Support
New Local Plan
Representation ID: 3418
Received: 22/03/2019
Respondent: Ms Celia Newton
Town is becoming gridlocked too many flats being built all potentially with 1 or 2 cars therefore taking forever to get anywhere. More cycle lanes useful particularly along the London Road. Better security cycle storage in Southend too as risk of theft high and discourages people from cycling. More recycle bins. There's a serious need to have people monitoring the beaches for littering in the Summer months and fining regularly. Needs to be a very clear message/signage to visitors that littering not tolerated. We have family in Italy and notice no litter is ever left on the beach.
1. There are many options for a rewarding career locally.
2. Everyone feels safe at all times of the day.
3. There is a good balance of quality retail, residential and social space in our attractive town centres.
4. Young people feel invested in the future of Southend.
5. We are a ‘destination’ people want to visit, live and study here all year round and from far and wide.
To me these are the five most important key messages. Southend needs decent employment which isn't just minimum wage but offers opportunities to learn and earn a decent living. The cost of going to the cinema with two teenage children is £47. This can't be justified when on low wages which is why I'm confused that potentially Southend will have three cinemas?
Feeling safe is essential and at the moment residents don't feel safe particularly after dark.
What Southend has going for it compared to other successful towns/cities is the seafront. It potentially has so much going for it but currently it is not fulfilling its potential. The High Street is depressing, down beat looking with down beat people. It is a mass of hotch potch concrete with absolutely no greenery whatsoever. Do any of the councillors visit any other thriving towns and see what they do differently? They will probably see that there are trees, attractive street furniture, a mix of restaurants and shops in the High Street, outside seating and patio heating and a section of the High Street open to light traffic.
We need young people to want to come back to Southend after university. At the moment it doesn't have a great pull to come back. It's tatty, depressing etc. A friend's daughter is currently studying at Norwich University and she has already said she doubts very much she will return to Southend to live. Need to change that with better employment etc to encourage them to want to return.
Finally Southend needs to maximise on the tourism offer but day visitors sit in traffic for at least ten mile tailbacks. This has to improve otherwise they will choose never to return. I like the idea of the Seaway Car Park becoming a leisure complex but really worry about the parking aspect for seafront visitors. Can a few more floors be added to the Royals?