Cracked pavements, faulty lighting columns and no parking: City Beach two years on

4:10pm Tuesday 19th February 2013 in Southend By David Trayner

Simon Patterson on part of the redeveloped paving Simon Patterson on part of the redeveloped paving

SEAFRONT traders say Southend’s revamped City Beach is still causing them problems more than two years after work started.

Cracked pavements, faulty light columns, shut toilets and a lack of parking are keeping customers away, businesses claim.

The loss of 33 parking spaces when Marine Parade was redeveloped in 2010 means drivers coming from Westcliff cannot stop outside seafront pubs, cafes and fish and chip shops.

Simon Patterson, co-owner of Chinnerys music pub and chairman of Southend Seafront Illuminations and Business Association, said: “There have been serious losses.

“Definitely in the winter it has had a completely negative effect.”

Parking is available in the council’s Seaway and Fairheads Green car parks behind the seafront and next to Sea Life Adventure, but Mr Patterson said they are too far away to give Marine Parade businesses passing trade.

He also pointed out Fairheads Green charges until 9pm and Seaway charges until midnight, whereas town centre car parks are free after 6pm.

Derek Jarvis, cabinet member with responsibility for the seafront, said he would look into the faulty pavement as soon as soon as traders provided a list of outstanding work.

But he took a hard line over the lack of parking.

The councillor said: “It’s an ongoing, continuous bleat from traders that this is affecting their business, but there is parking round in Seaway and next to Sea Life Adventure.

“The parking is as planned. They have not demonstrated any rationale showing a loss of business in the winter.

“The scheme is finished.”

Comments(26)

jolllyboy says...
4:36pm Tue 19 Feb 13

This is Southend what do you expect.

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emcee says...
4:40pm Tue 19 Feb 13

Quote: "Derek Jarvis, cabinet member with responsibility for the seafront, said he would look into the faulty pavement as soon as soon as traders provided a list of outstanding work."
-
Go down and check for yourself, for goodness sake.

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Displeased of Shoebury says...
4:41pm Tue 19 Feb 13

Dont expect to much Mr Jarvis always looks into it. FULL STOP

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GentleGiant says...
4:47pm Tue 19 Feb 13

People should report any issues via fixmystreet.com for any area :)

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SpeekinMyBranes says...
4:58pm Tue 19 Feb 13

There are thousands of parking spaces on and near the seafront. Thirty-three being removed isn't going to change anything. The only people who want to park right by the arcades are the terminally lazy salad-dodgers we see all summer waddling red-faced as fast as they can to the nearest chip-shop.

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Sir Peter Pantsless the 3rd says...
4:59pm Tue 19 Feb 13

Derek Jarvis's response is disgraceful.
But hey, he couldnt give a hoot!
As far as he's concerned the project was a success, meaning those involved in the project got paid, and it really doesnt matter if it was a success, finished, etc. (bit like the failure that is Vic Gateway then!)

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davedobbin says...
5:05pm Tue 19 Feb 13

Aren't there plans to build on part of the Seaway car park to give the town another cinema? Let them do that, paint yellow lines on all the roads that don't have them and double the parking charges in all the other parking spots. That will solve all Southend's parking problems. Mind you, it *will* shove the problems on to other shopping and entertainment centres such as Basildon, Rochford/Rayleigh, Chelmsford, Lakeside . .

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wagger says...
5:31pm Tue 19 Feb 13

No doubt Mr Jarvis & others will be awarded 'gongs' or bonuses for their succesful work.
I do however believe it is a vast improvement, if we can now just get rid of the trashy arcades and move the whole area up-market with perhaps some decent restaurants & wine bars it might attract more visitors.

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stopmoaning1 says...
5:31pm Tue 19 Feb 13

The councillor said: “It’s an ongoing, continuous bleat from traders..”
Such arrogance. Was this idiot elected?

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Saxonpride says...
6:04pm Tue 19 Feb 13

Here's an idea - maybe if there was more down the seafront than grotty pubs and half-dead arcades the council would be more inclined to keep things in good condition?
The seafront is our biggest tourist attraction, yet on any given day all it seems to exude is the incessant bleeping of computer games and the stale aroma of booze and nicotine.
We need a complete overhaul, put in more areas that will appeal to tourists instead of the typical English past-time of drinking yourself into a stupor and throwing up at four in the morning.

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jayman says...
6:28pm Tue 19 Feb 13

Saxonpride wrote:
Here's an idea - maybe if there was more down the seafront than grotty pubs and half-dead arcades the council would be more inclined to keep things in good condition?
The seafront is our biggest tourist attraction, yet on any given day all it seems to exude is the incessant bleeping of computer games and the stale aroma of booze and nicotine.
We need a complete overhaul, put in more areas that will appeal to tourists instead of the typical English past-time of drinking yourself into a stupor and throwing up at four in the morning.
kiss me quick!!

Despite the Tory councils best attempts to turn the seafront into some sort of pretentious Mediterranean resort the kiss me quick genuine roots of Southend remain firmly in the ground.

the well established businesses of the seafront are an asset to the town and Tory councillors would do well to remind themselves of this fact.

general Tory snobbery and attempts to reform or jeopardise private businesses has no place and should have no place in times where any successful business that draws in tourism, jobs and money to the local economy should have the support of local councillors..

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Audioman says...
7:34pm Tue 19 Feb 13

Mr Jarvis should get an MBE for all the good work he has down,or get a large bonus maybe both. done a good job.

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jayman says...
7:54pm Tue 19 Feb 13

Audioman wrote:
Mr Jarvis should get an MBE for all the good work he has down,or get a large bonus maybe both. done a good job.
MBE? i have a few interesting alternatives to this acronym that would be far more appropriate to give to all the Tory councillors of our town..

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stopmoaning1 says...
8:35pm Tue 19 Feb 13

Audioman wrote:
Mr Jarvis should get an MBE for all the good work he has down,or get a large bonus maybe both. done a good job.
Derek Jarvis, AKA Audioman.

I really hope Audioman is king of sarcasm

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Dumbnut says...
8:36pm Tue 19 Feb 13

Audioman wrote:
Mr Jarvis should get an MBE for all the good work he has down,or get a large bonus maybe both. done a good job.
down being the operative word...

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DogsMessInLeigh says...
8:51pm Tue 19 Feb 13

Free parking after 6.00pm would help(although patrons will still need to walk a bit)...but no the greedy gits charge until 9.pm...why not give a trail period to stop charging at 6.00pm, getting rid of parking slots was the right way to go as it was usually full of boyracers and works vans anyway...just untidy, but neater now, and i note he is the chairman of the illuminations...but the illuminations went years back.

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SARFENDMAN says...
10:41pm Tue 19 Feb 13

A few extra loos wouldn't go amiss or maybe trippers have better bladder control in the 21st Century. Are those amazing light poles still a major attraction and pulling in the crowds?

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SARFENDMAN says...
10:43pm Tue 19 Feb 13

SARFENDMAN wrote:
A few extra loos wouldn't go amiss or maybe trippers have better bladder control in the 21st Century. Are those amazing light poles still a major attraction and pulling in the crowds?
I'm not sure if its the street lighting that's faulty or these award winning mind blowingly designed light columns.

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echoforum says...
12:14am Wed 20 Feb 13

Time and time again Southend BC spend big on installation but appear to forget to ensure that the contractors are obliged to hang around and maintain there revolutionary kit.
There's little point going to all this effort if in 5 years it has to all come down or be replaced at our expense!!!!!!!!
If you bought a new car you'd expect back-up if it went wrong ,so why not when you spent millions...sorry this is just appalling management

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Noteworthy says...
1:03am Wed 20 Feb 13

Well if they will ban major car meets which bring people to the area...

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whateverhappened says...
7:06am Wed 20 Feb 13

Noteworthy wrote:
Well if they will ban major car meets which bring people to the area...
the sort of people that spend in the arcades and chip shops at that,, although wern t we lead to believe the traders didnt want it ,,

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Blind Haze says...
7:57am Wed 20 Feb 13

Saxonpride wrote:
Here's an idea - maybe if there was more down the seafront than grotty pubs and half-dead arcades the council would be more inclined to keep things in good condition?
The seafront is our biggest tourist attraction, yet on any given day all it seems to exude is the incessant bleeping of computer games and the stale aroma of booze and nicotine.
We need a complete overhaul, put in more areas that will appeal to tourists instead of the typical English past-time of drinking yourself into a stupor and throwing up at four in the morning.
How about adding a museum?

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Steve H says...
8:48am Wed 20 Feb 13

Saxonpride wrote:
Here's an idea - maybe if there was more down the seafront than grotty pubs and half-dead arcades the council would be more inclined to keep things in good condition?
The seafront is our biggest tourist attraction, yet on any given day all it seems to exude is the incessant bleeping of computer games and the stale aroma of booze and nicotine.
We need a complete overhaul, put in more areas that will appeal to tourists instead of the typical English past-time of drinking yourself into a stupor and throwing up at four in the morning.
What do you suggest?

Look at all the other major seaside resorts, Blackpool, Brighton, Great Yarmouth......etc. They are all the same, pubs, arcades, piers and theme parks.

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Boyracer_1991 says...
12:51pm Wed 20 Feb 13

I feel sorry for the traders a little, because its the council and their stupid parking regualtions and high prices that force people away. Everytime I see a traffic warden now, I shout out to them 'wank5er' or 'your only trying to make money for the council'. Stupid to55ers.

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Alekhine says...
5:09pm Wed 20 Feb 13

Appears the removal of all the legal free parking spaces was not enough. Now pay to park areas are being reduced - but won't this produce more lucrative revenue generating fines? (de-criminalised, of course).

I wonder how much the council is losing in business rates, still the council have to pay their office overheads somehow.

Are you reading this CllrJames Courtenay?

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lucy10 says...
7:11pm Wed 20 Feb 13

Alekhine wrote:
Appears the removal of all the legal free parking spaces was not enough. Now pay to park areas are being reduced - but won't this produce more lucrative revenue generating fines? (de-criminalised, of course).

I wonder how much the council is losing in business rates, still the council have to pay their office overheads somehow.

Are you reading this CllrJames Courtenay?
james on the rides

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