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| A13/London
Road Improvements (Phase 3) |
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For many
months now we have been waiting work to start on phase 3 of
the A13 London Road Passenger Transport Corridor Improvements
scheme - that is the stretch between Elmsleigh Drive and
Tattersall Gardens. The work, which formed part of Southend's
Local Transport Plan 2001-2006 (LPT1), was to designed
to deliver improved passenger transport (bus) flows and included
improved road layouts and safety features, modern street furniture,
new bus shelters with electronic information displays and
additional bus bays. A sum of approximately £1.5million
was being provided to the Council to cover the work on the
Leigh stretch (phase 3).
The improvements between Victoria Circus and Elmsleigh Drive
(phases 1 & 2) were completed months ago. Unfortunately
these phases overspent their budget allocations by at least
£260,000 (LPT Annual Progress Report 2005) -
this probably explains why the budget for the Leigh end has
now been reduced to £1.2 million which in real terms,
after allowing for 2 years' inflation is closer to £1million.
Work has also been completed on Southend's successful new
bus station
WLRA was told in October that work on our phase would be starting
soon and would be completed by March 2007; this is also stated
in Southend's Passenger Transport Strategy (section
2.2) published in September 2006. However the work has not
yet begun (December) and it is now unlikely that this new
target date will be met.
At the
beginning of December Councillor Garston, the Cabinet portfolio
holder for "Sustainable Southend", said that the
funding for the Leigh stretch was included within the overall
funding application for LPT2 (which includes the £25m
Priory Crescent/Cuckoo Corner scheme) and that the Government
will be giving Southend a decision on the application at the
end of December.
WLRA will
continue to press for the delivery of these improvements as
soon as possible.
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| Parking
at Leigh Station and Two Tree Island |
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The Council
is considering replacing the free parking on Two Tree Island
(opposite the Tip) with pay-and-display with a view to deterring
commuters from using parking spaces designed for visitors
to Two Tree Island.
As this is likely to displace commuter parking into the roads
around Western Road the Council is also considering one hour
waiting restriction in roads as far north as the London Road.
Southend Councillors considered these proposal at the meeting
of the Traffic and Parking Working Party on 25th January and
have now asked Council officials to carry out a study into
the feasibility of introducing pay-and-display parking at
the car park The results of the study is due to be published
in March. WLRA
has not yet made representation to the Council on this matter
and would welcome the views of members.
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| Prittle
Brook Greenway Inquiry |
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The
public inquiry into the conversion of a number of public footpaths
into cycle tracks took place on January 16th-17th. The proposed
Greenway route runs from Victoria Avenue to Eastwood Road
alongside Prittle Brook. the latest cost estimate is £1.1million.
We await the outcome of the Inquiry.
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| Dangers
on our footpaths |
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Members
are reporting a significant increase in the number of damaged
pavements, dangerous over-hanging trees and shrubs and obstacles
on the footpath.
Much of the increase in broken pavements is a result
of contractors vehicles crossing the footpath to deliver material
to building sites. As more and more properties in our area
are either being extended or knocked down and replaced, the
incidence of this type of damage grows day by day. Southend
Council works hard to maintain a good state of repair but
it seems they're fighting a losing battle. With each successful
planning application the Council should require an indemnity
deposit from the owners to be used to repair any damage caused.
Another
concern that has been raised recently is the proliferation
of advertising boards outside shops and cafes along the
Broadway. Not only do these obstruct the footpath, particularly
for mothers with pushchairs, but they are also a danger to
the elderly and the visually impaired.
| 14th
December 2006 |
WLRA
wrote to the Council about both these concerns
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| 5th
January 2007 |
WLRA
received acknowledgement of our letter - SBC looking into
it |
| 14th
February 2007 |
WLRA
wrote to John Young, the department head, to chase up
our enquiry. We also wrote to Mr Tinlin, the Chief Executive
of Southend Council.
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| 2nd
March 2007 |
Response
eventually received (to be posted soon)
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Local
Development Framework
Town Centre Area Action Plan and Seafront Area Action Plan
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Southend
Council has now embarked on compiling yet another set of planning
guideline documents to be added to the towering pile of similar
documents which makes up the new Local Development Framework.
The
Council has invited residents and other "stakeholders"
to join in this, their latest consultation exercise. The consultation
period ends on 21st March.
Town Centre Area Action Plan
"Once adopted the Southend-on-Sea Town Centre Area Action
Plan will provide a comprehensive planning policy framework
for the town centre to guide all future development decisions
to 2021. It will contain policies covering a range of key
issues including shopping, housing, transport, design and
the environment."
Seafront Area Action Plan
"The approach taken in this Area Action Plan is to recognise
that the Seafront has several different zones with distinctive
characteristics, issues and opportunities. This document describes
their character, identifies any related issues and puts forward
options for future planning approaches." This plan includes
three local zones : Two Tree Island, Leigh Marshes and Belton
Hills; Leigh Port and Old Town; The Cinder Path.
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Belfairs
Woodland Resource Centre
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Southend
Council is planning to build a Woodland Resource Centre at
the Belfairs Farm ("White House") site in Belfairs
Park. The "visions" are for a centre.....
1) "that encourages an understanding of the dynamic and
complex ecology of ancient semi-natural woodland, the woodlands
regional and national significance, its history and background,
and its management operations, through a varied range of events
and educational and leisure opportunities".
2) "that both demonstrates and promotes the use of sustainably
produced local timber and other woodland produce, whilst at
all time maintaining the surrounding woodland in a favourable
condition"
3) "that develops a range of community action and volunteer
activity for both biodiversity and the local environment,
and a greater empowerment of the local 'Friends' group".
10 WLRA members met with the Council's consultant on Wednesday
3rd January to discuss the proposal.The
consultant explained that he had been employed to help draft
Southend Council's bid for Lottery Funding to meet approximately
70% of the set up costs (about £3million).The scheme
met with a mixed reception though all present recognised the
benefits that could arise from the Centre.
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pros
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cons
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- The
town would benefit from the facilities suggested
- The
Centre would encourage young people to value the natural
environment and Belfairs Woods in particular
- Guided
walks through the woods would be welcomed
- Partnership
with Essex Wildlife Trust would underwrite the scheme
- Meeting
rooms would be useful.
- Should
include "unstructured/low-key" facilities
for young people
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- The
location of the Centre - set too far from main road,
no public transport links
- The
disturbance caused by increased traffic - especially
coaches
- Need
for a large carpark
- Likelyhood
of vandalism
- Annual
revenue cost - would the running costs continue to
be met year-on-year?
- Lack
of Park Rangers to support project
- Scheme
too big and ambitious
- The
cafeteria would take business away from the current
cafe/restaurant
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