At a Glance
- A look at Southend’s deep historical roots and unique geography
- How natural boundaries and careful planning shaped the town
- Why the Green Belt was introduced and why it matters more than ever
- Concerns over proposed development on remaining Green Belt land
- A call to protect heritage, infrastructure, and future generations
This part of Southeast Essex situated on the Thames estuary, has attracted people for thousands of years.
Dotted around Southend are the remnants of early historic peoples. In Shoebury, a Roman Fort stood watch against incursions. Whilst in Prittlewell, a royal Anglo-Saxon mound marks a princely burial.
History is all around us in Southend, and so too is water. It frames our landscape. To the north of today’s city, the River Roach and further still the River Crouch, hem the northern extent. While to the east and south old father Thames buttresses our seashore. In many ways Southend sits on a peninsula. A land almost surrounded by water.
What we recognise as Southend, was planned and build from the 1780’s onwards. It had to conform to the reality of geography. The land at the top of the cliffs overlooking the Western Esplanade to Pier Hill was set aside by its owner Daniel Scranton, for a new town. The High Street divided the new town from the old. Yet, such artificial divisions couldn’t stop the two communities eventually merging into a single unified whole.
Railway Shaping Southend
With the arrival of the railway in 1850’s to Southend came tourist, day trippers and the daily commute. Much of today’s Southend is confined within its old town plans from over one hundred and fifty years ago. From the road layout along the London Road connecting to the High St, leading onwards to the excitement and bright lights of the seafront. The rivers and shores, roads, historic buildings, even the network of sewage tunnels make up the seen and unseen boundary of location and home, while setting the parameters of Southend’s current spread.
Around the northern and western boundaries of Southend and to better demarc the liminal space between different local communities, the ‘Green Belt’ was introduced in the 1950’s. Its function was to stop cities and towns from endlessly sprawling into the countryside, while safeguarding natural landscapes, farmland, and habitats. Green belts were not intended as parks or reserves, but include farmland, woodland, grassland, or even scrubland.
Green Belt’s Growing Importance
The important point was that the space was left open and largely undeveloped. Recently, the green belt has been recognised as buffer against air pollution and climate impacts like urban heat. Thereby increasing its importance due to its functions, as an environmental ’green lung’ because it reduces fine particulate pollution and improves air quality while supporting a better quality of life. This has been recently recognised in a government policy document:
https://tinyurl.com/1536423
Southend has been gradually developing due to population demands, while conforming to historical and geographical realities for hundreds of years. This steadily change has allowed many aspects of life to keep pace with changing demands. The requirements of Infrastructure have been historically recognised and implemented. However, the change was planned by the local community then later the town council, in a gradual manner. Further, it respected the diversity of local communities, while acknowledging historical local boundaries, because it didn’t encroach upon the green belt.
A Critical Turning Point
Today, we find ourselves at a turning point, where what had been gradually built respectful of landscape, heritage and convention, is to be torn up to meet arbitrary government targets. Proposed new homes are likely to be situated on our few remaining green belt sites in South Essex, like Bournes Green in Southend. Often, out of reach of regular transport links and community hubs. Combined with this haste of development, is the outpacing of local infrastructure. Which threatens to destabilise various aspects of modern living, such as flushing toilets, constant electricity, local education, health, and social care. While placing further intolerable pressures on transport and highways.
Morally, much of the green belt was entrusted to each local community and in turn managed by its parish, town, or city council, on behalf of the residents. It’s not for those councils to dispose of it, as they were never the intended owner, but the administrator. Let’s not be forced into hasty decisions today and filled with remorse tomorrow. The countryside is part of our heritage and unwritten future.
Say No to building on our Green Belt!
by Shah & Alex Haider
On behalf of Southend Against Sewage
southendagainstsewage.org