Southend Council could buy empty High Street shops under a scheme to bring the town centre back to life.

Council leader Ron Woodley has asked officials to look at taking over empty shops, revamping them or offering them for voluntary groups and charities.

The independent councillor has said he would like the council to follow the example of Basildon Council, which has set up a company to build homes in the borough.

In Southend, such a company could buy up the empty shops and oversee the scheme.

Some of the units could be offered to South Essex College and Essex University students to run as shops or restaurants.

Mr Woodleywould also like to split the High Street into specialist zones, devoted to restaurants, independent stores and bigger, national traders.

The Thorpe ward councillor said: “We have an opportunity to look into purchasing shops in the High Street, and we could do that through the housing company.

"The money is there.

“It would give us a range of options, but we will make sure the shops are used. I’m very keen to start up apprenticeships so when we build the likes of the airport business park they can take those jobs straight away.

“There’s a whole avenue of opportunities for the likes of restaurants run by cooks at the college and university.

“If you went into a High Street shop you could, perhaps, pick up a design from a student in the fashion field who goes on to become very popular in the coming years.”

Council officers are still looking at the way a housebuilding companymight operate.

However, it is thought it could follow the model of the Basildon one, which plans to buyuppieces of land and empty buildings and redevelop them, making a profit for the council.

Mr Woodley said if the council owned shops, it could also invest money into smartening them up to attract commercial tenants, or use the space for voluntary groups and charities.

The idea of splitting the town centre into zones stems from Mr Woodley’s belief the current layout of the town centre “does not work”.

He would like to see better use of the areas off the High Street, with Elmer Approach and Warrior Square home to a row of indoor independent retailers.

He also envisions a “restaurant quarter” at the top end of the town centre.

Mr Woodley believes this could help create an “evening economy”.

Another suggestion being considered is a flat-rate parking charge after a certain time in the afternoons to encourage shoppers to stay into the evening.

Mr Woodley added: “We’ve got anight-time economyandadaytime economy, and we need to bridge the two. We need to think of the High Street as an experience, and we can say ‘this is shopping in Southend’.”

 

Hiking parking charges sends out 'negative message'

PUTTING up town centre parking charges wold send out “a negative message” to people looking to shop there, former Tory council leader Nigel Holdcroft has said.

Mr Holdcroft, who led the council until his party lost power at last May’s elections, spoke out against plans to charge more for parking during a budget briefing meeting.

The Tories froze charges for five years, but the newLib Dem, Labour, and Independent administration said that is one of the reasons it now needs to put them up – the take into account rising costs.

However, Mr Holdcroft said: “How can you justify increasing town centre charges when the town centre desperately needs support? It is a terribly negative message.”

Council leader Ron Woodley insisted the proposed charges would still be cheaper than those in many other seaside resorts.

He retorted: “I went down to Brighton and for five hours, it cost me £25.20.

“The fees were never that substantial and these are not big increases.”

The council plans to increase on-street and car parks charges by different rates, but would make seafront parking free after 6pm every day.

If approved, they would bring in an estimated extra £245,000.

Echo: Themed events – Dawn Jeakings, manager of the Royals shopping centre

Dawn Jeakings

 

A retail expert has warned buying up shops in the town centre may prove difficult.

Some 11 per cent of shops in the town centre are empty, compared to 20 per cent in Basildon.

However, Southend shops are owned by a large number of different landlords, something which could complicate council’s plans.

Dawn Jeakings, manager of the Royals Shopping Centre and chairman of Southend Business Improvement District, said: “It’s a little bit like a housing estate.

The units are all owned by different people.

“Landlords have them for investment purposes and if they don’t want to sell, it won’t be easy for the council to get the units. It’s an interesting idea, though. It’s good to see the council passionate about doing something with the High Street.

Having it full would be good for everyone, but we don’t have a magic wand.”

Council leader Ron Woodley’s idea of letting out some units to students on vocational catering and fashion courses has been given a warmwelcome from two quarters.

South Essex College already runs a hair salon in Queens Road as part of its hairdressing and beauty academy, giving students practical experience with real clients.

A college spokesman said: “The college would welcome a move by the council to purchase shops in the High Street for educational purposes.

“The college’s beauty academy offers low-cost treatments to clients and gives our students real-life industry experience to enhance their learning.

“Educational facilities such as these help to showcase the excellent talent our local community has to offer and enables students to put into practice what they have learned.”

Hairdresser Christopher Morriss, who runs the Studio Nine salon and wig store in Queens Road also welcomed the news.

He said: “Ron has hit the nail on the head. If the college can move into the units. It’s a magnificent idea.

“It would be something different to attract people into town and it’ll help our young entrepreneurs, by giving them a chance.

“We’ve got enough coffee shops and charity shops, so I wouldn’t want that – otherwise we’ll be turning into another Hamlet Court Road.”

Southend is a different beast to Leigh

Southend Council chief executive Rob Tinlin has cautioned against trying to make Southend High Street too much like Leigh Broadway.

Speaking after council leader Ron Woodley outlined his plan to attract more independent traders to the High Street, Mr Tinlin stressed the High Street was “a different beast” to central Leigh.

Leigh Broadway features many smaller traders, has a very low vacancy rate and is seen as a thriving centre.

Mr Woodley has suggested encouraging similar traders into the roads off the High Street would be a better use of the space.

Speaking at a budget briefing, Mr Tinlin said: “Leigh Broadway and Southend High Street are difficult to compare. We will have to look at what Southend High Street is. That is what we’ve looked at before, and for years, we’ve talked about the layout. Successful town centres are town centres that are not just one high street, they go up in triangles, with different sectors.”

Natalie Gail, who works in the revenues department at the council, added: “Southend High Street is not good in keeping up with the style of shops people want. Leigh Broadway is.”