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Pier rollerskating plan to pull in trade
7:44am Wednesday 14th May 2008
Comments (25)A ROLLERSKATING rink could come to Southend Pier if new plans for the famous landmark get the go ahead.
The £50,000 rink could be provided on the former bowling alley platform at the shore end of the pier.
The cash would be provided through a Government grant to encourage new business.
Anita Thornberry, head of regeneration and tourism, put forward the idea and has asked Southend Council's cabinet to consider it.
She said the rollerskating rink would encourage more people to come to the Southend, particularly during the school summer holidays, and also increase the amount of time they spent in the town.
She also said if the scheme was successful, then it would pay for itself in the future.
John Lamb, councillor responsible for regeneration, said the temporary ice skating rink at Victoria Circus was hugely popular, but it was not feasible to have that on the pier.
He said: "We want to look at whether it would be possible to have a rollerskating rink on the platform.
"It is clear there are a lot of people who enjoy going rollerskating and it is not just youngsters, but people of all ages.
"When Roller City closed, in Aviation Way, Eastwood, it was missed by many. We hope it may be possible to bring some small facility back to the town."
But some people in the town questioned whether rollerskating was still a popular pastime.
Jamie Wilson, co-owner of Switch Skatestore, off Broadway West, Leigh has doubts whether a skating rink would atract customers.
He said: "Rollerskating used to be popular until recently, but it has died out among all my customers.
"I believe what is really needed is at least one indoor skateboarding park."
£120,000 to kickstart sea-based festival
A WATER-THEMED event in Southend is being planned to bring visitors into the town over the August bank holiday weekend.
Anita Thornberry, Southend Council's head of tourism, has recommended spending a £120,000 business grant to get it under way.
No ideas have been put forward yet, but council bosses hope to get the idea off the ground this year.
John Lamb, councillor responsible for regeneration, said: "We are anxious to get this idea off the ground in 2008.
"There are no hard and fast ideas at the moment and we hope that anyone who has any ideas will come forward and talk to us. We will be seeing what other events are going on at the time and how we can work on these as part of the whole festival."
Your Say YourEcho
Dan, North Leigh says...
9:57am Wed 14 May 08
It's been too long since the old Roller City on Aviation Way closed down!
Dan, North Leigh says...
10:23am Wed 14 May 08
But some people in the town questioned whether rollerskating was still a popular pastime.
Jamie Wilson, co-owner of Switch Skatestore, off Broadway West, Leigh has doubts whether a skating rink would atract customers.
From my time at university in Leeds I know this is not the case. A couple of nightclubs recently started putting on roller disco nights including skate hire and were absolutely bowled over at the response - so much so that the event has moved to a much bigger venue.
Skate hire by the seaside in the summer in a more accessible location than an industrial state near rochford? I think we have a winner (just as long as it's covered for all year round weather!)
Partyboy, Saarfend says...
10:52am Wed 14 May 08
BULLDOG!!!!!!
Partyboy, Saarfend says...
10:53am Wed 14 May 08
Partyboy wrote:meant ROLLER... Doh!!!
Rollver city.... that brings back memories! BULLDOG!!!!!!
Des, southend says...
12:57pm Wed 14 May 08
Steve, Benfleet says...
1:13pm Wed 14 May 08
Andy, Southend says...
3:17pm Wed 14 May 08
Steve wrote:Alas..No doubt the 'youts' of today would rather hang about swigging bottles of WKD and stabbing each over. I can't see a Roller Rink being a success, but hey..I may be wrong.
Yes I agree, sounds like a great idea to me too, still have good memories of those Roller City days :)
Dan, n says...
3:31pm Wed 14 May 08
Andy wrote:Funnily enough, not all young people behave in the same way...
Steve wrote: Yes I agree, sounds like a great idea to me too, still have good memories of those Roller City days :)Alas..No doubt the 'youts' of today would rather hang about swigging bottles of WKD and stabbing each over. I can't see a Roller Rink being a success, but hey..I may be wrong.
Spectre, Romford says...
4:15pm Wed 14 May 08
Why can't the bowling alley make a return? I used to love going there to bowl and this can be enjoyed by the whole family, not just 6 - 16 year olds!
Partyboy, Saarfend says...
4:22pm Wed 14 May 08
Spectre wrote:Learn to skate! You may be rubbish at it but practice makes perfect. Not everyone can bowl but after practice you can pick it up. It might even do a little towards the growing obesity problem. Get your kids to skate instead of sitting on their fat a**es playing the playstation! Im 27 and can guarantee Ill be digging my BAUER TURBO's out!!!!
It sounds like a complete waste of money to me. Only a certain number of people can rollerskate and the rest of us will just have to walk on by. Why can't the bowling alley make a return? I used to love going there to bowl and this can be enjoyed by the whole family, not just 6 - 16 year olds!
Marshwalker, Shoeburyness says...
4:51pm Wed 14 May 08
beth, hawkwell says...
5:09pm Wed 14 May 08
John, southend says...
6:27pm Wed 14 May 08
SkaterGirl!, Southend says...
6:36pm Wed 14 May 08
Partyboy wrote:Totally for the idea! I'm 33 and still love skating and I know there's quite a few people older than me that still love it! Would be fantastic to go to the pier to skate rather than have to travel all the way to the nearest rink in Colchester where we go to at the moment! I got my kids skating too & they love it as much as I do!
Spectre wrote:Learn to skate! You may be rubbish at it but practice makes perfect. Not everyone can bowl but after practice you can pick it up. It might even do a little towards the growing obesity problem. Get your kids to skate instead of sitting on their fat a**es playing the playstation! Im 27 and can guarantee Ill be digging my BAUER TURBO's out!!!!
It sounds like a complete waste of money to me. Only a certain number of people can rollerskate and the rest of us will just have to walk on by. Why can't the bowling alley make a return? I used to love going there to bowl and this can be enjoyed by the whole family, not just 6 - 16 year olds!
CaptGuvnor, Sarpend Greater Loondon says...
10:02pm Wed 14 May 08
Angie, Eastwood says...
11:19pm Wed 14 May 08
darren paine, says...
11:21pm Wed 14 May 08
roller city was really popular in its heyday
adults and teens would use it
its a good healty sport and is just what we need to keep the kids off the street
never did me no harm when i was growing up made lots of friends and my wife at the old roller city
we should also have a ice rink as well as we are a tourist town give people something to visit!!
Ian, Benfleet says...
7:44am Thu 15 May 08
roller city was really popular in its heyday
So was the Kursaal in its heyday. But look at it now, despite all the money that has been spent on it over the past few years.
Trunkymunghound, Bafildon says...
7:49am Thu 15 May 08
CaptGuvnor wrote:because it was not paying it's way. If it had been, it would still be there
So why did Roller City close?
Same with that old rink down Pier Hill from yonks ago
Dan, North Leigh says...
9:45am Thu 15 May 08
CaptGuvnor wrote:Bit out of the way, wasn't it? Not everyone wants to drive out to an industrial estate!
So why did Roller City close?
Joker7, The sunny side says...
3:33pm Thu 15 May 08
We don't want a stop gap idea whats needed is a full programe from the Pier -not bit's and bobs .
On Track, Westcliff says...
7:14pm Thu 15 May 08
Angie, Hullbridge says...
2:05pm Fri 16 May 08
Michelle, Leigh-On-Sea says...
4:28pm Fri 16 May 08
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dave turner, says...
9:22am Wed 14 May 08
Stop taking the people of the Borough as complete fools and spend the money on the outstanding problems i. e. two lifts, the cliffs just to name two.
This money plus the ludicrous amount proposed on the Priory Crescent road scheme could be put to the outstanding mess the visits to the seafront have been looking at for years.