge rivers, dig ditches around field, nor dredge or clear streams.
Those of us who can remember what life was like before we were conned into agreeing to join the then Common Market will recall that those rivers which flooded occasionally did so over fields which farmers kept purely for pasture. 
Because they were prone to floods, should there be excessive rainfall, cultivated field had ditches dug around them to drain off excessive water.
 Local authorities kept streams in built up areas cleared and our rivers had pleasure craft on them, ensuring that any silt  which entered the river from the hillside was not allowed to settle in the river bed but was washed downstream to the river estuary and out to sea.
If you have a toothache and go to the dentist, the dentist finds the cause and removes it, they do not just give you an painkiller and tell you it will go away of its own accord. 
Instead of throwing billions of pounds at flood defences, remove the cause and lower river beds, clear streams and let farmers dig ditches again. 
EU countries have similar weather to us but do not have flooding problems like us because they take appropriate action. 
If the overpaid bureaurcats in the Environmental Agency  are too blind to see the cause because of all their degrees etc. which do not give them the answer then they should resign and allow those who can see the cause to take charge and remove the cause.
R KNIGHT
Newport, Shropshire

How many EU migrants live here?
SIR – THE Government has twice refused to let the public know how many EU migrants are living here claiming benefits... why? 
Pure and simple a cover-up, as it would be very “unhelpful” to David Cameron’s EU renegotiation.
It’s common knowledge our PM wants us to remain within the EU, so letting the cat out of the bag would surely make people think harder about their choice.
You only have to walk down the street any day to know the truth. 
So many non-English people, sitting or walking around aimlessly, obviously not working..
GB DIPPER
Leominster