Object
Southend Central Area Action Plan (SCAAP) - Revised Proposed Submission 2016
Representation ID: 2484
Received: 11/11/2016
Respondent: Southend & District Pensioner's Campaign
Legally compliant? Yes
Sound? No
Car parking deserves to have more emphasis in this action plan. The situation now is difficult and produces major congestion.
Some local residents struggle to park near the centre of Southend. Disabled people often have no easy access to buses, and some cannot access a bus anyway. Our seafront businesses are already upset over the lack of car park provision near the coast, and most new trippers will arrive here by car.Already people are parking illegally on grass banks in Kursaal Ward in the summer. Essex Police have other priorities. This plan appears to be incomplete.
We regard the parking provision inadequate at present, and are alarmed at the lack of detail and emphasis on this issue within this plan. Surely, parking should have featured much more strongly in the document, as we have such limited land available, particularly close to the seafront. During peak times, the congestion is appalling in the town. It also backs-up traffic on the A127 and A13 for long distances, which frustrates visitors and encourages road-rage. The Council must understand that we need more multi-storey or underground car parking provision. Our older and disabled residents rely on their cars to visit the town centre. Some of them cannot manage to access a bus if their is one available.Seaside businesses are desperate now for more car parks near the coast, and to attract more trippers will require more spaces. The fact that you promise not to reduce south/central area, shews that you have not grasped the seriousness of the problem in our view.