Southend Central Area Action Plan (SCAAP) Preferred Approach 2015

Comment

Representation ID: 1989

Received: 22/01/2016

Respondent: Burges Estate Residents Association

Reference is made to work being jointly undertaken to establish jobs and housing need. Jointly with whom? And is there a need to review the core strategy in the light of that further work. What timescales are we talking about? To what extent will anyone be able place any reliance on the SCAAP knowing it is so very tentative?

Comment

Representation ID: 1990

Received: 22/01/2016

Respondent: Burges Estate Residents Association

There is an anti- car feeling about some of the comments. A reluctance to acknowledge its importance in sustaining the central area's economy and over emphasis on suppressing it in favour of other modes. Car parking is only mentioned in terms of capacity ignoring the issue of pricing which is one of the major disincentives that the centre faces.

Comment

Representation ID: 1991

Received: 22/01/2016

Respondent: Burges Estate Residents Association

On page 7 there is reference to successful recent public realm and access improvement schemes. Some examples would be useful because I cannot think of them.

Comment

Representation ID: 1992

Received: 22/01/2016

Respondent: Burges Estate Residents Association

There is nothing in the document which justifies the Policies Map boundaries and they do seem somewhat arbitrary with the inclusion of vast swathes of residential areas which are unlikely to be the subject of significant change in the plan timescale. Large parts of areas of Victoria Gateway, Sutton Gateway and Kursaal estate are examples. On the other hand I would draw attention to the exclusion of St Marys Church from the Victoria area. The church and the adjoining properties on the corner of this important intersection are key elements in any junction improvement and should be included.

Comment

Representation ID: 1993

Received: 22/01/2016

Respondent: Burges Estate Residents Association

I have no problem with the Vision put forward for the centre, but I would question the rationale when it states that the regeneration of the centre will be led by the Uni campus. I have seen nothing in the document or elsewhere to suggest that the scale of activity, investment, etc. by the University would be such as to lead the way.

Comment

Representation ID: 1994

Received: 22/01/2016

Respondent: Burges Estate Residents Association

Similarly I have no problem with the Strategic objectives with the exception of one fundamental addition. All efforts to promote design excellence, quality developments and use of sustainable materials will be for nothing without continuing effective maintenance and upkeep. Where the Council has the opportunity and that is especially work in the public realm, routine and timely maintenance to retain the intrinsic value of the work is essential. The designs of today are our heritage of tomorrow.

Comment

Representation ID: 1995

Received: 22/01/2016

Respondent: Burges Estate Residents Association

Maintaining a prosperous retail centre begs the question as to how prosperity is measured. Does the retail turnover statistics for the centre show a level of prosperity that is considered adequate since the policy options seek only to maintain the current prosperity not improve or enhance it? Anecdotal evidence suggests otherwise with vast sums of disposable income from Southend residents increasingly spent at Bluewater, Lakeside, Westfield and even Chelmsford as Southend has slowly declined with many poor quality, here today gone tomorrow, shops.

Comment

Representation ID: 1996

Received: 22/01/2016

Respondent: Burges Estate Residents Association

On balance Option B is to be preferred for providing the greatest flexibility in what is a fast changing situation. There is also the question mark about one or two centres. The plan makes implicit reference to reinforcing routes to the two main areas which suggests that the middle might become less of a Class A1 retail use. Overall while there is a case for upgrading and improving the shopping environment both in terms of public space and retail stores, the overall volume of retail space should not increase.

Support

Representation ID: 1997

Received: 22/01/2016

Respondent: Burges Estate Residents Association

Southend has been the focus of working class seaside attractions for at least 80 years and continues to be so. It is the mainstay of many seafront businesses. Those day trippers often take advantage of the sea front and the town centre facilities so improving the connectivity between the two is crucial.

Support

Representation ID: 1998

Received: 22/01/2016

Respondent: Burges Estate Residents Association

Southend has been the focus of working class seaside attractions for at least 80 years and continues to be so. It is the mainstay of many seafront businesses. Those day trippers often take advantage of the sea front and the town centre facilities so improving the connectivity between the two is crucial.