ALEC Samuels proposes a number of sensible measures to be implemented by the Conservative Government (letter, May 15). Unfortunately your correspondent hits a wrong note when he advocates proceeding with HS2.

Not only would the scheme devastate large areas of precious countryside it would also affect swathes of north London where hundreds of homes would be swept away and huge building works would blight communities for up to 10 years.

HS2 is also a financial disaster, costing £50 billion on the Government’s own (2011) estimate but £80 billion according to the Institute of Economic Affairs.

This works out at £927.64 and £1,484.23 respectively for every man, woman and child in England.

It is a colossal misuse of resources when deficit reduction has stalled and the national debt has doubled.

The plug needs to be pulled on this public sector vanity scheme as soon as possible.

COLIN SMITH, Totton Branch, New Forest East Conservatives.