Romford Challenges.

‘The rise in competitive low-cost stores, a run-down of Romford’s environment and an increase of certain crimes which feeds into a perception of high crimes overall. All of the above naturally puts off visitors.’

Councillor Graham Williamson (South Hornchurch)Cabinet Lead for Development & Regeneration today writes in the Havering Daily on the challenges of Romford.

Readers will be aware that the Market and to some extent Romford overall, suffers from endemic problems. For example, the increase of online shopping, the rise in competitive low-cost stores, a run-down of Romford’s environment and an increase of certain crimes which feeds into a perception of high crimes overall. All of the above naturally puts off visitors. 

Whilst some of these trends have emerged in recent years the number of shoppers has steadily declined. Previous Council Administrations presided over a managed decline and while it won’t of course be easy we need to try and reverse this malaise.

OPPOSING ROMFORD’S REBIRTH?

Disturbingly, at the recent Council budget setting meeting the Opposition (largely Conservative councillors) demanded that the unpublished Romford Masterplan be scrapped. This document has been six years in the making and cost over £500,000 to find a way to regenerate Romford and prevent the piecemeal and often negative developments that have blighted Romford Town over the years.
Unfortunately, for political reasons the previous Administration never published it, leaving it to gather dust over those years and when this Administration inherited it in 2022, it was of course out of date.

So apart from making policy changes it meant we had to go through it with a fine toothcomb. It isnow updated and already being discussed with landowners, thereafter it will be with certain interested partners and soon the public in general. 

What a blow that would be to our reputation if it was now abandoned!

ROMFORD MASTERPLAN
The Master Plan is of course a document of Place i.e., thebuildings and infrastructure and it achieves two things. Firstly, it attempts to keep bad development at bay. It indicates rather than prescribes what we would like to see and what we don’t. This is important of course because it makes it more likely we can block poor development if it later goes to appeal.
Secondly, it attempts to join up development by giving potential investors a map of what would be more acceptable (and not) across the whole of the Town Centre, rather than the piecemeal and sometimes contradictory development in planning terms. Overall, it is Phase 1 of Romford’s regeneration. It is more than a promise and the investment of Capital already for Romford Ring Road, is the proof of that. 

We are either serious about regaining Romford’s glory of old or we are not!

A Phase 2 will come later dealing how we can attract new and lost residents back to the Town Centre and in particular the Market. In simple terms we might see Phase 1 as the foundations and walls of the house and Phase 2 it’s furnishings. Furthermore, we need to work with Partners and Agencies, to address the other issues Romford is suffering from.
Whilst there is no guarantee that the Master Plan will be a resounding success, removing it will guarantee continued failure. Romford residents will soon be able to take part in a public consultation of the Masterplan. 

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