For two days the security attending a few cyclists romping around Hadleigh’s Olympic track will be immense.

It will involve men in black, helicopters, Old Bill, the fire brigade and ambulance service. Plus, no doubt, covert spies, CCTV, road restrictions, inconvenience, local disruption and misery, all in the name of national security– to protect us from what exactly?

Is Taleban HQ drawing up plans to send in terrorists on BMXs to blow up a couple of pedal-powered off-roaders and the handful of spectators who drew the short straw of events?

Isn’t it all a bit over the top?

No one complains because we have been conditioned to believe there is terror around every corner and any inconvenience – be it a strip search of an elderly vicar’s wife at Heathrow, or a bag search at a Cliff Richard concert – is acceptable.

When shall we return to some kind of pastoral English normality?

The old Bobby on the beat has been replaced by thug look-alikes in stab vests who not only appear intimidating, but represent the Orwellian prediction of what life will be like under a oppressive State.

We are paying for unnecessary security where there is realistically no threat at all.

I was handed a notice at Leigh tip this week saying because of security road closures, the tip will be a no-go-area. Why should winning gold take precedence over me dumping my grass cuttings when I pay my rates?

Trevor Murdin
Flemming Crescent
Leigh