COUNCIL bosses have welcomed the challenge of a potential expansion to Lakeside.

Leading councillors at Basildon and Southend Council said the £168million transformation plans for the Thurrock shopping centre will encourage them to work to advance their own facilities.

Kevin Robinson, cabinet member for business, culture and tourism at Southend Council, said: “Whenever there is a significant development elsewhere, it gives us the opportunity as the local authority to look at the things we’re doing and see how we can improve Southend even more.

“We do need more housing, that’s part of our 2050 road map, and we have various developments around the town which will see an investment of £1billion over the next ten years.

“We have the Airport Business Park scheme progressing and the huge development coming for Queensway.

“A lot of people will say that Southend gets no investment, but it’s simply not the case.

“I think we do have got enough attractions here for our residents but need to make sure it works well enough to keep people using it.”

Basildon mayor David Burton-Sampson said: “Lakeside, I think, are doing the right thing in addressing the challenges they face, and we are doing that too.

“We have plans for more housing and the luxury cinema complex, more restaurants to bring back vital town centre trade and more big and bold ideas to revitalise our town centre.

“The challenge should be viewed as a good thing as it will encourage us to get on with it and get moving to bring these improvements through as soon as we can.

“We’re not resting on our laurels, we want to bring these ideas through, but also must make sure they’re appropriate for our residents.”

'Have faith in our High Streets'

TOWN centres are now much “more than just shopping”, say business leaders.

David Barnes, chairman of the Basildon Business Group (BBG) said: “The developments at Lakeside show that other councils need to double down on efforts to improve their town centres. They need to know what people visit them for, it’s not just for shopping anymore, they’re social spaces.”

Suzanne Gloyne, manager of Southend Business Improvement District, said: “Obviously it is a concern for retailers when an out-of-town development is created or expanded like this, as it heightens competition at a time when the trading environment is already challenging and in a state of flux. However, it’s important to remember that a High Street offers far more than just shops. It is a hub for the local community and luckily we are able to combine our High Street with amazing seafront amenities and attractions.

“In Southend we have a variety of excellent department and chain stores, independent shops and a bustling market, held every Thursday and Saturday. When you combine these with our host of family-friendly leisure activities, day and night time entertainment, a wealth of fantastic cafes, bars and restaurants, plus the arts and culture that goes on all year round, then you can see that we still have a huge amount of reasons that inspire people to visit, shop and explore in Southend.”

She added: “Of course, as the Lakeside proposal shows, you can’t rely on the status quo. So Southend BID will continue to work with its levy payers and organisations such as Southend Borough Council to introduce new services, events and facilities that both residents and visitors would like to see and engage with, alongside the existing and highly popular leisure and tourism ‘offers’ that attracted some seven million visitors to our town in 2018.

"In the interim, we will also carry on supporting local traders by making the town a safe and inviting place, with an exciting events calendar designed to attract footfall throughout the year.”