CS1 /DS5
There is no recognition throughout the plan that Southend as a seaside resort attracts visitors from London, across the county of essex and from the region. The profile of visitors is extensively families and there preferred mode of transport to access the seafront is by car.
The SCAAP does not positively recognise that the economy of the town is very much built on day visitors and majors on longer stay visitors which in its self is commendable but not at the expense of the day visitors. We do not have the propensity of accommodation etc like many other seaside towns and because of this and proximity out day visitors have been the backbone of the local economy. If southend council aspires to build on the already thriving economy, its is a high risk strategy simply to ignore our very important day trippers. The plan also completely neglects the fact that the peak days (when the sun shines) is essential to each and every businesses survival for the rest of the year. It is a fact that our geographical location and difficulty in accesses the seafront is also completely lost in this document. It we want the town to thrive and proper there needs to be an increase in parking and the SCAAP reliance on no net loss is totally unacceptable.