Southend Central Area Action Plan (SCAAP) Preferred Approach 2015

Object

Representation ID: 2151

Received: 15/02/2016

Respondent: Southend BID

Many of the Seafront businesses consulted as part of the Stockvale Group's own consultation have identified their concerns that leisure and tourism is not a strong focus of the SCAAP.

Comment

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

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

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

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'.

Support

Representation ID: 2156

Received: 15/02/2016

Respondent: Southend BID

Support the improvements to the transformation on economic, vitality, viability and diversity of Southend Central Area and the encouragement of a wide range of homes, businesses and retail. It would also support the opportunity for additional learning, recreation and leisure.

Support

Representation ID: 2157

Received: 15/02/2016

Respondent: Southend BID

Support the Councils aspiration for design excellence and good quality development proposals and significant public realm improvements to reinforce the sense of place to compliment the new and existing infrastructure and townscape of the Central Area.

Support

Representation ID: 2158

Received: 15/02/2016

Respondent: Southend BID

Supports the Councils aspiration to establish Southend as low carbon City providing that it doesn't have any adverse impact in terms of access, connectivity and parking allocations within the Central Area.

Support

Representation ID: 2159

Received: 15/02/2016

Respondent: Southend BID

Support the improvement to accessibility and the further encouragement of sustainable modes of transport.

Comment

Representation ID: 2160

Received: 15/02/2016

Respondent: Southend BID

The Government has also introduced measures to make it easier to change use into residential however this is probably fairly restrictive in the High Street itself but Southend as the Local Planning Authority should consider the widening of that, certainly into some of the units off the High Street.