South Westcliff Community Group (SWCG) 

Enabling 'Upwards Democracy' for our Community

Working together to link people with our council, councillors, police and other services

Regeneration
& Planning

We suggest improvements for our area and also keep a weekly eye on Planning

Transport &
Traffic

We focus on road safety and parking congestion particulary caused by visitors and bad layouts

Enviroment
& Rubbish

We concentrate on neighbourhood noise pollution and indiscrinate rubbish dumping

Community
& Safety

We work closely with the Police on local crime.
We attend regular and specific Police meetings

Our Way of Thinking

“ Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful,
 concerned citizens can change the world. Indeed,
 its the only thing that ever has” (Margaret Mead)

We believe that people need a forum of their own, which is non-political, is  focused on their local area and which is open and democratic.

We use the term ‘Upwards Democracy’, as we believe that SWCG is able to act as a community voice in order to link our thoughts and needs with those of our Councillors, our Council, the Police, our MPs, the Government and all other organisations which act for us in providing services for our area.

Unlike many other organisations, we seek to be pro-active in working with each of these representatives and agents, and invite guests to explain to us their own operational constraints, problems, issues and priorities, as well as encourage them to listen directly to ours.

We are also a ‘Community Group’ (not a residents association) and want to engage with as many people who live in our area as possible to get involved with us to ‘make a meaningful difference’

CAWS (Conservation Association of Westcliff Seaboard)
CAWS is a proactive conservation group which is an official attendee at Southend Council’s Conservation Working Party meetings.
We help to protect the great buildings within 'South Westcliff'



Information, Actions and Meetings

Via member emails we inform people of meetings so that where allowed they can attend.
Our aim is to build back ‘Community’ into our area.
Due to getting together occasionally a great many people, from neighbouring streets, who did not previously know each other, now stop and talk and socialise, instead of passing by as strangers.

This recognition of area neighbours is gradually building a stronger bond and confidence between us all, and is being noticed by others who live here, or visit here. On quite a few occasions now, there has been the sight of ‘knots of neighbours’, standing laughing and talking outside their homes, and also talking with visitors and other ‘passing strangers’.
The community is slowly building, against the ‘social norm’ of isolation.
In talking, we are also finding out more about each other, and our worries and wishes, which we are mutually trying to answer for each other through our casual personal meetings, and through our liaison and co-operation with the many people who govern for us and who are our representatives