Good news for south Essex train travellers
Image courtesy: Phil Scott (Our Phellap)
Southend Pier plans thrown into chaos
Plans for a massive £5m revamp of Southend's iconic pier have been thrown into chaos after the council missed out on vital government cash. The town was hoping to attract £4m worth of funding from the Department of Culture Media & Sport’s Sea Change Programme in its bid to rejuvenate the much-loved seafront landmark. 
But council chiefs were left bitterly disappointed today (16 Nov) after learning they had been pipped to the money by Margate and North Tyneside. 
Back in April, Southend Council launched a global competition to find one company who could realise a design for the Pier Head that would reinvigorate and bring activity to it and the town, making it a source of pride to residents and attraction to tourists. The brief also stipulated that it had to be developed in a manner that contributed to the cultural offering within the town, while also respecting its heritage. In September it was announced Swedish architects White Arkitekter had won the £6,000 competition, beating off more than 70 other applicants. Impressive plans were laid out, including an open air theatre with a terraced platform, a Culture Centre and a restaurant. 
Southend Pier was ravaged by a fire back in 2005, and since then locals have bemoaned the fact that the end of the world's longest pleasure pier has not been redeveloped. Take a trip to the pier head and you can still see the burnt stilts in the water. 
Council chiefs are adamant the pier will be redeveloped, despite this latest setback. Leader Nigel Holdcroft told Longpier.com "I am desperately disappointed for the town’s people, and the six million visitors who come to Southend every year, that the Sea Change Programme has failed to recognise the importance of this national treasure. "However, the council is determined that improvements to Southend Pier will go ahead so that residents and visitors can continue to enjoy great trips like the ones so many of us remember from our youth". Despite the bad news regarding the pier, Southend has benefited from one lot of government cash. Ironically it's worth £7m. The two-year programme of work, aimed at encouraging visitors to make more use of the town’s beach and stay longer in the area, will start early in the new year. 
It is centred on six 100ft state-of-the-art lighting columns which the council hopes will transform the Marine Parade area by extending daytime into the evenings. But it's the failure to secure the pier money most people will be talking about this week, and again calls into question why more is not made of Southend's biggest asset. Would you be happy for your tax money to be spent on revamping the pier? Or do you think the council should look for other means of funding the project? Should the pier be sold off to a private owner or company? Or should it be left as it is? Head on over to sarfend.co.uk & Longpier.com's forums HERE or leave a comment below.
Southend's Christmas spectacular - timings
Southend's Christmas-on-Sea festivities are taking place today (Sat 14th).
Here's a useful timing guide:
•9am till 8pm - Christmas Market with German sausages, gluhwein, gingerbread,
traditional gifts and much more
•8.30am till 5pm – Christmas Farmers and Craft Market with Christmas treats and unique gift ideas
•12noon till 2.30pm – entertainment on the main stage at Victoria Circus
•1pm till 1.30pm – The Royals Christmas Toy Parade, starting outside River Island part way down Southend High Street and moving off to the Royals Shopping Centre. The Essex Marching Corps will lead the parade followed by a team of Real Reindeer pulling Santa in his sleigh. Look out for Cinderella’s carriage, along with Noddy, Bob the Builder, Ryan the Lion, Pudsey Bear, Starwarriors and many other familiar characters. (Please Note: The Reindeer and Cinderella’s Carriage join the parade at Tylers Avenue.)
•1.45pm till 6pm – Santa will be installed on his throne underneath the glass dome at The Royals Shopping Centre. Tickets for visiting him are available from Debenhams.
•2pm till 3pm – the Victoria Shopping Centre. A chance to turn your princesses into Ugly Sisters! Little girls can have their make up professionally done by Cinderella’s Ugly Sisters.
•4.20pm – 4.45pm the Victoria Shopping Centre. Meet Cinderella panto star and celebrity comedian, Brian Conley
•3.45pm till 5pm. Heart Live – Martin and Su are the hosts on the main stage at Victoria Circus, in association with Havens Hospices
•5pm – Brian Conley will ceremonially switch on Southend’s Christmas lights
•5.30pm – Spectacular seafront firework finale, best viewed from Pier Hill.
Southend sign Swindon defender
BREAKING NEWS:
Southend United have signed Swindon defender Sean Morrison on an one month loan deal.
The 6ft 1in 18 year old goes straight into the squad for today's game at Yeovil.
He's played less than 30 first team games for Swindon, and his chances have been limited this term, due to the form of Town's other defenders. Speaking to Swindon's official website, Morrison said:
"It has been difficult just training without a game at the end of the week, so when the chance to go out on loan came up I thought it would be a good option for me - to play week in, week out"
"Southend have a decent side and are doing well in League One and I think I would have regretted the decision not to go there and get more experience.
"Playing for Southend will help me keep my match fitness and sharpness up and it's in League One too - a level which I am familiar with."
It's the Shrimpers first signing since the club's transfer embargo was lifted last week.
More follows...
NEWS: Anger intensifies over Westcliff plans
The local charity HARP - which helps homeless people in Southend and surrounding areas - has been severely criticised by locals in Westcliff, who say a new overnight facility would cause untold problems for people living in the area.
HARP currently has two centres - one on York Road, which acts as a night centre, and one on Valkyrie Road in Westcliff, which operates during the daytime. HARP now wants the Westcliff site - which is an old church - to be demolished and rebuilt to provide a modern facility for the homeless overnight.
Residents of the Milton Ward district - who have a very active membership - are upset that a) the old church, dating back to the early 1900s, will be replaced with a building which, they believe, is out of keeping with the area and b) the disruption and social problems such a centre could cause.
The charity - which sees an estimated 2,000 people a year - says residents have nothing to fear from the proposed centre, and that the vast majority of those attending conduct themselves in a proper manner.
WIN: Free tickets to 'Taste of Christmas'
Essex Gourmet, your local guide to fabulous food and drink in Essex – tried and trusted - is giving away 3 pairs of wonderful ‘Taste of Christmas’ tickets! The foodie event of the festive season, is returning to Excel London this December 4-6, 2009.
To enter the competition simply add a review for any of the businesses listed on Essex Gourmet that you have recently visited, and hey presto – instant entry!For further info and the latest on this fabulous foodie event, click here although hurry, as the competition closes on the 27th of November.
Taste of Christmas in partnership with Waitrose – 4th-6th December.
Southend United pay tax debt in full
Southend United have paid an outstanding debt of £2.135 million in full and have, therefore, avoided administration and a ten point penalty.
The High Court in central London today (Monday 9th) confirmed the club had paid its outstanding tax bill and proceedings would be dismissed
"The Club's Chairman, Ron Martin, has today (3pm) confirmed that one of his Group Companies has now paid, in full, the tax due to HMRC in the sum of £2.1m thereby removing the threat of administration.
The funds were being held by the Revenue's solicitors and at lunchtime today they have been released."
As a result of the payment, the Blues' transfer embargo - which has been placed on them since late September - has now been lifted.
There's been no official word on where the money suddenly appeared from - rumours suggest Sainsburys, who are buying Roots Hall when the Blues move to a brand new stadium, stumped up the cash ahead of schedule.
Discuss Southend - A chance to Have Your Say
This weekend sees the launch of Discuss Southend - a brand new FREE forum for Longpier.com readers.
We're teaming up with excellent resource website sarfend.co.uk to provide you with a place to air your views, comment on the stories that matter to you and read what others are thinking.
Here at Longpier.com we're proud to be teaming up with Pete Sipple, owner of sarfend.co.uk - we actually used to work together during the days of Essex FM in the late 90s.
All you have to do is CLICK THIS LINK , register with the site and then you're up and running. Please do check the site's T&Cs.
Not only can you chat about Southend and surrounding areas, but there is also an excellent section for finding friends, relatives or neighbours from years gone by.
Community breaks World Record in Southend
International arts group METAL - based in Chalkwell Park in Southend - has been awarded the Guinness World Record for the longest line of continuous bunting.
The continuous stream of small flags, cotton and ribbon was created by more than 50 local schools and community groups. It's the exact length of Southend on Sea’s landmark pier - 2158 metres or 1.3 miles.
The previous record stood at 1504.72m set in July 2006 by the charity, the Myotubular Trust.
Throughout the summer of 2009, Southend's community became inspired. METAL received more than 9,000 flags of all colours and designs; some with messages to loved ones, others with embroidered patterns, knitting and appliqué.
Special recognition from Metal goes to:
- The Hadleigh Evening WI who contributed 1,313 flags
- Shoebury High School contributed the largest number of flags from a senior school - 782
- West Leigh Juniors contributed the largest number from a junior school - 540
- Hamstel Infants contributed the largest number from an infant school – 533
- The largest number of flags from an individual came from Anita Shepherd, who contributed 164 flags
“The bunting project is an excellent example of how METAL have come into Southend and inspired the community to become involved. It has shown how art can be inclusive as contributions of flags have been received from all differing community groups – young and old alike.” Southend Councillor Derek Jarvis told longpier.com
Colette Bailey, Managing Director of Metal added,
“Metal worked really hard for this Guinness World Record but so did everyone around the borough. We couldn’t have achieved this without everyone taking on the challenge.”
The world record is currently on show in Chalkwell Park.
FEATURE: Southend's 'Unseen 1963' exhibition
Back in the 1950s and 60s, the Southend Odeon was THE place in south Essex to see not just nationally, but internationally famous acts and groups. Doubling up as a cinema and an auditorium, the Odeon - on Southend High Street - was consistently putting on major shows and acts to more than 2,000 people at a time.
Louis Armstrong appeared there in 1962, The Beatles played twice in '63, The Rolling Stones played in '65, and The Who in '66 - even Laurel and Hardy performed back in 1952.
Now a new exhibition is being held at Leigh on Sea's Atelier Gallery showcasing unseen photographs from the Odeon's "heyday". A number of black and white prints from newly discovered original negatives by local photographer Derek Cross will be on show for three weeks, starting on Saturday 7th November. It's called "Unseen 1963".
High quality Silver Gelatin prints of the photos will be available to order at the exhibition.
There’s also a chance to win a print in a special prize draw raffle supporting the local charity Southend Hospital Radio. The draw will take place on Saturday the 21st at 5pm.
The Odeon was demolished in 2004 and the University of Essex's Southend Campus now sits on the site.
Credit: Beatles & Cliff Richard images copyright Derek CrossNEWS: Consultation over Southend's York Road market
No decision will be taken over the future of the indoor York Road Market in Southend, until a comprehensive consultation has been carried out, longpier.com understands.
The 90-year old indoor market was suddenly closed on October 17, after a structural report on the building revealed potentially dangerous health and safety issues.
Some of the affected traders have been re-located swiftly - others claimed they were left "high and dry" by the council who moved swiftly to shut the premises near to the Bus Terminal.
A Cabinet meeting was held in public earlier this week. A council document says it could cost £3m to rebuild the market - so would that money be well spent?
Cllr Jonathan Garston told longpier.com
“Now this first stage – the re-provision of traders – is drawing to a close, our next priority is to consult and find out exactly what is the best way forward. There has been a lot of talk about the various possible options, including restoring the existing building, pulling it down and rebuilding it or demolishing the market and using it for a temporary car park. The Cabinet is not making any decisions right now. They are going to undertake a full consultation exercise to find out if Southend wants or needs a market, and if it does what is the best way for that market to be delivered to the people of Southend. Only then will decisions about the future be made.”
The outdoor market in York Road is unaffected by the problems, and is still open to the public.
What's your view? Should the council rebuild the indoor market? Are you one of the traders who has been affected? Leave a comment below.
BREAKING NEWS: Decision on Blues delayed
The decision on whether Southend United will go into administration and be docked 10 points has been delayed until Monday, because the club says it will pay the tax bill in full in the next couple of days.
Michael Green, solicitor for Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs said:
"Literally five minutes before this morning's hearing we have received an offer of payment in full from the company."
In an official statement the club said:
"Southend United have this morning appeared in the High Court in London regarding an administration order from HMRC.
Agreement has been reached to pay the outstanding debt by Friday. Matters have been adjourned by the court until Monday pending the debt being settled."
It now transpires that the Blues did indeed owe the taxman £2.1m overall and the Shrimpers say that money will be found by Friday and delivered to HMRC, with the delayed administration hearing merely a formality.
More follows...
Questions about Southend United's predicament?
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LATEST: Administration looms for Southend
Southend United will today (Wed) learn whether they will enter administration and be deducted 10-points from their League One tally.
Yesterday (3rd), at around 8pm, a bid to take over the club by a consortium of local businesses was turned down by the board of SUFC. The un-named 10-strong party had wanted to buy the club for a nominal fee, rid it of its debts and - according to its spokesman - push the business forward. But an official club statement said no deal could be reached and "such a transaction could not be structured in the time available". In short, the consortium's offer arrived too late, according to the club.
Now the Blues must have their day in the High Court in London later - after failing to pay that £690,000 tax bill. Chairman Ron Martin has indicated that he is still trying to raise the funds to fend off administration, but with no statement from the club as to where that money will come from as of 0030 on Wednesday morning, this now looks unlikely.
Rumours are also circulating on various internet chat forums that management duo Steve Tilson and Paul Brush are likely to be the subject of a bid from Brighton, if the Blues slip into the hands of administrators.
UPDATES THROUGHOUT WEDNESDAY - KEEP CHECKING BACK HERE FOR THE LATEST
HSBC to cut jobs in Southend
One of the world's largest banks, HSBC, is to cut 600 jobs in Southend as part of a cost-cutting exercise.
In total 1,700 jobs will be lost nationwide in the latest round of cuts.
The union Unite said that the cuts would be centred on HSBC sites in Southend, Southampton, Leicester and Sheffield and would bring the total number of job losses at the bank to 4,600 so far this year.
Rob MacGregor, the Unite national officer, described the move as a “fundamental mistake”.
“The union does not believe this will do anything to improve the company’s future performance,” he said. “HSBC should think again before cutting its skilled and dedicated workers.”, he told The Times.
Many of the staff affected earn less than £14,000 a year. Unite continues to argue that the case for closure of the HSBC Southend office has not been proven.
