From Evening Echo: July 30, 2013

A MYSTERY consortium of Southend businessmen is proposing a new industrial estate in Eastwood should a plan by supermarket giant Lidl fail.

Clive Lucas, of Rochford estate agents Nevbright 8, is acting on behalf of the consortium and revealed its plans to the Echo. They hope to transform the former Safestore site, in Progress Road, into the new industrial site.

Lidl wants to take over both the Safestore and Essex Timber sites, on the corner of Progress Road and Rayleigh Road. It has applied to change the use of the sites from industrial to retail, but if that fails, Mr Lucas’s clients will take over.

Mr Lucas said: “The application is for small industrial units in a range of sizes to meet local demand, which we believe is tremendous, despite the recession. It will include things like manufacturing, storage and other industrial units.

“It’s being funded by local businessmen, who don’t want to be disclosed at the moment, and the units may be offered to let or sale.”

A spokesman for Lidl said recently: “A planning application for this site is awaiting determination at Southend Council.

“Lidl UK has a legal position with the vendors of the site and we are looking forward to bringing additional choice to the area with our offering of high quality products at low prices.”

The company said earlier this year its surveys showed 96.7 per cent of the public backed its plan.

From The Enquirer: July 25, 2013

A TEAM of street rangers are now pounding Southend's pavements to welcome and help visitors seven days a week.

The trio of specially-trained and selected uniformed representatives known as BID Street Rangers have been employed to meet and greet shoppers, day-trippers and holiday makers to the town and seafront - and working with the police to help reduce crime and anti-social behaviour.

Rebecca Venn, Quentin Bailey and Andrew Steel are currently visiting all the shops and companies in the Southend Business Improvement District (BID) - which stretches from the old B&Q site off Short Street to the Royal Pavilion at the end of the pier - encouraging them to sign up to the new BID website, which goes live in August.

BID Chair Dawn Jeakings believes the new team will have a similar impact to the countless volunteers who made last year's Olympics such an unforgettable experience.

“The Street Rangers will be warm and welcoming hosts for visitors and will play a key role in showing how vibrant our town is - similar to that undertaken by the Gamesmakers at the Olympics,” said Dawn. “The Street Rangers will also play their part in cracking down on crime by having good links with the police and reporting incidents.”

£2.7 million is being invested across four areas suggested by the businesses involved - Improving Town Safety, Winning New Customers, Raising Standards and Working for Businesses over the five year lifetime of the Southend BID, which started in April 2013.

From Evening Echo: July 24, 2013

MP David Amess says he would like to see a monorail built in Southend.

The Southend West Tory told MPs he backed the move during a Commons debate.

He said: “Monorails do not seem to be particularly popular in this country, but they do offer another way of getting round our busy cities. I am certainly going to encourage the good residents of Southend to have a monorail.”

From Evening Echo: July 18, 2013


THE Cliffs Pavilion is set to close for the rest of the summer while it undergoes the latest stage of a £500,000 revamp.

The theatre in Westcliff, which has already had new £180,000 stage lights, will be closed until September 2 as workmen replace its 22-year-old air conditioning.

The Palace Theatre, also in Westcliff, which celebrated its centenary last year, has also had £140,000 spent on new seating and stalls.

Paul Driscoll, of Southend Theatres, which manages the two theatres for Southend Council, said both sets of works were about improving comfort for audience members.

He said: “At the Cliffs it’s about temperature and at the Palace it’s the comfort of seating.”

The council has spent £126,000 replacing fire vents on the tower above the Cliffs main stage and is spending £150,000 replacing the air conditioning in the main auditorium. It has also spent £13,000 on a new lightening conductor and £12,000 on a fire escape for the Palace Theatre.

From Evening Echo: July 10, 2013

ADVENTURE Island has been named as one of the top amusement parks in the UK.

As thousands flocked to sundrenched Southend beaches at the weekend, the online holiday review site TripAdvisor ranked the town’s seafront attraction at number nine in the Top 10 UK Amusement and Water Parks category of its Travellers’ Choice Awards 2013.

The fifth annual awards rated the world’s best travel spots and destinations based on customer feedback reported to the website. A total of 279 reviews have been posted about the park on TripAdvisor, with 86 per cent of customers rating it as “excellent” or “very good.” 
 
The latest accolade comes 12 months after TripAdvisor gave a certificate of excellence to the fun park.This award is only given to “the most exceptional firms” and those that have consistently earned top ratings from travellers.

Marc Miller, Adventure Island managing director, said: “This new honour further cements Adventure Island’s status within the UK tourist industry and will help it to gain an increased presence nationally. It is also testimony to our excellent customer standards, which come from our superb team."

He added: "Over the years, we have developed Adventure Island into the UK’s No1 free admission fun park and that is all down to delivering a truly great visitor experience.

Visitors may soon be able to ride on two of the largest rides ever installed at the seafront. Adventure Island’s owners are seeking planning permission for a 147ft big wheel and 196ft Starflyer carousel to draw in the crowds.

From Evening Echo: July 10, 2013

TRADERS are counting their blessings – and their takings – after a bumper  weekend.

Daytrippers and residents flocked to Southend seafront to enjoy the hottest day of the year so far. The mercury reached 25C on Sunday and temperatures continued to sizzle yesterday.

Even the prospect of Andy Murray going for glory at Wimbledon on TV couldn’t keep thousands of sunseekers away from the coast. Additional vans and drivers have been drafted in by bosses at Rossi’s ice cream company because demand for its products has been so high.

Director Colin Gray said: “It was a well-deserved summer weekend for everyone concerned. It was the perfect time to enjoy a Rossi’s, even though you can enjoy it all year round. It was great to see Southend so busy and all the visitors having a really good time. I have got a fabulous team of staff who are hard at work producing litres and litres of ice cream for residents and visitors to Southend."

He added: "It’s a very busy time for us. We are even having to bring in additional vans and temporary drivers to make sure we can get Rossi’s from our factory to all of our suppliers. Summer is finally here and long may it continue!”

While families flocked to Adventure Island, splashed about in the sea and built sandcastles on the packed beaches, beer gardens and seafront pubs were full of thirsty customers wanting to make the most of the sunshine.

Simon Patterson, co-owner of Chinnerys pub, in Marine Parade, and chairman of Southend Seafront Traders Association, said: “It was absolutely great this weekend and everyone was making the most of the weather. Hopefully, it will continue into the week.”

From Evening Echo: July 4, 2013

A NEW store celebrating all things artistic has opened in Southend.

Old Hat Emporium, opposite the Old Hat pub in Alexandra Street, celebrated its launch event with artists coming from across the country to display their work.

The store will sell spray art, graffiti and digital art as well as unique items such as upgraded furniture.

There will also be vintage clothing on sale.

Owner Nina Peters said: “It has been a really good launch. We are delighted with the turn-out and look forward to the times ahead.”

From Evening Echo, July 3, 2013

AN MP has called on the Government to look again at building a new Thames crossing in Southend or Canvey.

Jackie Doyle-Price, Tory MP for Thurrock, yesterday said the Government should look at options to build a crossing from Kent other than in her constituency.

The Government wants to build the new crossing to make way for an expected rise in car travel and to ease congestion at the Dartford crossing. It is consulting on four options, which all pass through Thurrock.