Lib Dems want answers on development of pier (From Echo)
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Lib Dems want answers on development of Southend Pier
2:40pm Wednesday 14th October 2009 in News
AN opposition councillor has called for more answers over plans to develop Southend+Pier">Southend Pier.
Lib Dem leader Graham Longley wants to know who will be paying for the redevelopment and why only a select few councillors were involved in choosing the winning design.
Swedish company White Arkitekter won a competition to designing a new pierhead.
Its entry was chosen by a panel of three councillors after the council attracted interest from more than 70 British and international firms.
The plans are set to be discussed by the economic scrutiny committee on Thursday.
Mr Longley said: “I am concerned about the situation. We don’t know if we have any money from the Government yet and all we really have are a few artists’ impressions.
“I think there should have been more invovement at an earlier stage.
“The administiration is always saying everyone should be involved and yet they once again it seems we are being presented with a fait accompli.
“It seems to me that just three members were involved in the choice and I would like to know what qualifications they have more than the rest of us.”
Derek Jarvis, councllor responsible for leisure, said: “The reason we have scrutiny committees and a special meeting on the pierhead design is to ensure every member can have their say.
“It is an important matter for the future of Southend and I will be happy to discuss the issue at length and answer Mr Longley’s questions on Thursday.”
Comments(7)
evilc
says...
6:03pm Wed 14 Oct 09
I hope the experts are right I feel as though it is about to tip over all the way along at the same time.
SARFENDMAN
says...
6:51pm Wed 14 Oct 09
evilc wrote:Did you walk, avoiding all the wobbly rotting planks or take the train with fingers crossed and pray no breakdown or derailment?
I travelled along the pier the other day and the whole structure of columns look very dodgy to me. I hope the experts are right I feel as though it is about to tip over all the way along at the same time.
Nebs
says...
7:52pm Wed 14 Oct 09
Thames Gateway
says...
8:40pm Wed 14 Oct 09
Nebs wrote:Nice bit of lateral thinking Nebs...but somehow I don't think so!
Add an airport terminal above the museum, put a control tower above the lifeboat station, and change the pier into a runway.
I do think the design settled on is rather unambitious and uninspiring. I think the Council needs to be prepared to ruffle a few feathers to do something that would be both prestigious and enhancing to the up and coming metropolis of Southend...not same old, same old.
siddymint
says...
7:01am Thu 15 Oct 09
No individal residents could enter, the rules stopped that unless you had a big development company.
How many designs would there had been if normal people could have entered and why is no one questioning this?
Dan_
says...
11:56am Thu 15 Oct 09
SARFENDMAN says...
4:57pm Wed 14 Oct 09