Question 17: Do you agree with the proposed approach to the management of transport, access an the public realm in Southend Central Area? Please explain your answer.
Comment
Southend Central Area Action Plan (SCAAP) Preferred Approach 2015
Representation ID: 2152
Received: 15/02/2016
Respondent: Southend BID
As part of this representation we have reviewed Blackpool's Local Plan Making as a similar seaside town and comparable seaside resort. As part of the Blackpool Core Strategy Consultation and examination in public, the seafront businesses made succinct clear representation regarding the impact of traffic and parking on the sustainability and future growth of Blackpool as a tourist resort and destination of choice.
The [Blackpool] Seafront business representation noted that the major attractions that make Blackpool a tourist destination rely on easy access to car parking and good access from car parks to the attractions by foot and public transport.
The Seafront businesses further noted that this matter is often not well understood by councils, who generally consider that it is not necessary to plan car parking for peak periods only. In most industries, for example planning the levels of parking for shopping areas based only on the Christmas peak, this a reasonable approach but for the businesses which are seasonal and need to meet visitor targets to survive (or at least to continue at the present scale), this approach can have far reaching consequences.
Object
Southend Central Area Action Plan (SCAAP) Preferred Approach 2015
Representation ID: 2153
Received: 15/02/2016
Respondent: Southend BID
The Southend Seafront businesses feel this particular issue [related to peak periods for car parking] is not understood by the Local Authority and as such the level of tourism and investment has peaked. Many of the Seafront businesses have expressed their view as part of this consultation that they cannot invest further in the town due to the issue of access and parking and as such they already have a declining customer base.
Comment
Southend Central Area Action Plan (SCAAP) Preferred Approach 2015
Representation ID: 2154
Received: 15/02/2016
Respondent: Southend BID
Members of the Stockvale Group together with representatives of local businesses within the SCAAP area discussed highways and parking issues with Southend on Sea Borough Council's Head of Planning and Transport. As the Chief Officer responsible for transport he was recorded as saying 'the issue with parking is if you create more parking spaces, more people will come and they will create congestion i.e. there will be greater numbers of visitors to the Town meaning greater business! This exasperates the concerns of local businesses that parking and transport issues are not fully understood and have no serious consideration as part of the Council's preferred option and SCAAP Framework.
Comment
Southend Central Area Action Plan (SCAAP) Preferred Approach 2015
Representation ID: 2155
Received: 15/02/2016
Respondent: Southend BID
Interestingly the representations made by the Seafront businesses in Blackpool persuaded the Government Inspector of their position. The Inspector concluded in their report that 'Car Parks need to accommodate peak weekend/bank holiday parking'.
Object
Southend Central Area Action Plan (SCAAP) Preferred Approach 2015
Representation ID: 2178
Received: 15/02/2016
Respondent: Southend BID
RICS paper 'High Streets Adapting for Change' discusses parking changes and out of town retail which provides free parking. In contrast to this Since 2007 many local authorities have increased parking charges significantly. In the SCAAP area this is a key issue which requires essential review. This is in contrast to the smaller districts of wider Southend on Sea, Leigh and Southchurch where the Council have extended free parking to 2 hours. Compared to Central Southend and the SCAAP area where parking for 2 hours is in excess of £3.30. In Stockvale Group's view this is a deterrent for people coming into Southend particularly for shopping. This combined with the poor spatial and environmental quality is a contributing factor to the decline of Southend's Town Centre.
Support
Southend Central Area Action Plan (SCAAP) Preferred Approach 2015
Representation ID: 2188
Received: 15/02/2016
Respondent: Southend BID
Wholeheartedly support the encouragement and expansion of businesses in the Southend Central Area, although note that the issues around transport, access and parking need further consideration and understanding.
Object
Southend Central Area Action Plan (SCAAP) Preferred Approach 2015
Representation ID: 2189
Received: 15/02/2016
Respondent: Southend BID
Transport, access and parking issues need further consideration and are a particular issue for the Seafront businesses and the tourist economy. The high way infrastructure makes journeys into the town prolonged and difficult. Many visitors and customers simply don't return.
Comment
Southend Central Area Action Plan (SCAAP) Preferred Approach 2015
Representation ID: 2193
Received: 15/02/2016
Respondent: Southend BID
Southend's Unique Selling Point is the Seafront which is a destination of choice. The Seafront and High Street inter relate on each other for business with the major attractions of Southend relying on easy access to car parking and good access from the car parks to the High Street and the Seafront attractions by foot or public transport.
Comment
Southend Central Area Action Plan (SCAAP) Preferred Approach 2015
Representation ID: 2194
Received: 15/02/2016
Respondent: Southend BID
Access into the Town is problematic certainly on peak days, but also in evenings when there are events on in the Town and Central Seafront. There is a view that from the Victoria Gateway junction to the Raleigh Weir on days of high visitation and sunny days the key route is completely grid locked between these two key points. This represents somewhere in the region of 3840 cars parked nose to tail across the main artery into the Town which is mainly a dual carriageway.
Comment
Southend Central Area Action Plan (SCAAP) Preferred Approach 2015
Representation ID: 2195
Received: 15/02/2016
Respondent: Southend BID
Some members of the BID and representatives of the Seafront businesses believe that one way in which the congestion into the Town could be improved is for an additional 3840 parking spaces to be made accessible and available within close proximity to the Seafront and core High Street Area. This is due to the day visitor attraction industry, particularly family attractions such as the Seafront receiving the vast majority of its income in a few weeks of the year. These generally coincide with the school holidays. During this peak period a visitor attraction business needs to be able to accommodate every visitor that wants to visit as these peak days effectively subsidise the operation for the rest of the year.
If the access to the main attractions is limited on peak days by the availability of car parking spaces, this could and does have serious impact on the viability of the Seafront businesses. The main parking areas are generally at capacity on peak holiday periods. Any loss of capacity as a result of the SCAAP proposals would result in a cap of visitors during these peak periods. This the amount of investment within the Seafront to the current status quo. Transport and access is not just limited to the Seafront and does have a huge impact on the High Street, combined with parking tariffs, access and egress, and poor legibility around the Town Centre. Whilst the changes outlined in the SCAAP from a space and use perspective will do an awful lot to reinvigorate and regenerate the High Street, this must be inclusive of a renewed and fresh approach to parking provision within the SCAAP Area.
Comment
Southend Central Area Action Plan (SCAAP) Preferred Approach 2015
Representation ID: 2199
Received: 15/02/2016
Respondent: Southend BID
Various improvements have been made to the Central Seafront including improved connectivity through Pier Hill and the City Beach. Whilst there has been some improvements to the landscape of the High Street, this needs a much greater consideration and linking to new development. There needs to be greater inclusion of soft landscaping and public spaces and improved connections from the High Street through to the Seafront. This is particularly the case with Seaway Development. This development site represents a great opportunity to create a gateway development and pedestrian links and improved Public Realm linked to the Seafront.
The BID would wish to see a breaking down of the linearity of the High Street and the creation of a number of destination and unique quarters. This resonates particularly through with the Tylers Avenue, London Road and Alexandra and Clarence Street opportunity sites.
Comment
Southend Central Area Action Plan (SCAAP) Preferred Approach 2015
Representation ID: 2207
Received: 15/02/2016
Respondent: Southend BID
Before the SCAAP document is enshrined, the BID would ask that the Council carry out thorough research, analysis and investigation into the capabilities of the existing infrastructure and the capabilities of utility suppliers to meet the aspirational growth. This is essential and will need some degree of consideration in terms of new sub stations around the SCAAP area. This directly links to townscape and Public Realm improvements as these sub stations represent an opportunity to not create a negative space in the overall townscape. Many of the Members of the BID are continuously seeking to improve their offer and find that the limitation of the existing utilities coming into the SCAAP area prohibit their future plans and proposals. This has not been at all addressed in the SCAAP document.
Comment
Southend Central Area Action Plan (SCAAP) Preferred Approach 2015
Representation ID: 2213
Received: 15/02/2016
Respondent: Southend BID
There is the further opportunity to reopen the deepening alleviating some of the traffic stress that has resulted of the Highway alterations
Comment
Southend Central Area Action Plan (SCAAP) Preferred Approach 2015
Representation ID: 2229
Received: 15/02/2016
Respondent: Southend BID
There are a couple of issues that the BID want to ensure are adequately addressed through the SCAAP. The first of those is the potential of having residents parking zones, this could have a negative effect on the existing Town Centre on and off street parking and consume spaces that are vital for visitors.
Comment
Southend Central Area Action Plan (SCAAP) Preferred Approach 2015
Representation ID: 2245
Received: 15/02/2016
Respondent: Southend BID
Transport and Access and Public Realm also received 70% of respondents giving this a score of 10 and a top priority.
Object
Southend Central Area Action Plan (SCAAP) Preferred Approach 2015
Representation ID: 2268
Received: 15/02/2016
Respondent: Southend BID
Major concerns relating to all supported aspirations being achieved falls into a number of categories, transport, access and parking is a key theme and at present the existing parking provision is woefully inadequate. The access route into the Town is often unable to cater for the number of visitors on sunny days and this is likely to be detrimental to economic sustainability and the projected growth of 6,000 jobs within the SCAAP Area.
Object
Southend Central Area Action Plan (SCAAP) Preferred Approach 2015
Representation ID: 2269
Received: 15/02/2016
Respondent: Southend BID
The identified opportunity development sites are mainly existing public car parks. Through the SCAAP the Local Authority should seek a minimum of a replacement like for like number of public spaces on each of the sites whilst also meeting the development requirements in accordance with the Council's Development Management Policy.
Comment
Southend Central Area Action Plan (SCAAP) Preferred Approach 2015
Representation ID: 2271
Received: 21/01/2016
Respondent: Mr Rod Levin
Provision of pavement seating throughout the Borough
Comment
Southend Central Area Action Plan (SCAAP) Preferred Approach 2015
Representation ID: 2276
Received: 21/01/2016
Respondent: Mr Rod Levin
Upgrade the Street lighting from the current dismal effect.
Comment
Southend Central Area Action Plan (SCAAP) Preferred Approach 2015
Representation ID: 2279
Received: 21/01/2016
Respondent: Mr Rod Levin
Reduce / eliminate all car-parking charges on Sundays and Bank holidays and, hospital car parks completely
Comment
Southend Central Area Action Plan (SCAAP) Preferred Approach 2015
Representation ID: 2280
Received: 21/01/2016
Respondent: Mr Rod Levin
Ensure all new houses are provided with car parking room for at least two cars
Comment
Southend Central Area Action Plan (SCAAP) Preferred Approach 2015
Representation ID: 2284
Received: 21/01/2016
Respondent: Mr Rod Levin
Plan to improve Road access to Southend (Additional to A127) by 2020
Comment
Southend Central Area Action Plan (SCAAP) Preferred Approach 2015
Representation ID: 2285
Received: 21/01/2016
Respondent: Mr Rod Levin
Plan week-end Park and ride scheme for visitors by road to leave their cars Out-of-Town
Comment
Southend Central Area Action Plan (SCAAP) Preferred Approach 2015
Representation ID: 2286
Received: 21/01/2016
Respondent: Mr Rod Levin
As in towns abroad, make commercial deliveries to be during Night hours only - eg: Monaco
Comment
Southend Central Area Action Plan (SCAAP) Preferred Approach 2015
Representation ID: 2306
Received: 15/02/2016
Respondent: Indigo Planning
Agent: Royals Shopping Centre
Policy DS5 states that the Council will work with the freight industry and logistics to implement more efficient use of vehicles in terms of guidance, zoning and delivery timetables and suggests that this can be set out in freight management plans. Valad (Europe) Ltd suggest that the requirement for freight management plans is not set out in policy but dealt with on a case by case basis.
Object
Southend Central Area Action Plan (SCAAP) Preferred Approach 2015
Representation ID: 2343
Received: 15/02/2016
Respondent: Belfairs Gardens Residents Association
Vulnerable groups' need transport and the statement that car travel is to be discouraged is discriminatory against those of us who cannot get on public transport and need cars for accessibility to all areas of the town and the profoundly disabled who use nothing else, not only motability cars but blue badge users and those taken by friends or taxis. Also need to be relief areas for guide and assistance dogs.
The Southend Local Transport Plan 3 to 2026 notes as a Key Fact p87 the expected rise in population over 65 and that all public transport should be accessible by 2017 which does not appear likely. It also notes the lack of buses along the seafront.
Object
Southend Central Area Action Plan (SCAAP) Preferred Approach 2015
Representation ID: 2344
Received: 15/02/2016
Respondent: Belfairs Gardens Residents Association
Reducing car parking space, particularly in the streets, is nonsense. Some of the spaces calculated have been within shopping malls such as the Royals. Local businesses need short term spaces for their customers including care agencies, accountants, lawyers etc. if clients do not find somewhere to park nearby, e.g Clarence Rd. area, the business will relocate somewhere else. This could have an effect upon employment considered elsewhere in the plan and under threat. Disabled people need nearby spaces. So do people with shopping and mums with children. Multi storey car parks are not good for those with walking difficulty or indeed women on their own for safety in darkness.
Going to park in a multi storey or driving around for a space just to have lunch in a cafe in The High Street opposite Marks and Spencers does not make sense for boosting the town economy at all.
The car park next to SAVS building is vital for users of that building and the meetings and workshops there. It also gives access to the Royals complex without having to drive around to the Royals car park where there is often long waiting to get in especially on Saturdays and when it is raining. Likewise the Clarence Road car park is vital for the residents and business people around there and of course the Baptist Church and Salvation Army.
Comment
Southend Central Area Action Plan (SCAAP) Preferred Approach 2015
Representation ID: 2345
Received: 15/02/2016
Respondent: Belfairs Gardens Residents Association
The travel centre and management of access to buses is hopeless. Real consultation on the location of the travel centre and safe places for people to wait and queue for buses is overdue. Good and accessible public toilets should be incorporated here and elsewhere in the central area.
Comment
Southend Central Area Action Plan (SCAAP) Preferred Approach 2015
Representation ID: 2366
Received: 15/02/2016
Respondent: Southend & District Pensioner's Campaign
Would LGO's please stop using the term 'public transport' We only have private companies operating trains and buses.
Support
Southend Central Area Action Plan (SCAAP) Preferred Approach 2015
Representation ID: 2367
Received: 15/02/2016
Respondent: Southend & District Pensioner's Campaign
Yes, but we need 24/7 concessionary fares for old aged pensioners