I WAS interested to learn that Clyde Loakes will be standing down as leader of the council. I’m not a Labour supporter, but I think Cllr Loakes has done good job.

The council was in an awful state when he took over but now it is a four star authority. The important thing is that the council has come a long way and continues to move in the right direction.

The council will never be able to get everything right but that is true of life. Cllr Loakes has been a determined, dynamic and pro-active leader.

He was just what the borough needed – young, driven and impatient for change. Rather than being a faceless figurehead he has enthusiastically engaged with local people and this has made him easy to target with criticism – some of it from me!

I know from friends and colleagues that the grass is far from greener in other boroughs such as Haringey and Newham.

What cannot be doubted is that Cllr Loakes has remained passionate and positive about the borough.

It was once dubbed a ‘basket case’ but is now seen to have benefited from strong leadership. I may not agree with your politics Cllr Loakes but I recognise that you leave a positive legacy.

David Herridge, Endlebury Road, Chingford