The opportunity to waste money obviously hit Epping Forest District Council, yet again with the arrival of the Tour de France celebrations on July 7.

If the council’s entertainment people had got their act together they could have used the green areas around the subject and done it properly, raising huge amounts of money for charity and provided good entertainment for everyone who was stood for hours awaiting the main event – where were the children’s rides, the live music and the food stalls (I’m not talking about down the High Street)? It just wasn’t there.

They couldn’t even provide proper security along the route from Epping to the Robin Hood roundabout.

There were crush barriers at one side, near to the Robin Hood, and round the external edge of the roundabout itself, but that was on the side of Epping New Road – a dangerous road at the best of times – and there were vehicles connected with the event coming through that road at high speed.

Children and adults were dancing in the middle of the road.

There was nobody there to stop them, other than three hapless security men with no uniforms, just a tabard on.

There was more activity outside the Robin Hood Thai restaurant and pub. They had people in there – hundreds on the forecourt enjoying the bright sunshine and dancing to the music and even a commentary from someone on a microphone.

Everyone at the Robin Hood, staff and management, put a heck of a lot of effort into it to make it a great day, a day to remember.

Brian Dean, Hillyfields, Loughton.