A councillor has called upon his own party to do more to rescue Southend’s High Street.

Conservative councillor Alex Bright took to his feet at a full council meeting to question Ann Holland, councillor responsible for culture, tourism and the economy, over the number of businesses leaving the town centre.

He was concerned about the amount of shops closing and urged Mrs Holland to make the High Street a place shoppers would want to visit.

He said: “Does the executive officer share my concern for the number of empty shops we are currently experiencing on our High Street and the town centre and does she agree with me that more needs to be done to make the High Street an attractive and vibrant place to visit and shop once again?”

Mrs Holland said she understood that High Streets across the nation were struggling because shoppers were visiting more and more online stores, but felt that the council was working to maintain the use of the High Street.

She replied: “Retail trends are changing and as we know from the way we shop and it’s having an impact on high streets nationally.

“The Southend Central Area Action Plan seeks to support the vitality of the High Street. It sets out a number of principles in support of the High Street, including use of the upper floors for residential, leisure and other complimentary uses which help to maintain and advance the character and vitality of the centre and ensure the proportion of retail does not decrease below 60 per cent to create a rich mix of activities in the town centre.”

Mrs Holland said having a Business Improvement District had brought benefits to the town.

She said: “The Bid has recently secured its second term.

“Over its first term the BID has been able to leave £2.3m funding which the council would not be able to secure and this supports the High Street area. The council and BID are working closely together with recent activity including the Purple Flag, accreditation.”

Speaking after the meeting, Mr Bright, 24-year-old Conservative councillor for Southchurch ward explained what had prompted his concern.

He said: “I live on the High Street but what prompted this was speaking to residents, friends and family who all live locally and a lot of them are concerned about the High Street.

“I visit it every day when I go to and from work and at the weekends. Seeing the amount of shops becoming empty is a concern.”

He called for action to attract more independent businesses into the town centre.

He said: “People don’t want to visit the High Street because of the shops on offer. They are not what they want.

“There’s a growing feeling that we need more independent shops to make the High Street vibrant but we’re seeing more and more pound shops. People don’t want to see the High Street dominated by this type of shop.”

Asked what the council could do, Mr Bright said: “One proposal might be for the council to purchase properties when they become available then lease them out to independent shops.”

Mr Bright said he didn’t believe large new retail and leisure developments like Seaway near the end of the High Street and Fossetts Farm away from central Southend in Eastern Avenue would impact the town centre unduly.

He said: “Seaway will have a positive impact and extend what’s on offer in the High Street.

“There will be new jobs, shops and bars. As for Fossetts, I don’t think we should be too worried about it. If we can fool proof the High Street with new, independent business then Fossetts will have something bigger to offer.”