• I WRITE with concern at the lack of entertainment at the Embankment Gardens this summer.

The site is managed by contractors who, seemingly, have done and are doing nothing to promote cultural activities in the forgotten corner of the gardens where the arena and theatre stage are.

In the past there have been weekly concerts by visiting big bands from American schools. Alas, they haven’t been back since they were refused bookings a few years ago.

Then there was Wimbledon tennis on huge screens. But not this year. The table tennis tables have also been removed, and the giant chess men too. Now the arena and theatre stage is so decrepit that it looks fundamentally disused.

There was but one use recently by the Hungarian community. But it rained and some performers got wet because the canvas awning over the stage has long been removed never to be replaced.

The performance arena and stage is a valuable cultural asset. Why is the area so neglected and underused? Will the American school bands ever return?

CJ BRADY
Regular visitor from Middlesex