11.1 What do you think are the key issues facing the neighbourhoods in the Borough

social issues fuelling drug dependency and crime related issues

Drinking in streets
Vagrants
Lawlessness and Burglary

If the council supported Hamlet Court Road, it could attract shoppers away from Leigh which is overly congested and charges very high rent and rates.

Leigh - lack of parking
Leigh/Chalkwell - over development, lack of parking, failure of members and SBC to take account of local residents views. Lack of a plan and consistent approach means reactive to developers and get inconsistent planning decisions
Westcliff - run down and needs investment both Hamlet Court Road and surrounding area

Parking in Leigh is a nightmare as it is in Southend during the summer period. On hot days it is gridlock at the seafront which makes it very unpleasant when one has to get around for work. The issue of lack of Housing is important however we must provide the associated infrastructure like green space, doctors, etc.

These are simple, geographic definitions of our neighbourhoods. Our local plan should identify other definitions of place such as seafront, historic area, gathering places, residential places, business places, recreational places. We know that this does happen in the detail of the local planning but it might help at a wider conceptual level. For example rather than thinking about the town as Leigh, Westcliff, Southend etc., why not, seafront, high streets, parks, residence. This changes the emphasis to what a place is rather than what it is called.

Whilst I am pleased to see the plan recognises that there is a high density of houses and lack of tree cover and open space and acknowledgement of London Roads commercial focus there is little mention of Hamlet Court Road which has declined significantly over the years . Hamlet Court Road has a number of empty or frequently changing outlets which is detrimental to the area. Perhaps it is an issue with the rates but also more needs to be done to attract businesses and shoppers here.

I am pleased to see mention of policing and making Southend a safer environment which is needed. Again, on Hamlet Court Road this is an issue which needs addressing. Particularly around Hamlet Court Road this is an issue which needs addressing . Particularly around the public toilets where there is a large space and benches which attract public drinking and daily drug deals. It is unsafe and unsightly and I can't understand why it has not been addressed if the culprits are so visible and there everyday!

Litter is another major issue in Westcliff, I work in Leigh and walk through Chalkwell and frequently see litter pickers/ street cleaning units but little or no presence in Westcliff. London Road shops often leave their rubbish outside too which should not be allowed.

Westcliff deserves the same community focus that neighbouring towns and more attention that is currently receives. Thank you for your time and effort that has gone into the local plan consultations.

In the review of Southend neighbourhoods the following comment was made regarding Leigh. "North of the London Road are the residential areas of Belfairs and Blenheim, with a mix of Edwardian and Inter-War dwellings, and some more modern, larger properties adjacent to Belfairs Wood and Golf Course. This part of the Borough contains a number of secondary schools, playing fields and parks, and has a leafy feel with a large number of mature street trees and grass verges, including within." The area North of London Road is negatively impacted by the constant air traffic which fly in a tight path always going over Westcliff High School and playing fields, homes and Bonchurch Park. Since the expansion of the airport appears key to Southend development plans could the following suggestions be considered.
1. Request that the takeoff flight path vary so that the same areas are not impacted by the noise and air pollution.
2. As part of the plan to protect the environment request/encourage that the existing airlines use quieter planes and or less polluting ones. Any new airlines would be required to use quieter and less polluting planes. This would also help in enhancing the natural environment.

1.Southend, Leigh and Westcliff - Over population, too many cars and serious congestion.
2.Southend, Shoebury, Leigh - lack of protection and management for wildlife for key areas of importance to wildlife. Leisure activities need to be balanced with giving wildlife undisturbed space ie no dog walking off leads in nature protected areas, no jet skiing in areas that are sensitive to feeding waders/geese etc, less manicuring and more scrub left for birds to breed without disturbance.

Celebrating the unique identity of each - ensuring areas such as Leigh are not promoted to the detriment to other areas. Enable specific regeneration and focuses to different areas, according to the needs and users of the residents of each. Promote the successes that each area is different and champion them as such.

Leigh, needs to establish smart residents parking, south of the London road. Residents can get a permit, but visitors pay to park in the streets. This will help invest in the area to mitigate impact of visitors, help disperse the parking problem, reduce car circulation around local streets looking for free parking and reduce pollution, particularly around schools, and help prioritize car parks in Leigh. Also, may encourage more sustainable forms of transport, including for school drop off

I am against the plan for a large development on the seafront near the Kursaal. It will take trade away from Southend town centre shops, restaurants and cinema. Also the scale is just too big. It reminds me of a similar recent entertainment development on Exmouth's seafront. It was a very expensive high-spec building which although is still open, is not popular with locals or visitors and was virtually empty last August when I visited.

As a Southend resident I wanted to add a few comments regarding planning going forward for the town.
One of the major concerns for people I work with and know is the lack of support for SEN pupils in schools-this includes a lot of school spaces all being in one secondary school-which is in special measures. There is a lack of specialist provision for pupil between Years 2 and 6, and schools don’t feel equipped to support the more complex needs we have in the community now.

New flats being built etc are causing congestion and a demand for local services such as health and social care. Also a demand on parking, which I feel impacts on tourism.

There are clearly huge issues with the gap between the high and low earning citizens, and a huge homelessness problem, which I know is national and a reflection of cuts etc.
In terms of existing housing, those of us who have bought our own properties in the 130-200k range are often buying extremely old houses. These need a high level of maintenance and attention, putting a financial strain on middle income earners. This then has an impact on those who should have income to spend in our local businesses and on services, as we are all spending money trying to combat damp etc in our old homes and keep them heated. I feel a fund or grant to improve older properties will help improve the lives of property owners and their general health. This also applies to those with rental properties. Currently this only applies to very low earners.

There is also a huge problem with private maintenance companies who have contracts with a lot of our local leasehold and rented properties. Meaning landlords and homeowners are paying huge monthly expenses for very sub standard maintenance support. This means payments are going out to these companies and the properties are falling into disrepair as homeowners cant afford to improve them. We sought out legal advice and got out of our maintenance contract, but some people do not know how to do this or cannot afford to.
There are no longer as many events to draw people in such as the air show, which was a great way to attract tourism etc.
The gap between low and high earners is becoming worse, which again is a sign of government change at a national level. I feel that the secondary school standards here are slipping due to a lack of investment in the education system and other support services. This has a knock on effect on our citizens and their ability to contribute to our town economically. I feel the grammar school system that we have means that mainstream secondaries will struggle as the top achievers are ‘creamed’ off and the ability to push the top students in mainstream schools is more difficult. The SEMH school (PLT) is not of a sufficient standard and therefore those who have the opportunity to find further education and employment who have emotional issues are not being given a fair chance to close the gap between low and middle earners. Mental health support is an enorour need in recent years, and the support we have is extremely stretched-those who do not meet the threshold for mental health NHS support are not being supported and this is resulting in poor outcomes for those who have mental health issues (again a national issue).
I do love my town and all the amenities it provides, but there needs to be an emphasis on services to support its residents, ensuring there are enough resources for those of us here. Older properties and their issues have been the most significant reason why I have felt frustrated as a citizen.

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