As the saying goes, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

The tea hut in High Beach has been a firm favourite with visitors to Epping Forest for 84 years.

Bradley Melton is the fourth generation of his family to run the hut, which is popular with bikers, walkers and horse riders.

The fact that for all this time it has been run by the same family is testimony to their hard work and commitment to the area.

The tea hut exemplifies those traditional values which so many of us feel are year on year being eroded – it offers uncomplicated fare at excellent value for money compared to glossy, high street chains, it’s open all hours and puts its customers first.

The City of London Corporation feels it can get a better ‘return’ on the tea hut by offering it out to tender. 

In other words, it wants to make more money from it.

What the Corporation hadn’t counted on was the overwhelming support for Mr Melton.

It shouldn’t have come as a surprise to them, however – it’s not for nothing that a family business survives for 84 years.

Thousands have signed a petition calling on the Corporation to back down. 

The Guardian gives its full support to Mr Melton.

Change isn’t always for the better. Sometimes, things are better left the way they’ve always been.

Tim Jones,

Editor, Epping Forest Guardian.