Positive Steps

w/c 8th March 2021

Last year we kick started the town centre task group again in which we determine what the ongoing public realm issues are across the high street and seafront areas, report these back to the council and monitor the progress to ensure they are resolved. Examples of public realm issues highlighted this week include some areas of uneven paving and littered spaces.

This group ensures we are keeping on top of these often small issues so that our town looks clean and inviting to residents and visitors alike, and with reopening due to happen next month it has never been more important to resolve these to help our businesses with this new start. Once we reported in these current issues we were pleased to hear that a deep clean of the town will be taking place in the next couple of weeks to make sure we are well positioned to welcome people back once more.

Another great meeting we joined this week was the Southend Tourism Partnership’s ‘Enhancing and Improving’ group. The aim of this group is to bring businesses, organisations and the council together to make our borough the best it can be. All attendees were left with a positive feeling that this partnership working is a constructive step for our town and I look forward to see how this collaboration continues to progress in the future weeks, months and years.

We have also attended several COVID-19 related partnership meetings which have looked into the relaxation of restrictions, considered what information and support businesses require and reviewed the need for new safety signage for the public realm and businesses.

Summer and no restrictions may still seem a long way off but you can be assured that plans are being made to help us bounce back when measures are eased. I end this week with a great sense of optimism that our town is well placed for a strong recovery that our community can be proud of.