Object
Southend Central Area Action Plan (SCAAP) - Revised Proposed Submission 2016
Representation ID: 2846
Received: 15/12/2016
Respondent: Stockvale Group
Agent: Stockvale Group
Legally compliant? Yes
Sound? No
Paragraph 132 again uses the Parking Study as its basis and this causes a number of errors or inappropriate conclusions. For example, it states that "The Study found that the Southend Central Area parking network rarely exceeds 85% occupancy." This masks the problems faced in the seafront
areas where there is currently a significant under capacity of parking spaces. Although this paragraph does acknowledge an imbalance, the Study fails to capture the extent of the issue as the survey dates used were not appropriate for understanding how tourism businesses operate and how
their visitors get to them (for example, inappropriate dates, surveys undertaken in poor weather).
This is covered in more detail in the RPS Technical Note. But looking at the dates used compared to the peak days recorded at The Stockvale Group's Adventure Island theme park and Sea Life Adventure attractions, it can be seen that the dates selected were far from representative of a peak day in the school holidays. The level of visitors to Southend seafront is primarily a result of the weather, and the consultants did not select appropriate days to understand the existing level of
pressure on car parks that serve the seafront, and therefore how sensitive the seafront businesses will be to change in this capacity.
As can be seen in our separate comments on policies that are partly based on this study, this has had
the effect of generating policies that do not support the seafront tourism businesses. Indeed, these
policies will have the effect of reducing visitor numbers and therefore investment into Southend
seafront.
RPS has prepared the following representations to Southend Borough Council's Southend Central Area Action Plan (SCAAP), Revised Proposed Submission Version (November 2016) The following Headings represent Paragraphs or Policies contained within the SCAAP. These representations should be read in conjunction with the accompanying completed Representations Forms.
Our client operates the largest and most successful tourism businesses in Southend (The StockvaleGroup is the owner and operator of: Adventure Island theme park; Sealife Adventure; Three Shells beach café; Pavilion Fish and Chips; Feelgoods Pizza Pasta Restaurant; Sands Bistro restaurant; Adventure Inside and Radio Essex). We would like an opportunity to explain our client's business aspirations and explain why the policies in the Plan will not provide a firm basis for the growth of tourism in Southend, and indeed will have the opposite effect on tourism businesses to the objectives set out at the start of the SCAAP. It is very important to our client that the Inspector understands the consequences of adopting the SCAAP as currently drafted.