THE mishandling by Michael Gove of the announcement of cuts to 700 projects under the schools re-building programme is damaging enough, but the fact that the money saved is likely to be used to fund the proposed new "free schools" indicates the scant regard which is being shown towards children from less well-off backgrounds.

Better buildings provide enhanced learning environments and increased educational opportunities and thus achievement.

The HS2 route will cut through the heart of Lichfield's countryside. Reader Ann Outen says massive Government spending on the route comes at a cost to local schools.

Are local residents aware that alongside the continual stream of austerity measures being announced at breakneck speed by the coalition, the commitment to the massive spending on HS2 (the high speed train link) remains unaltered?

Shaving 10 to 20 minutes off a train journey seems more important than the education of all of our children.

The HS2 scheme is based on a business case which is flawed and on data regarding CO2 emissions, which are debatable.

The environmental and ecological impact on this area is huge – apart from the blight and uncertainty to businesses, farms and property which will last from now until at least 2026.

There appears to be no coherent transport policy for rail so far announced by the Government, apart from leaks suggesting £8 billion cuts in planned investment in Network Rail.

It appears that rail users are to face a deteriorating service for the next 16 years while HS2 is being built.

More imaginative, less environmentally damaging and less costly spending on existing services now would obviate the necessity for a high speed rail network.

HS2, moreover, will have little benefit to the country as a whole and will provide no benefit at all to residents in Lichfield, Tamworth or neighbouring villages, despite the disruption locally by the building and operation of the service.

It is an unaffordable luxury which will damage the local landscape forever, paid for by taxpayers – the majority of whom will never be able to afford to use it.

In this financial year alone, £25 million of our money is being spent on this project.

This is set to increase year-on-year so that by 2018, it will be £3.4 billion.

Has the Government learned nothing from the costly mistake of HS1 in Kent? This cost £5.8 billion, services have now been cut because of lack of demand and it is now up for sale at £1.5 billion!

Our local voice needs to be heard to stop the Government wasting more of our money in this way.

The Treasury has invited members of the public to send their views on how to cut public spending to the Spending Review, by send an email to publicenquiries@hm-treasury.gov.uk

Already 60,000 public sector workers have posted their ideas on saving money.

Stopping HS2 would save billions of pounds of taxpayers' money.

ANN OUTEN Hints.