Beechworth's historic Goods Shed is to be remodelled not just restored. The Goods Shed has existed since the opening of the railway to Beechworth in 1876. It is the last remaining railway building that has not been substantially altered. As such it should be restored to original condition as a monument and museum commemorating a part of Beechworth's history that lasted for 100 years. The only remaining track is inside the Shed. Is the track going to be pulled up or concreted over?

Instead Indigo Shire Council proposes to make it into a cycling hub. It seems that the priceless and irreplaceable history of Beechworth is once again to be sacrificed on the altar of cycling to appease the gods of consultancy and bureaucracy.

Cycling is a part of tourism but only a part. These days the council has an obsession with cycling. Beechworth's proud and wonderful history is glossed over. Does council believe that our history is not trendy enough or not politically correct?

There are rail trails and cycling hubs all over Victoria. There is only one Beechworth and what makes it unique is its history, which should be protected at all costs.  It was once the “best preserved gold town in Victoria”. Unfortunately Indigo Shire Council doesn't want that any longer. Once our history is gone it is gone forever.

I write with reference to the letter by Danny Bowden (‘A soft touch won’t stop catastrophes on our roads’, The Border Mail, May 11)  and am pleased that he has raised the issue of recidivist drivers taking advantage of the “soft touch” approach to sentencing , however I believe there is perhaps a better approach to dealing with these offenders, but it needs a different approach by those who legislate on these matters.

I can to a degree sympathise with the magistrates who know that heavy fines cannot be paid, and that family members will be punished more  by imprisoning the culprit. I believe the threat of, and actual confiscation of the car,  and preventing them from owning, borrowing, leasing or renting a car for an extended period of time would discourage a few. Chronic offenders should have to resit their tests before resuming driving when their deregistration period has expired. Holding a drivers licence is a privilege  not a right. 

We have to accept that there are some people who are incapable of acting responsibly, and having them at the wheel of a car is a recipe for disaster as Mr Bowden pointed out.

Isn't it funny ? We have banned the use of mobile phones and P-platers aren't even allowed to touch one whilst in the vehicle they are driving. It's funny because these days, especially in modern cars, more and more apps are available by way of the inbuilt computer. You can play music, find directions, use bluetooth  to communicate, and who knows how many other things. Surely these apps are just as distracting, if not more, as a mobile phone. Are the car makers trying to get us killed ? Are there any laws governing the use of these apps?