Please see below our consultations response on your issues and options paper.
1. Firstly and foremostly we wish to see through the Local Plan that parking and access, particularly for the tourist industry is greatly improved and the existing provision is not only retained but is enhanced. The new Local Plan should clearly demonstrate that the Borough is car friendly in relation to visitors and tourists and the town is also customer friendly.
2. We also would like to ensure that any new development meets its own on-site parking demands.
3. We would like to see the High Street opened up for traffic and therefore removing the pedestrianized and un-police able space and at the same time the creation of vitality and vibrancy at all times of day and evening.
4. We would like to see all unnecessary yellow lines removed from the Town Centre, High Street, Central Seafront and resort area.
5. The local plan should include free 2hour parking on the High Street and associated side streets to encourage visitors and residents to use the High Street.
6. The transport and access part of the Local Plan should provide for shared residential and pay and display parking on all streets within the resort area.
7. There is a need for greater residential intensification within the key central area including the High Street and diversification away from purely A1 Retail Uses to ensure that there is a lively vibrant and active Town Centre.
8. We want to ensure that the key Central Seafront remains allocated for tourism and that the local plan will actively encourage and promote tourist led development.
Wider Transport issue
10. Accessibility into the Town should be greatly improved, in particular along the two key arteries of the A127/A13
11. We wholeheartedly believe that intensification of key urban areas should be the primary route to deliver housing growth and not the release of Green Belt, particularly given the fact that there is not likely to be the level of investment for vital infrastructure that would lead to growth of a wider settlement.
12. We want to ensure the Local Plan puts in place appropriate and robust policies to ensure that Southend becomes a great place to work, live and visit. This will see the suggested 7million visitors actually becoming a reality if the Local Authority, businesses and residents working together to deliver an aspirational and deliverable future local plan.