Much is written about the decline of Romford. Finger-pointing at who is to blame and why it is in the state it is today is easy. London as a whole has changed. Hornchurch has changed too, though not quite like Romford.
To understand what has happened, you have to look back.
In the 1960s, the Romford Ring Road was installed. Buildings that were loved, historic and deeply woven into the character of the town were destroyed. At the time, Romford was governed by Romford Borough Council, which was later dissolved in 1965 when the London Borough of Havering was created as part of Greater London. Under the planning priorities of that era, endless properties were knocked down to make way for modern road infrastructure.
It was not a popular decision. It was not wanted by many. And it permanently changed the shape and soul of the town.
Romford was once known proudly as a market town. Old photographs show a place that is now almost unrecognisable. The market was thriving. Back-to-back stalls. Traders’ voices carrying across the square. Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays were alive with people, noise, colour and community. It was a destination. A place people came to because they wanted to be there.
Over time, that energy has slowly drained away.
And yet, Romford still has so much that can be appreciated.
The market remains and should be developed further, supported and celebrated for what it still represents, with some truly fantastic stallholders who care deeply about what they do. The Lumiere Cinema in the Mercury is a brilliant community space, not just for watching much-loved classics and the latest releases, but as a place where people still come together. Our beautiful parks remain one of the great, enduring parts of Romford’s history.
But there is no escaping the reality of what has gone wrong.
The upcoming tower blocks are, for many, an undeniable eyesore. Dirty streets and smelly subways are a constant turn-off for people considering a visit. Parts of the town still hold onto a strong community spirit, but too often that is overshadowed by neglect, litter, and a lack of care for the environment.
Residents are calling for a long-overdue revamp of the town centre. They do not want more ugly high-rise blocks. They want restoration, not replacement. Respect, not more concrete.
Romford has a proud history as a market town. That identity should be celebrated, protected and built upon. Instead, too much of that history has been ignored, overwritten or forgotten.
And yet, what hurts most is this: many people who live here love Romford. They care about it deeply. They want to see it cleaned, respected, restored. They want pride to return to their streets, their shops, their public spaces. They want a town that reflects the community spirit they know still exists.
Sadly, too many who visit show little respect. Litter is thrown. Streets are left dirty. Public spaces are treated as disposable. And slowly, the sense of belonging erodes.
Romford does not need to be written off. It needs to be written back into its own story.
It was once a town that people were proud of.
It can be again.
But only if its history is respected, its community is listened to, and pride is restore.
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