Southend is at a breaking point. Soaring costs, sky-high parking fees, and safety concerns are driving away visitors and crippling local businesses. Can common sense save the city’s future?
Since the budget announced by the Chancellor last month, many local businesses have expressed their concern for their prospects in 2025. The increases in the National Living Wage and Employer National Insurance Contributions will force many businesses to close as these will be the straws that break the camel’s back. We are now on ‘recession watch’ as the economy has shrunk for the second consecutive month.
Southend Faces Local Challenges
Not only are businesses here in Southend having to contend with these problems, it has also had to fight some local challenges as well. A recent report commissioned by the Council acknowledged that the well-publicised machete attacks on the seafront and the high street have deterred visitors from the city. From the data that I have seen, the sky-high parking charges, especially the 6pm-9pm parking charges, are deterring visitors also, with some car parks bringing in less income than last year.
Fireworks Highlight Parking Issues
This will come as no surprise to many. During the firework season, like many families, I took my own children down to the seafront to watch the fireworks. From my own observations, it was apparent the lengths people would go to avoid the 6pm-9pm parking charges whilst enjoying the occasion.
Yes, the car parks were full. However, nearly every car had someone in it so they could pull away if they were challenged by a Traffic Warden. The seafront traffic from about 5 minutes before the start of the fireworks was at a snail’s pace as families preferred to do a drive-by watch rather than paying for the parking charges.
Southend’s parking fees are under fire, with the Administration admitting missteps. While some charges may drop, others are rising, sparking frustration and highlighting the need for common sense.
Higher Charges in New Areas
By their own admission, the Administration have acknowledged that they have ‘overcooked the goose’ where they have proposed to lower the 6pm-9pm parking charges by capping them at £5 from £9 and have brought in a slightly lower winter parking tariff for the months of November, December, and January.
Rather than just lowering the parking charges, to make up the shortfall, parking charges will increase in the High Street car parks by 20%, parking charges from 6pm-9pm will be introduced at Shorefield Road car park which serves the Cliffs Pavilion, and parking charges will also be increased at Shoebury Common and East Beach by 20% as well.
Call for Common Sense
Parking charges could be lowered, but it is about choices. For example, the Administration can fund a £1 Million party for ‘City Day’ in March this year and the Official Opposition have proposed spending £1 Million to plant fake trees in the High Street.
What it needs is for someone to bring back common sense and lower these sky-high parking charges, which will benefit both businesses and local residents.
by Cllr Tony Cox
Councillor West Shoebury Ward
Leader of the Southend Reform UK Group
cllrtonycox@southend.gov.uk