So the diggers are on Walthamstow’s Arcade site this week, turning an unruly pile of rubble and buddleia into an altogether neater, flatter pile of rubble with no buddleia. Everyone will be so please. Except the butterflies.

But while the council’s announcement that it is clearing the site for temporary use is welcome – we certainly don’t want years more of it being a waste ground if there’s a decent alternative – this decision smells more like a publicity stunt.

I’m not just being cynical, honest. I truly welcome the fact that we have a new council leader and that he says he’s taking charge of development plans for the Arcade site.

But two things make me doubt that there will genuinely be any worthwhile temporary use of the site. Firstly, long-term plans for the site will go before cabinet again later this month. If, say, they decide to press ahead with a development straight away then any temporary use would be for months, not years, so every penny spent on a short-term use would surely be a waste of money.

Secondly, less than a fortnight ago the council’s planning department received a document (a scoping report for an Environmental Impact Assessment, in case you’re a planning nerd like me) that suggests the council is pressing ahead with its £35m town centre swimming pool plans. The document is for “Redevelopment of site comprising 80 residential units, a 90 room hotel with care and support facilities, a 9 screen cinema with associated support and public facilities, 6 ground & first floor retail units and a leisure centre with a 25m county competition pool, spectator seating and fitness suite.”

So, if the council is pressing ahead with those plans – rather than genuinely consulting with residents and businesses on the best short-term and long-term ideas for the site – then why are the diggers there? My best guess is that if you open the next issue of WFM (and maybe even Waltham Forest Guardian) you will see a lovely photo of new council leader Chris Robbins in a bulldozer. Now, wasn’t that a good use of our money?