Southend Business

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

• Creating facilities for seawater and leisure pools

Cliff Gardens

• 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

• Real time signage must be expedited

Car Parking

• 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

• Lets keep on moving forward together