Love North Chingford
We currently focus on Station Road (our High Street) and the Green, but
aims to support all in the North Chingford /E4 area. We work closely in partnership with our local council and councillors from Waltham Forest (we are the forest part!), the Overground, businesses,The Corporation of London (managing the Forest) and potential funders. We also work withwith our neighbours Chingford Mount and Highams Park.
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Current project themes
We have identified 15 themes which need our attention and funding, and are in the process of prioritising them.
Here are some to give you a feeling and whet you appetite…
THE GREEN CONSERVATION AREA
This is our jewel, but needs polishing and treating with respect due to a historic site. The area needs conservation grade signage, (already recently improved) attention to cleaning, improving and repainting street furniture. There are several key sites, and we have plans for a pocket park close to the library, at present an overgrown dumping ground for rubbish. The Library and Assembly Hall itself should be at the centre of the community, but has room for improvement and more community use, we are working with the Council to be more supportive, whilst a Council making places scheme aims to improve the alleyway next to the library. The Parish Church on The Green also has ambitious plans for its 175th Anniversary in 2019.
ARTS AND CULTURE
Waltham Forest will be London’s first Borough of Culture in 2019, and we aim to use the award to showcase our cultural talents – in the widest sense of the meaning and leaving a legacy for the
future. We have an arts trail planned for July 2019 showcasing local talent plus other local heroes such as David Piggots’s Acorn Films who recorded Chingford life for over 60 years and artist Walter
Spradbery whose inter-war London Transport posters encouraged people to get out into the countryside. We are also working to fund a cultural photographic record of Chingford people in 2019, and to use the empty Olympic banner sites to showcase Chingford’s unique heritage.
IMPROVING OUR SHOPPING & EATING
Love North Chingford CIC grew from existing efforts make Station Road- our High Street more attractive. Times are difficult for high streets everywhere and we want to reduce the number of vacant shops, smarten the area, encouraging more quality shops and businesses to invest. We have a strong offer for wining and dining, but need it to become even more attractive and varied. The central area of Station Road, the Parade, was the centre of Edwardian commerce, and needs to have its period look and feel restored.
THE STATION AREA
The Station is a locally listed building of interest, completed in 1878 – now the terminus of the Overground to Liverpool Street, once called the Jazz Line after its colourful carriages, and has been
upgraded in anticipation of new trains– similar to Crossrail – and 100 drivers work the east London Overground from here. However it has no signs and photos to explain its importance in Chingford’s
development, and has unused interior space. We are working with Arriva/ TFL to ‘adopt’ the station and show its importance to the community, use interior space for exhibitions and upgrade planting. Outside, the rather depressing forecourt is ripe for a revamp and we are working with the Council on this. With thousands of Duke of Edinburgh candidates (heading to nearby Gilwell Park) and enthusiastic ramblers, there is surely opportunity of outdoor-related shopping nearby as well as better bike storage to reduce commuter parking.
CLEAN & TIDY
We have group of volunteers working to make our area spick and span, encouraging the Council’s contractors do their job thoroughly, organising litter picks and rejuvenating the planters on The
Parade, Station Road.