ANDREW Watson should be congratulated for his shrewd analysis of the political scene, regarding education funding, as should those who are attempting to secure a proper level of education for the children in our county.

In a published letter, on education funding, I stated that education in our county, when compared to the "average," is under-funded by central government to the tune of £34m pounds per year.

That statement went unchallenged by those whose responsibility it is to pay for the education of our children. It therefore means that during the two terms of this Government - nine years - Education in the county of Worcestershire - will be under-funded, in average terms, by £306m. That is the measure, by which our county, and its children, are being short-changed by the politicians. That is why the whole environment of St John's is about to be changed forever, by Tesco and probably for the worse.

Those responsible for education are being seduced, by financial considerations, under the guise of "enabling development," to allow Tesco's St John's development, even though they know that most oppose another Tesco.

Just why should those who represent us be conniving at creating the conditions whereby the people of Worcester are about to be stitched up by two commercial organisations, whose sole aim is to leave the people of Worcester with no alternative other than to do their main shop at either Tesco or Sainsbury's?

Had our county received its proper level of education funding, we would not now be contemplating the "destruction" of St John's.

N TAYLOR,

Worcester.