Christmas Comes to Debden Broadway
Hundreds of residents gathered on Debden Broadway on Sunday 7 December for the area’s inaugural Community Christmas Market, and EFIG was proud to be there to support it.
The market was hosted by the Loughton Roding team of the Loughton Residents Association (LRA), Cllrs Chidi Nweke and Sheree Rackham. This post is, first and foremost, a thank-you to them. Putting on an event like this takes planning and plenty of hard graft, and they delivered something the whole community could enjoy.
What Was on Offer
The Broadway was buzzing. There were fashion stalls and sweet stalls, mulled wine and mince pies, live music and a raffle, and plenty more besides. Father Christmas dropped in, as did the Chair of Loughton Town Council, and yes, we even had a boogie with them both. It was a joyful afternoon and a great way to start the festive season in Debden.
Independents Working Together
Three EFIG councillors, Maria Markham, Tom Bromwich and Lisa Morgan, joined LRA Cllrs Chidi Nweke, Louise Mead, Barbara Cohen and Sheree Rackham on the day.
The LRA is a fellow bloc of independents, and a significant one. They have 12 councillors on Epping Forest District Council and run Loughton Town Council, where they hold all but one of the seats. EFIG works alongside them on many issues across Loughton and Buckhurst Hill, and we were delighted to back them at an event that was entirely their initiative.
This is what independent politics looks like in practice. There are no party headquarters telling anyone who to work with or what to oppose. When independent groups cooperate, it is because we choose to, and because it is good for the residents we serve.
Why the Broadway Matters
Debden Broadway is a special place, and the market was a reminder of it. Completed in 1954, the Broadway near Debden Station is a gentle crescent with broad pavements and trees, looking down to the fields beyond. According to its own visitor guide, it still looks much as it did when it was built. Its architects added decorative sculptures above Brickclamps Path that are unique to The Broadway.
It is also a genuine local high street. The guide lists a butcher, greengrocer, baker, florist, pet shop, hardware and electrical shops, hairdressers, chemists and a pie and mash cafe, alongside charity shops, healthcare practitioners and a veterinary surgery. It describes a strong sense of community and continuity, and points to affordable parking behind the shops on Burton Road and good train and bus links, with Debden Station on the Underground between Loughton and Theydon Bois. The guide was jointly funded by the District Council’s Town Centres Initiative and the Debden Partnership, which says something about how much local organisations value the Broadway.
That is the Broadway that hundreds of people came out to enjoy. A market like this shows what a high street can be when people use it: a meeting place as well as a place to shop. Money spent with local traders helps keep the area thriving, and every event that brings people through the door helps those traders.
We hope this is the first of many. A market like this brings neighbours together, gives local traders a boost, and shows what local councillors can achieve when they put their energy into the community.
If you have not visited the Broadway for a while, make it your next shopping destination. Pick up something from the butcher or the baker, support the independent traders who keep it going, and see for yourself why it is worth protecting. If you run a stall, play in a band or lead a community group and would like to take part in future, get in touch with us and we will pass it on.
Thank you to Cllrs Nweke and Rackham for organising such a successful day, to the stallholders and musicians who made it feel like Christmas, and to everyone who came along and joined in. Congratulations on a fantastic first Debden Christmas Market.
If you enjoyed reading this, please share it and help us spread the word about what independent councillors can achieve when they work together for their communities.