Southend is booming and people have money to spend, but pound shops, pawnbrokers and e-cigarette retailers are hardly going to draw shoppers away from Lakeside or even Basildon.
Southend Rising usually welcomes any new business arriving in the town, but in this case we think it is a backward step that will only serve to reinforce negative stereotypes about the High Street.
Take part in our survey below to tell us which stores you would like to see moving into the town. We will then write to all the stores mentioned, to put across the case for them investing in Southend.