THIS week I attended the “2012 and Beyond” event which primarily covered plans for the Olympic legacy.

Boris Johnson trumpeted the opportunities the Games hold for the regeneration of east London.

Sadly, the only examples he could give were for Stratford, which will include the construction of Europe’s largest shopping centre.

In the face of the panel’s enthusiasm, I couldn't help wonder where all this left Walthamstow.

All I hear from cabinet members is how hard it is to run such a poverty- stricken borough as Waltham Forest, especially when there are so many more exciting places nearby.

In my 20 years here I have never once heard the the passion and excitement for our area that I heard from the members of Tuesday’s night’s panel, which included the mayor of Hackney, but sadly no representatives of Waltham Forest.

Instead of building on the unique assets that Walthamstow has, we allow them to be run down and wasted by poor management and underinvestment.

The council seem much happier to abandon treasures such as the EMD cinema and to pour all our money into constructing some faceless complex just because it will have to be built on a shoestring.

In the time of the cultural Olympiad we need to exploit Walthamstow’s modern multicultural strengths and also draw on its rich cultural past to the full.

Both, if combined with initiative, inspiration and competent management, could bring visitors and their money to our town during and after the Games.

Paul Lindt,

Grosvenor Park Road,

Walthamstow.