About

The Copers Cope Area Residents’ Association (CCARA) founded in 1935 and the West Beckenham Residents’ Association founded in 1945 are the longest serving, largest residents’ associations (RAs) in Beckenham. The two associations work collaboratively for the betterment of Beckenham and refer to each other as sister RAs. In recent years the Chairs have sought closer working and pooling of resources to enable both organisations to do more to utilise the skills and experience of each others committee – like the sharing of this website. Also see the notice boards outside the Odeon cinema near the War Memorial and outside M&S opposite St George’s Church. 

What to the RAs do?

Each RA has a committee of volunteers from the community who actively monitor issues in the local area, respond to members’ concerns and take them forward with the relevant authorities (such as Bromley Council, local Police, TfL, Southeastern and elected representatives (our MP and Councillors, although the RAs are not party political). Both RAs represent members on a whole raft of issues including planning, licensing, health, council spending, policing, heritage, town centre improvement and more. They also hold community events, work on initiatives with other local groups, and participate in Council working groups and meetings.

Find out more about each Association below.

Copers Cope Area Residents’ Association (CCARA)

Covering central and northern Beckenham (Beckenham Town and Copers Cope Ward), the Copers Cope Area Residents’ Association (CCARA) was founded in 1935 to ‘protect and promote the interests of residents on matters of local concern’. You can find a copy of our constitution here.

CCARA is open to anyone living within the current or former boundaries of the ward of Beckenham Town and Copers Cope (previously known as just Copers Cope Ward).  

CCARA Committee

• Chloe-Jane Ross (Chair)
• Jen McArthur (Vice-Chair)
• Myra Jeffries (Secretary)
• Robert Jeffries (Treasurer)
• Alan Old (Planning)
• Stephen Parkin 
• Marsha Berg (Town Centre and Policing)
• Dee Hetherington (Health)
• Gloria Tam

https://streets.openalfa.co.uk/copers-cope-ward

West Beckenham Residents’ Association (WBRA)

The West Beckenham Residents’ Association (WBRA) was formed in 1945 just after the Second World War as the Kent and Manor House Ratepayers Association. Even in the mid 1940s, it was, in fact, a revival of a previous ratepayers’ organisation that existed before the First World War.

WBRA covers an area of about five square miles in the Beckenham addresses in the wards of Clock House,  Penge and Cator, and Kelsey and Eden Park. Each of these wards is represented by three councillors.

• Janet Ambrose (President)
• Marie Pender (Vice President)
• Mike Manley (Chair)
• (Treasurer) Vacant
• (Secretary) Vacant
• Membership Tom Robin
• Arnjali Rowe
• Ian Dunn
• John Harris
• Anne Dyson

For more information, or contributions for the Express Review, email   info@westbeckenhamra.org