MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN

A forum is a place where we can speak without fear or favour as civic people about the issues that concern us collectively. Our purpose is to give voice to the creative energies of citizens. So far the Wimbledon Civic Forum has facilitated ten urban design workshops, asking citizens what kind of city we would like to live in - a revolutionary question, Transport Forums grappling with the effects of gridlock and the emergence of tram link, bicycles, horses, feet, and trains, Health Forums dealing with old age, emergency aid, drugs and alcohol, Crime Forums dealing with prisons, community policing, Islamaphobia, and Education Forums including covering the changes in Merton schools, sixth form provision, and faith schools. We have organised trips for Friends to the House of Commons, the Royal Opera House, Canizaro festival, we've hosted events with Martin Bell and John Humphrys at the Polka Theatre, hold quarterly meetings with senior officers of the Borough, and so on.

This has involved collaboration and co-operation with developers, the police, health service trusts, our Local Authority, our town centre manager, residents associations, faith groups, community organisations, local professionals, and individual citizens.

Everywhere we have knocked there has been an open door. We are the first local UK Civic Forum of our kind - people accept us as neutral, open and accountable.

Our sphere of activity is the parliamentary constituency of Wimbledon, that is Merton Priory, Raynes Park, Wimbledon Park, Wimbledon Common, Wimbledon Town Centre, Nelson Hospital, and so on.  But our concerns are local, London wide, global, and intimate - for the privileged and the underprivileged - the actual experience of living in this city, now.  We are a diverse and thriving community.  If you live or work in Wimbledon and care about its future - consider joining the Wimbledon Civic Forum as a member or friend, consider sharing your expertise with the community. Please enjoy and use this web site toreview the records of the forums, have your say, either in person by coming to a Forum event or via our message boards.

Marcus Beale for the Executive Committee December 2002