Visitors to the The Forum Southend-on-Sea have topped 1.75 million since the public library and academic centre opened three years ago.
 
The building, a unique partnership between Southend-on-Sea Borough Council, the University of Essex and South Essex College was developed after all three pooled resources to jointly provide the country’s first wholly integrated public, university and college library designed for the internet age - totally wi-fi enabled and with scores of available ICT, along with state-of-the-art teaching and learning facilities.
 
The venue is a magnet for members of the public and students and more than one million items have been borrowed over the three years with other visitors attending exhibitions and events.
  
The outdoor Big Screen has also proved a winner for the town.  More than 2,000 people enjoyed this summer’s free sci-fi season and artists and filmmakers from around the world are clamouring to have their work featured on the screen.
 
Since The Forum Southend-on-Sea opened there have been more than 70,000 logins in the University’s high-tech  Learning Hub and South Essex College students have borrowed more than 40,000 books.
 
Cllr Ann Holland, Executive Cllr for Culture, says: “All of the partners are immensely proud of The Forum Southend-on-Sea’s resounding success.  As well as being an attractive asset for the town and the student community, it has drawn visitors from around the world, keen to understand how this successful project works.
 
“Located in the town centre on the site of a former multi-story car park, this thriving joint public and academic library and learning hub serves the whole community – residents of all ages, visitors and students.  Together they are all able to gain the benefits of all the enhanced and additional facilities yielded by the combined resources of the three institutions.
 
“This is why it offers such advantages to the whole borough and further afield too – clearly showing how much of a community benefit it is.  It is also a focus for culture as it is home to Focal Point Gallery, and, among other activities, the Big Screen outside has introduced the chance for residents and visitors to see acclaimed live broadcasts of Royal Opera Performances, ballet and sci-fi films.”
 
The building itself has received national and regional acclaim, being commended in the 2015 Civic Trust awards, shortlisted in the ‘Buildings that Inspire’ category of the Guardian University awards and winning the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) East of England Community Benefit category.
 
The building was officially opened by HRH The Duke of Kent on 2nd February 2016 where a stunning statue of Her Majesty The Queen was unveiled.

Major plans for the £320m regeneration of the Queensway estate in central Southend are set to be discussed by councillors next week (September 20th).
 
The report seeks Cabinet approval for a number of recommendations, including:

-       The preparation and submission of an outline planning application
-       To progress selection of a delivery partner to take the project forwards
-       A preferred financial option to allow the project to go ahead
-       To confirm the decision to demolish the tower blocks and other flats within the project area and serve initial demolition notices on all secure tenants of flats and houses
 
Cllr Ann Holland, Executive Councillor with responsibility for Regeneration, said: “The local Queensway community are well aware of the council’s intentions to regenerate this area, and we have had open and frank conversations with them for over a year now.  The message that we are getting clearly is to 'get on with it', and I am pleased that this report will enable us to start doing just that.
 
“The community are also clear that we believe the tower blocks must come down so we can create a wonderful new community, with new and better housing, improved infrastructure and links to the town, better public spaces and create a place that people want to live.
 
“This report is about putting the technical policies and procedures in place to enable us to progress the project and work towards the submission of an outline planning application. Things like demolition notices will obviously sound daunting but these have to be put in place to allow a major regeneration like this to happen.
 
“We have already reiterated previous promises to residents – if they want to remain a part of the future and Better  Queensway then they can.  If they do not and want to move somewhere else then we will also assist people to do this.”
 
For more information about the project, visit www.southend.gov.uk/betterqueensway or email betterqueensway@southend.gov.uk

​Kent Elms Library on Rayleigh Road is set for a major refurbishment that will reinvent the layout of the main library.
 
The refurbishment will create a fresh new welcoming area for customers as well as changes to the entrance to provide better access for those with mobility needs and pushchairs. A private meeting room is also being created as a space which can be hired out.
 
The library will close for the works at 7pm on Tuesday 20th September and will reopen on Monday 7thNovember at 9am.
 
Cllr Ann Holland, Executive Councillor for Culture, Tourism and the Economy, says: “We are excited to start work on the refurbishment of Kent Elms Library; we hope that residents and library users will enjoy the changes being made and improvements to access.
“Libraries are an important part of the community and we look forward to welcoming library users and hope it will encourage new customers.
 
“Library users will be able to borrow double the number of items before the closure as well as being offered extended dates on loaned items.”
 
While Kent Elms Library is closed residents are being urged to use the nearest branches: Westcliff Library, 649 London Road, Westcliff and Leigh Library, Broadway West, Leigh-on-Sea. Users can also visit The Forum, Elmer Square, Southend-on-Sea.
 
All library users are able to renew items online at www.southend.gov.uk/libraries or by phoning 01702 534151. It is suggested that anyone reserving items for collections should change the pick-up location to one of the other local library branches: Leigh, Westcliff or The Forum.
 
Library staff and volunteers will be on hand to assist Library users and answer any questions regarding loans and renewals.

Infrastructure works have started on the "game changing" £150m "Airport Business Park Southend".
 
Enabling works have started that will allow the first phase of major infrastructure changes to begin in November.  This will see access to the new business park site created via a new roundabout off Cherry Orchard Way.  The first section of the business park’s main "spine road" will also be built, along with utility and drainage works to serve the first development plots. Landscaping and the development of a sub-station will also be completed by Spring 2017.
 
Work to create ten new rugby pitches as part of the relocation of Westcliff Rugby Club (WRFC) is also underway.  The new pitches are due to be available for WRFC in time for the 2017/18 season.
 
Recently, Kemsley LLP and Dedman Gray were appointed to market the development which is being taken forward jointly by Southend-on-Sea Borough Council and Henry Boot Developments Ltd.

Cllr John Lamb, Leader of Southend Council, said: “These major infrastructure works are vital to allow this game changing development to take place and this constitutes the first phase of construction of this exciting and vital project.
 
“This project is strategically important for both Southend-on-Sea and the Rochford District, and will bring in significant public and private sector investment and generate thousands of new jobs in over 1million square feet of attractive, modern business premises in the area around London Southend Airport. It will further boost the regeneration of the borough, cementing Southend-on-Sea as a place to live, visit and do business, and open up employment opportunities for local people in skilled sectors such as advanced engineering, aviation and medical technology.”
 
Leader of Rochford District Council, Cllr Terry Cutmore, said:  “These infrastructure works form the first phase of a project which will ensure the Rochford District and Southend-on-Sea become renowned as a leading regional centre for the science, medical and technology sectors.
 
“This is an exciting moment as we will begin to see the £150m business park taking shape, with the creation of access routes and a new sub-station.
 
“Once completed, we envisage this development will create thousands of jobs, attract inward investment and bring lasting prosperity to the region.”
 
Background:
 
The site is located to the north-west corner of the airport and comprises circa 52 acres of developable land. Outline planning consent has already been achieved for 1 million square feet of advanced technology businesses, hi-specification office space, a new Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) Medical Technology (Med Tech) campus, an innovation centre and a hotel. The development is expected to attract occupiers from the medical, aviation, advanced engineering and manufacturing sectors.
 
Given Southend's extensive skill base, it is envisaged that ABP Southend will attract Med-Tech and advanced technology occupiers. Kemsley LLP, together with local agents Dedman Gray, will be working closely with Henry Boot Developments, Southend-on-Sea Borough Council and the Essex Investment Office to promote this important business park to local, national and international businesses.