WALTHAMSTOW: Queen's visit cost £45,000 (From This Is Local London)

WALTHAMSTOW: Queen's visit cost £45,000

8:00am Friday 6th April 2012 in Where I Live By Daniel Binns , Senior reporter

The Queen's two-hour visit to Walthamstow last month cost taxpayers more than £45,000, it has emerged.

Figures obtained by the Guardian using the Freedom of Information Act reveal the council spent over £11,000 on "grounds maintenance" at the town hall in the run-up to the event, along with £410 on Union Jack flags.

The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh came for lunch at the complex in Forest Road, Walthamstow, on Thursday March 29.

Nearly £1,000 was spent on external decorations, including painting the town hall steps white, which were used for musicians to stand on.

A security guard was also paid £105 to patrol the site the night before the visit.

Further spending, which the council was unable to provide exact figures for, included new crockery and glasses, flowers, extra security, passes, marquees, menus, a seating plan and "curtains and drapes".

All food and drink was paid for by sponsorship organised by the Lord Lieutenancy of Greater London.

Council leader Cllr Chris Robbins hailed the event a great success on the day.

Hundreds of primary school pupils in the borough were invited to the town hall grounds to watch the Queen's arrival and departure.

However the public was not allowed onto the site and the council kept the exact timings and details secret prior to the event.

The visit included a drinks reception in a marquee on a town hall lawn, where the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh chatted with councillors, community leaders and charity workers.

It was followed by a lunch in Walthamstow Assembly Hall attended by mayors from London boroughs and other dignitaries.

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