At the Forest Festival a visitor expressed confusion over the different residents' organisations (all with similar names) in Highams Park. I tried to explain, but as I did so it struck me too how confusing it was. The visitor laughed and said it was a bit like Monty Python's Life of Brian where there are numerous organisations based on rearranging the words "The People's Liberation Front of Judea" (or is it "The Judean People's Liberation Front").......[you need to have seen it to think this is funny !]
So here is our attempt at an explanation (no laughing at the back !):
There are four main residents' organisations in Highams Park. Each has a different origin and a different focus. Some people are members of more than one, and the organisations work closely on common issues. The organisations are:
The Highams Park Forum
The Highams Park Forum was created following a public meeting held by Waltham Forest Council in September 2000. It works as a "Think Tank", aiming to act as a focus for local community issues, discussing ways of improving the quality of life in Highams Park, seeking answers to Community problems, and steering the implementation of measures which result.
The Forum meets 8 times each year. Meetings are relatively informal committee style affairs with about 10 - 20 attendees from across the whole of Highams Park and are structured so there is a chance for everyone to have their say. The Forum has a number of projects in progress as described on this website.
The Highams Park Residents Association
The Highams Park Residents Association was initially formed to address problems relating to the operation of the Bar, Night Club and Snooker Club in the old Regal Cinema building. As a result, its membership is focused on residents in the vicinity of that building (viz, Beach Hall Road and Hale End Road). The organisation has branched out to tackle other issues in Highams Park and has recently been responsible for the installation of the hanging baskets around the centre.
The organisation operates with a core committee and larger gatherings of the full membership.
The Highams Park Society
The Highams Park Society sets its goal as "Helping Promote Community Life". It organises social events, lectures, exhibitions, working parties and also campaigns on issues affecting life in Highams Park. New members are always welcome.
It organises the very successful Highams Park Day each year.
Details and a description of current and future activities of the Society are set out in its regular newsletter "The Park" the latest version of which is posted here: HPS Newsletter
The Society has is own website which can be found here:
www.highamsparksociety.co.uk
Higham's Residents' Association
Higham's Residents' Association was founded in 1955 to represent residents' from the estate on the East side of Highams Park - originally the Highams Warner Estate. It represents residents' interests in general but also focuses particularly upon planning matters affecting the estate. The association has its own website here: www.highamsra.org.uk
Membership is open to all residents in:
Crealock Grove, Henry's Avenue, Keynsham Avenue, Lichfield Road, Marion Grove, Mason Road, Montalt Road, Nesta Road, Tamworth Avenue, and The Charter Road,
together with other residents in the neighbourhood who have interests in common with the Association. Almost 100% of the households in the designated area are members.
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