Southend Business & Tourism Partnership Priorities Update

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

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

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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

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

18. 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

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

20. Conclusion Let’s keep on moving forward together