Southend Business & Tourism Partnership Priorities Update

Southend Business & Tourism PartnershipPriorities Update Presentation to SBTP on 19 September 2002 Pauline Irwin Economic Development Manager

SBTP Priorities • 4 basic areas • Strategic • Regeneration • Transportation • Good Housekeeping • Progress made by Council & SBTP

Strategic Priorities • Support Thames Gateway • Closer cooperation between councils • University/college for Southend • London Southend Airport • Wider promotion of the Town

Thames Gateway needs total support from Partnership to achieve economic and business regeneration throughout SE Essex. This will require the following improvements to TGSE infrastructure: • Immediate Modal Study • Lower Thames Road Crossing • Outer urban access improvements • Marina • Conference Centre

Closer Cooperation between local councils to deliver SEEES: • Closer working between 3 authorities as if they were one • Create “invest in Southend”; a joint approach by local landowners and developers and Council • Link existing businesses to potential inward investors • Allocate specific business partners for retention and inward investment support to the Council • Utilise business partners specialist knowledge in regeneration initiatives • Support review of Green Belt of SE Essex as part of Thames Gateway

University/College for Southend: • Support this development • Support the creation of further student accommodation • Promote the delivery of education London Southend Airport • Support/lobby for maximising SE Essex growth through expansion of the aero maintenance industry & in due course passenger services initially charter services to continental destinations

Wider promotion of the town: • Formally defined and adequate Council promotional budget • Upgrade contribution to illuminations (£1 for £1) • Develop promotional links with rail operators • Engage support of media and press Southend Council Tourism, Marketing and Media Department • Secure adequate contingency plans to ensure succession of personnel are in place

Regeneration Priorities • Maximise potential of the Pier • Promote business parks • Retail aspects • Hotels • Swimming pools • Cliff gardens

Pier - maximise potential through public/private partnership (as recommended by pier and foreshore scrutiny) • A more direct involvement of the business community in running of pier, possibly by the creation of a management company. • A dynamic future strategy including posters/video adverts on trains/stations PLUS… • ongoing active maintenance

Business Parks • Promote business parks in tandem with regeneration of the Victoria Avenue area Retail • Expansion to be focused within local and central areas • High Street upgrade to be achieved through improvements to “environment” and “offering” • Improve Hamlet Court Road by replicating Leigh Broadway • Develop Brighton Lanes concept in York Road

Hotels • Review current bedroom capacity/quality • Establish demand/potential especially from other UK regions • Agree appropriate hotel sites with landowners - goal to double existing capacity • Joint marketing by business/council • Initiate discussion with Shipping companies to explore feasibility of floating hotel

Swimming Pools Cliff Gardens • Creating facilities for seawater and leisure pools • Local businesses to be supportive of the proposed improvements including integration with the Never Never Land site. Utilise run down shelters for creating niche mini arcades

Transportation Priorities • Electronic car parking signage • Car parking • Park and ride • Road works and public disruptions • Bus station & Transport Interchange • Bus services

Electronic car parking signage Car Parking • Real time signage must be expedited • Adequate safe car parking needs improving as currently it remains a constraint on business growth In depth study of park and ride facility • Encourage and accommodate expected increased activity in town

Road works and public disruptions • These should be better coordinated between county and Southend councils and utilities to avoid peak tourism periods with overnight scheduling Bus Station • May not be appropriate for our needs but if it has to occupy a potential development site it should incorporate car/cycle parking, toilet facilities, disabled access and commercial development if appropriate for needs

Transport Interchange adjoining Victoria Station • Adjoining Victoria Station and should include parking for coaches/buses, taxes, car/cycles. Consider more effective use of goods yard area Bus Services • Make available throughout the night particularly at weekends

Housekeeping Priorities • Town Centre Management • Partnership solution to cleansing issues • First Aid • Millennium Makeover

Town Centre Management • Establish Town Centre Management Company in accordance with guidelines of SBTP Town Centre submission A Partnership solution to Cleansing Issues • Improve litter cleansing at peak times • Improve standards of cleansing of cliff gardens as it is not of the same standard compared to the adjoining roads • Rubbish bins for the seafront

First Aid • Ensure there is a coordinated “First Aid” strategy for the seafront Millennium Makeover • Repeat annually

Conclusion Let’s keep on moving forward together

Southend Business & Tourism Partnership Priorities Update