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The Romford Residents Association Constitution

Where Romford once resided

Marshalls Park Residents’ Association was formed at a meeting held in May 1989, mainly because it was an area that was so well-off that, paradoxically, it was neglected!

The local Conservative Councillors (neither of whom lived in the ward) were so sure of their seats that they didn’t feel they had to do anything for the residents. As it was the area had parking problems, litter problems, the threat of infilling on vacant sites and generally concern about the impact of Romford Centre night-life on the environment.

The first Annual General Meeting was in that September, but before then the R A had organized a protest about parking in Marshalls Park Upper School; had got a van habitually parked in North Street moved; got street repairs in Seymer Road carried out; and acotched a rumour that the Town Hall was to be further extended. At that first AGM Douglas Cresswell of Havering Drive was elected Chairman, with Elliott Porte as his Deputy; Ian Wilkes of Park Drive became Secretary and Keith Penfold of The Chase was Treasurer. Membership Secretary was Valerie Evans of Park End Road and the General Committee had ten further members. At that time the Association had 150 households in membership.

Other matters dealt with in those early days included opposing helicopter landings on the roof of the BAC building in Eastern venue; trying to get the children’s play area in Raphael Park up-graded; complaints about thoughtless parking of parents collecting children from St Edward’s and St Peter’s Schools; and asking for the closure of the centre gap on the A12 at Park Boulevard. By May 1990 our membership had risen to 332.

Our biggest job in the following 12 months was to restore the tennis courts in Havering Drive, owned – but not used – by Marshalls Park School. By agreement with the School the Association paid for protective fencing and organized new nets and, after six months’ hard work, were able to open the restored courts for public use.
The successful restoration of the tennis courts was a proof that major overhauls are not achieved by purchasing home insurance or other resources. It can be achieved by careful planning and hard work.

A topic that occupied us through 1993 was a Labour proposal to transfer the Central Library to the Dolphin site: this we vigorously opposed, eventually gathering 9,959 signatures on a petition that forced a climb down by the Council Leader Arthur Latham. At this time we extended the boundaries of the Association and renamed it the Marshalls and Gidea Park Residents’ Association. We had just under 700 member households.

In 1994 Valerie Evans and Ian Wilkes stood against Conservative and Labour and, to the Association’s delight, won Gidea Park Ward – the first time a non-Conservative had represented the area since Havering was formed.

By 1996 the MGPRA was helping a newly-formed Rise Park Residents’ Association to get off the ground, little thinking that Rise Park and two-thirds of Marshalls and Gidea Park would be amalgamated into Pettits Ward in 2001.

The Romford Residents’ Association will celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2009 – by raising its subscription to £1.50, the first rise since we were established!

History

There has probably been a settlement on the trackway to the east of England near the ford over the Merche-dych (now the River Rom) from the earliest times, but it was first recorded in 55 A.D, when its name was Durolitum, a camp for the Roman army en route from Londinium to Caesaromagnus (Chelmsford). The site of Durolitum is unknown, but it was possibly at Hare Street, Gidea Park.

Until 1247, when a Market was founded in Romford, the town was of little significance, being a hamlet under the influence of the Royal Palaces at Havering-atte-Bower on the one hand and of Hornchurch and the Parish Church of St Andrews, although a Chapel of Ease was built in 1177, on a site near the present Homebase in Oldchurch Road.

The Market was established between the two major manufacturing settlements of Hornchurch, renowned for its leather-tanning industry and Collier Row, where charcoal was produced from the woods of Essex. The Market prospered and expanded to embrace cattle, sheep and pig markets and local farm produce, particularly rhubarb - much prized for its curative properties - and many inns were built in the town.

When the Liberty of Havering was formed in 1465 the seat of local government was the Court House at the crossroads of the London Road and the north/south route from Havering to Hornchurch. Its successor was demolished in 1933.
Among memorable residents over the years were Sir Athony Cooke (of Gidea Hall, tutor to the children of Henry VIII), Francis Quarles (the Cavalier poet), Carew Mildmay (a Parliamentarian General), Thomas Blood (who tried to steal the Crown Jewels), John Laurie (who tried to establish the first Garden Village, but failed), and Hugh McIntosh (of Marshalls House and Havering Park).

Two commercial enterprises that came to the town were the Brewery, established in 1799 at the Star Inn, by the bridge in High Street and, much later, the Roneo office equipment factory at Havering Wells.

The sleepy market town was transformed with the coming of the railway in 1839 and within 50 years became the largest town in the region.

Today’s Romford is part of Greater London as the London Borough of Havering and is largely a commuter town cut off from its historic roots in Essex.

Development of housing, chain stores, and light industry continues apace and much effort is needed to stop the town losing its identity.

Local Government

The Local Government Act 1894 created the Romford Urban District of Essex, which covered what is today the core of the town. From 1894 to 1934 Romford Rural District covered a vast area surrounding, but not including, Romford itself. In 1934, after increasing urbanisation of the area, the rural district was abolished and the urban district expanded. In 1937 the expanded district gained further status as the Municipal Borough of Romford. [3]        In 1965 the municipal borough was abolished by the London Government Act 1963 and its former area was transferred to Greater London to form part of the present-day London Borough of Havering.

Politics

Romford is part of the Havering and Redbridge London Assembly constituency. The present MP for the Romford constituency is Andrew Rosindell, a native of the town.

Transport

Romford railway station is on the Great Eastern Main Line and is served by regular stopping, and occasionally fast, services to Liverpool Street in the City. Romford is a hub on the London Bus network with services to Canning Town, Stratford, Leytonstone and Dagenham as well as feeder services from the large housing developments which surround it such as Collier Row and Harold Hill. [6] The trunk A12 passes to the north of Romford while the A118 from Stratford connects with it at Gallows Corner and the start of the A127.