After the M11 was built and the A406 was widened a group of like-minded people formed a community association to bring back a sense of community they thought was lost.

The Maybank Community Association marked its 35th anniversary last year after it was formed in 1977 when work on the M11 link road effectively cut South Woodford in half.

Frank Collins, 78, has lived in Maybank Road since he was two and remembers the group forming to build a sense of community again.

He said: “We lost about seven shops and a post office in Child’s Corner when the road was built – the community in South Woodford was severed in half.

“The Maybank Community Association helped give a sense of community to those who were left on our side of the road.”

Chair Brian Mazdon, 76, said: “Residents come to us with their problems and we try and help.”

In the late 1980s the group campaigned for a Victorian step-bridge over the Central line to be replaced with a ramped bridge to enable the older generation, disabled people and parents with pushchairs to gain access to the other part of South Woodford.

Mr Mazdon added: “Most people thought this was a good idea, but there were some people who didn’t want to lose the Victorian bridge.

“It was quite an accomplishment for us.”

The group are still battling on to get pedestrian crossings for Charlie Brown’s roundabout after the subways experience flooding in heavy rain.

But Transport for London, claim the funding is not there for the crossings.

And more recently, the group are involved with the fight to retain a police base in the west of Redbridge after the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime announced proposals to close Wanstead and Woodford police station front counters following a consultation.

Mr Collins added: “I don’t see any concern about not keeping a police station open, as long as there is somewhere secure and private for people to report crime.

“They keep talking about having police based in a supermarket – you can’t report a rape in the middle of Tescos.”