Saxon king museum made a high priority (From Southend Standard)
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Government cash also could be set for Southend Pier, A127 and airport training base
12:00pm Tuesday 2nd March 2010 in Southend By Katy Islip
Historical artefact – a bound Saxon bucket found in the ground
A MUSEUM to showcase the treasures of Southend’s Saxon king has been named as a high priority for a Government cash injection.
The landmark museum, to be built into the cliffs landslip on Southend seafront, has been ranked in the top three regeneration projects in south Essex set to be funded by Thames Gateway cash.
It follows a review of 41 projects earmarked for funding between 2008 and 2011, after ministers realised the budget for the same period would not fund all the schemes.
The Basildon A127 corridor scheme, including the new Basildon sign and improvements to road links is the number one on the priority list and about £15million has already been awarded for the project.
Canvey’s town centre revamp is second and the Saxon king museum in Southend is third.
John Lamb, Southend Tory councillor responsible for enterprise, tourism and regeneration, said: “I believe we should get the funding for the Saxon King museum so it can move forward.
“We are very pleased about this as it’s an important part of the town's history.”
The Saxon find, discovered near Priory Park, in Prittlewell, in 2003, represents one of the most significant archeological discoveries of recent years.
It is being stored at the Museum of London until the cliffs museum is complete.
Southend Council has appointed consultants to draw up the plan for the new building.
It will house artefacts from the burial and also provide space for other museums, including the Beecroft and Southend Central Museum, in Victoria Avenue.
Both of these will be sold off to help pay for the new museum.
Other projects earmarked to receive Thames Gateway funding was the newly-opened Southend Airport training facility, run by Prospects College in partnership with several airport-based businesses, and regeneration work on Southend Pier.
These two projects have been given medium priority in the new rankings, based on their deliverability and how they fit into the overall regeneration plans.
Mr Lamb said: “The funding has been agreed for the airport.
“It will help us to give people appropriate training and offer apprenticeships to help young people.
“We are still waiting to hear about the money for the pier. We are not stopping work as we are working on it right now, but getting more funding will help move it forward so we can achieve even more.”
Hopes are high that the future of the projects will be confirmed soon.
Mr Lamb said: “We should hear very quickly either way, as the money will be earmarked before the end of financial year.
“This means we can reprofile our regeneration work so we can make sure the money is being used.
“We can put it to good use to fully develop the seaward end of the pier.”
Comments(39)
Denis Walker
says...
12:37pm Tue 2 Mar 10
People going for a day out at the seaside are highly unlikely to want to go round an art gallery and museum and people wanting to go to an art gallery and museum would prefer it in a more appropriate location.
karen29
says...
1:03pm Tue 2 Mar 10
Jaq
says...
1:09pm Tue 2 Mar 10
First this council tried to build a road over the burial now they want to house the treasure on a landslide, I would sooner it stayed locked away in London than be put at risk like this.
j-w
says...
1:22pm Tue 2 Mar 10
southendmechanic
says...
1:32pm Tue 2 Mar 10
The seafront could do with more all year round attractions and think of all the people who wouldnt normally go to a local park and look,but could if they came for a day out. who would spend a whole day just looking at the saxon kings treasure?
As for keeping them next to the burial ground what diffrence does that make?
SKIPP
says...
1:41pm Tue 2 Mar 10
Flood and cliff slip issues aside, the location is the big issue. In the summer of 2009 SKIPP visited Sutton Hoo, during our meeting with the National Trust Management there, they (the experts) made it clear to us, break the connection between grave goods and burial chamber and we will lose half the visitors!
So it is quite simple, the SKIPP Proposal for a Saxon Great Hall and Village on the site of the Council Depot in Priory Park is the only viable option for the future of the Kings Treasures.
Mark
The SKIPP Committee
Jaq
says...
2:00pm Tue 2 Mar 10
Soozie
says...
2:39pm Tue 2 Mar 10
Well that is sorted then - after the consultants draw their pretty pictures, won't be any money left!!
southendmechanic
says...
2:47pm Tue 2 Mar 10
What about the public access from either victoria avenue or priory crescent one is a long wayaway and would require a road across part of the park itself and the other has totally unsuitable access due to a restricted plan to widen it.
another problem is where do you park the many visitors cars? coaches? unless you could put the treasures in the priory and make no changes to the park this idea goes against the wishes of the Jones family as it was left for open space and any development of it would be insulting to his bequest.
With the SKIPP protest upset that 2 trees at priory cresent within the boundry might be affected i cannot see how they can support this plan when its implication would cause much more change than a modified road which doesnt take any park land away. i feel southend council have released this news at this time to show the two protests as there are,which is contradictions on what is wanted for priory park and the residents of priory crescent.
southendmechanic
says...
2:50pm Tue 2 Mar 10
radioman
says...
4:44pm Tue 2 Mar 10
SARFENDMAN
says...
4:59pm Tue 2 Mar 10
In Weston Super Mare a pier has a fire and it's rebuilt in a short time scale. In Southend there's a pier fire some 35 years ago and the debate goes on.
This is certainly no cheapo build considering the nightmare of building on such a nightmare location, let alone access and undercliff car parking.
I'm underwhemed with excitement and not holding by breath as the track record in Southend isn't winning form in the eyes of a sure thing bet?
Could my negative viewpoint be totally wrong???.....Could be?.....Just a hint off the mark?......Nahhhhhhh
!
firedog
says...
5:12pm Tue 2 Mar 10
BASILBRUSH
says...
5:52pm Tue 2 Mar 10
Denis Walker wrote:You are never happy!
…which is not perched on top of slipping cliffs on the seafront.
People going for a day out at the seaside are highly unlikely to want to go round an art gallery and museum and people wanting to go to an art gallery and museum would prefer it in a more appropriate location.
I thought you and your small group of mates wanted a display of the Saxon finds?
I suppose you think the site of Camp Bling is more appropriate? But that would mean trees being felled!
Have you been anywhere outside the borough? St Ives in Cornwall has the Tate modern gallery. Its perched right opposite the main beech.
Its an added attraction to the area, and people go there for the gallery, just as people go there to go to the beech.
Are you going to start an illegal camp on top of the cliffs now?
radioman
says...
5:54pm Tue 2 Mar 10
'V'
says...
7:35pm Tue 2 Mar 10
southendmechanic wrote:I think you overestimate how popular a small local museum will be.
yes but we have an issue dont we if it turned out to be the biggest attraction in the country building at the parks depot in priory cresent would bring huge issues.
What about the public access from either victoria avenue or priory crescent one is a long wayaway and would require a road across part of the park itself and the other has totally unsuitable access due to a restricted plan to widen it.
another problem is where do you park the many visitors cars? coaches? unless you could put the treasures in the priory and make no changes to the park this idea goes against the wishes of the Jones family as it was left for open space and any development of it would be insulting to his bequest.
With the SKIPP protest upset that 2 trees at priory cresent within the boundry might be affected i cannot see how they can support this plan when its implication would cause much more change than a modified road which doesnt take any park land away. i feel southend council have released this news at this time to show the two protests as there are,which is contradictions on what is wanted for priory park and the residents of priory crescent.
I go up to London's museums regularly, they are enormous and hold an enormous amount of interesting artefacts and exhibitions. Even they are not overrun with the amount of visitors you seem to think the Saxon King exhibition will get.
If it had been equal to the Sutton Hoo discovery then perhaps, but it isn't.
People come to Southend for day trips to the seaside. To visit Adventure Island and the arcades, have some fish and chips and maybe a beer before going home.
APR
says...
9:21pm Tue 2 Mar 10
It needs to be somewhere where people can park easily, and for free.
I often go up to the BM, and it's always busy there, of course being free helps, and being a tourist hot-spot.
I'm not keen on it being on the seafront, even if it does include it's own car park.
It's a shame more people don't visit Southend museum, it is small, but there are some good displays, and the planatarium is worth a visit. Something which is used by schools a lot.
The new museum wont just be somewhere to go and look at the Saxon Prince (not Saxon King) artefacts. It will be an educational resource, with lecture facilities.
Max Impact
says...
11:11pm Tue 2 Mar 10
As for Skipps park proposal where are you planning to put the cars peoplke will drive to the museum?
The museum in the cliffs has been designed to fix the slippage problem. When was the last flood of any note on that section of fea front thats what the sea wall is for.
perini
says...
11:59pm Tue 2 Mar 10
Virtuallintu
says...
7:26am Wed 3 Mar 10
Once in a while it might be nice to read posts that are a bit more ... cheery or positive.
Just a thought.
anon anon
says...
9:51am Wed 3 Mar 10
Virtuallintu wrote:I know what u mean, whatever the council proposes to improve the town everybody just moans and is negative... we didnt have a marina because all the moaners said it would make a mess building it.. !!!
Oh blimey. Lets not bother then, since no-one is happy! Once in a while it might be nice to read posts that are a bit more ... cheery or positive. Just a thought.
just look at Brighton... people go ther for holidays, come to southend for what ?
anon anon
says...
9:52am Wed 3 Mar 10
Virtuallintu wrote:I know what u mean, whatever the council proposes to improve the town everybody just moans and is negative... we didnt have a marina because all the moaners said it would make a mess building it.. !!!
Oh blimey. Lets not bother then, since no-one is happy! Once in a while it might be nice to read posts that are a bit more ... cheery or positive. Just a thought.
just look at Brighton... people go ther for holidays, come to southend for what ?
DannyK86
says...
10:04am Wed 3 Mar 10
anon anon wrote:Exactly. Sadly, no matter what is proposed there will always be Denis Walkers in this town who will stick their oar in and complain just for the sake of it (just look how many single issue protest groups he's in). It's perfectly possible to have a museum on the cliffs (why he thinks he has divine knowledge as to where museums should go is beyond me), and if you put it there it means it'll be accessible to coaches who can go to Seaway car park (yes it's a short walk but that'll do people good). Priory Park would be a daft place to put it considering the current road access issues (which the NIMBYs are against improving in any way). Any building built on the cliffs would be subject to a thorough environmental impact analysis and nothing would be permitted without a full ground survey to determine how the cliff slippage will react, so their fears are baseless. Buildings anchor the cliffs, whic his why they haven't slipped on Pier Hill (they're covered in concrete).
Virtuallintu wrote: Oh blimey. Lets not bother then, since no-one is happy! Once in a while it might be nice to read posts that are a bit more ... cheery or positive. Just a thought.I know what u mean, whatever the council proposes to improve the town everybody just moans and is negative... we didnt have a marina because all the moaners said it would make a mess building it.. !!! just look at Brighton... people go ther for holidays, come to southend for what ?
perini
says...
11:37am Wed 3 Mar 10
anon anon wrote:I don't think that the negativity is a result of proposed progress but as a result of Southend Councils inability to actually do anything - they talk a good talk and come up with lots of pretty pictures after spending thousands on consultants fees but the pier still isn't repaired after the fire, the cliffs slippage is still there etc etc. Rather than moans consider it as extreme cynicism whenever SBC doing anything is mentioned.
Virtuallintu wrote: Oh blimey. Lets not bother then, since no-one is happy! Once in a while it might be nice to read posts that are a bit more ... cheery or positive. Just a thought.I know what u mean, whatever the council proposes to improve the town everybody just moans and is negative... we didnt have a marina because all the moaners said it would make a mess building it.. !!! just look at Brighton... people go ther for holidays, come to southend for what ?
Max Impact
says...
12:37pm Wed 3 Mar 10
DannyK86
says...
1:30pm Wed 3 Mar 10
Max Impact wrote:Very true. People who moan about the use of consultants are those who don't really understand how the economy, or local government, works.
The problem is money, the cliffs £30million to fix, the pier £5million+ the council needs to use consultants as its cheaper than keeping a small group employed dircetly and paying tham a regular wage for just a few weeks work each year.
southendmechanic
says...
2:03pm Wed 3 Mar 10
DannyK86 wrote:We all know Denis is an expert on every sort of development.
anon anon wrote:Exactly. Sadly, no matter what is proposed there will always be Denis Walkers in this town who will stick their oar in and complain just for the sake of it (just look how many single issue protest groups he's in). It's perfectly possible to have a museum on the cliffs (why he thinks he has divine knowledge as to where museums should go is beyond me), and if you put it there it means it'll be accessible to coaches who can go to Seaway car park (yes it's a short walk but that'll do people good). Priory Park would be a daft place to put it considering the current road access issues (which the NIMBYs are against improving in any way). Any building built on the cliffs would be subject to a thorough environmental impact analysis and nothing would be permitted without a full ground survey to determine how the cliff slippage will react, so their fears are baseless. Buildings anchor the cliffs, whic his why they haven't slipped on Pier Hill (they're covered in concrete).Virtuallintu wrote: Oh blimey. Lets not bother then, since no-one is happy! Once in a while it might be nice to read posts that are a bit more ... cheery or positive. Just a thought.I know what u mean, whatever the council proposes to improve the town everybody just moans and is negative... we didnt have a marina because all the moaners said it would make a mess building it.. !!! just look at Brighton... people go ther for holidays, come to southend for what ?
He is currently fighting southend council and Stobarts on the extension of the runway.
He is against the saxon king treasures being newhere but the park. Here is the funny bit he is against the road changes at cuckoo corner and priory crescent (with SKIPP) and the big part of the argument is that they say it will destroy the park as it is and its open green space.
one of his arguments of the airport is that the road network wont support the extra traffic and when someone comes up with new road layouts he says they are not needed. Stobarts should get the results of if a public enquiry is required and from the way they are moving industrial equipment it looks like work can start straight away and possibly they are doing this due to all the protesters against them being down the camp bling site.
BASILBRUSH
says...
2:43pm Wed 3 Mar 10
That equipment is just for the station and new control tower under construction. But I agree with you on the rest of your post.
It is sad that everytime there is talk of development in this town, its the same people for (that would be me amongst that group), the same people against (Denis the menace and friends) and the same people on the fence.
I hope the Airport goe's ahead, I hope the road 'improvements' go ahead (and work). And I hope that the seafront improvements are a success along with the projects mentioned above.
I hope then, that the town will begin to attract more business, more visitors (day trippers and longer).
There is alot of heritage in Southend, but that can live well alongside modern development. Heritage is important (Conservation areas help protect this), but not if that nostalgia kills the town.
firedog
says...
4:47pm Wed 3 Mar 10
SARFENDMAN
says...
6:34pm Wed 3 Mar 10
anon anon wrote:A MARINA!!! NOW YOUR TALKING. FAR TOO SENSIBLE.
Virtuallintu wrote: Oh blimey. Lets not bother then, since no-one is happy! Once in a while it might be nice to read posts that are a bit more ... cheery or positive. Just a thought.I know what u mean, whatever the council proposes to improve the town everybody just moans and is negative... we didnt have a marina because all the moaners said it would make a mess building it.. !!! just look at Brighton... people go ther for holidays, come to southend for what ?
BASILBRUSH
says...
6:55pm Wed 3 Mar 10
southendmechanic
says...
6:59pm Wed 3 Mar 10
firedog wrote:agreed but this requires change and we have a minority who dont like proposed changes of any kind
Yes people are against some proposals,but you have to weigh up all the facts.How many visitors to the town come just to visit Priory park museum,or Southchurch hall,both excellent places,and free parking.If it is 10 I would be surprised.
SARFENDMAN
says...
7:42pm Wed 3 Mar 10
southendmechanic wrote:I'm for change but why do we get the dregs of planning thinking here in this part of the UK. Have a look around Southend and see what has happened in the last 40 years. It's not pretty, mind you that could be said for a number of towns.
firedog wrote: Yes people are against some proposals,but you have to weigh up all the facts.How many visitors to the town come just to visit Priory park museum,or Southchurch hall,both excellent places,and free parking.If it is 10 I would be surprised.agreed but this requires change and we have a minority who dont like proposed changes of any kind
Here it's cheap option, so bung it up, it'll do. The bus station in Southend is a good example of a disaster. Ever tried working out how to catch a bus from this crazy concourse to a specific location? I'm still havent cracked it yet.
Change? yes please! But lets get it right for us the public so we can stand tall and proud of our progressing environment.
soufend girl!
says...
8:45pm Wed 3 Mar 10
Max Impact
says...
10:57pm Wed 3 Mar 10
soufend girl! wrote:You go Girl.
I looked at SKiPP page, what a load of rubbish, build a museum in Priory park to attract 300k visitors a year- where will they park- on the grass? thought they wanted to protect the park. Don't they know its an ancient monument so even the ground is protected? Bit difficult to build there then. Also they say they will get lottery funding- some chance the lottery does not give out cash easily and not to build on land that's an ancient monument and owned by a third party. Get real. Putting the museum into the cliffs will result in the cliff slip being sorted so the museum will be safe, I think it includes parking there too, so helps the seafront too, gives visitors something extra to visit and might attract some that actually appreciate more than the seaside. Appears to me Southend is trying- improved roads, new squares, new 'Golden Mile' , new dive pool, works to Pier and plans to deal with it and a new museum and new joint library with College. Just stop the moaning and get behind the the town.
What Skipp forget they do not own the finds, they do not own the land they are not a registered charity so there is ZERO chance of lottery funding for them.
Which is good as they would probably blow the lot on more tents to protest thier own proposals to build in the park!
You ask about the parking... I have asked the same question a million times and always get the smae reply "Its adequate" and "there is a regular bus service on Priory Cresent"
They are just a bunch of wasters who want Southend made in to thier own utopia of no chance no improvements most are retired so dont care about the young getting jobs as long as thier pensions are paid on time and racked up year on year, cold weather payments are paid to thier spanish holiday villas they remain happy litte turds.
BASILBRUSH
says...
10:57pm Thu 4 Mar 10
If you are so convinced you speak for the majority and feel you can do better, then prove it.
Otherwise stop wasting everyones time and tax payers money protesting about anything that is progression in this town.
'V'
says...
1:11pm Sun 7 Mar 10
BASILBRUSH
says...
10:30pm Sun 7 Mar 10
As someone who spends equal amounts of time posting on the Echo site bawling your eyes out over a few old trees, I would imagine you must be rather large and sweaty too.
APR says...
12:18pm Tue 2 Mar 10
It will be nice to get the "Saxon Prince" artefacts back where they belong.