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Council claims triumph over yobs on seafront (From Echo)
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Council claims triumph over yobs on seafront
7:30am Wednesday 17th March 2010
THE revamp of Shoebury East Beach has led to improved safety for residents and daytrippers, according to councillors.
On Friday, bollards which prevent cars getting on the grass were installed. In the next few weeks, picnic benches and barbecue stations will be added.
The council’s Tory administration said the beach is now a safe and much quieter place, having once been a focus for yobs.
Residents long complained about teenagers using the large grass area to congregate, play loud music and do “donuts” and other braking stunts in their cars.
A new car park has been created with solar-powered ticket machines. The council has also planted 30 trees in the area.
But the £350,000 regeneration plans have been controversial with some residents, especially the building of the 175-space car park. Some opponents claimed the car park has not been built as well as it should and is liable to flooding.
Independent Shoebury councillor Mike Assenheim said: “The plans have been a real mish-mash and residents aren’t happy at all.
“Had they built this car park properly with drainage and a substructure, they would’ve had to get planning permission.
“I’ve made a real fuss about it with officers. They’ve done it like this to save money.”
Mr Assenheim did admit antisocial behaviour had reduced.
Tory ward councillor, Roger Hadley, said: “I’m glad to see this 12-acre area of parkland returned to its original purpose, as a safe place to come and play and enjoy without fear of being hit by a car.
“East Beach is once again a family area and car-free environment.”
Previously, two community support officers had to patrol East Beach all day, every weekend.
Laurie Gaymer, 63, of Gunners Road, and secretary of the Shoebury Village Residents’ Association, said: “We are very happy with it. It depends on what happens in the summer when the visitors come. That’s when you have people who park their cars up against the fence. With the bollards, they won’t be able to any more.”
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Your Say YourEcho
insanelad, Shoeburyness says...
8:15am Wed 17 Mar 10
The grass looked a whole lot nicer visually.
BD, shoeburyness says...
11:25am Wed 17 Mar 10
Good to see shoebury's conservative councillers contnuing to act like a sport child just having its toys taken away, shame they have to be deceitful with it... If theyd have taken time to speak to people instead of rushing through ill thought of plans and wasting money they may have done something a bit better for east beach...
woodsman, benfleet says...
12:21pm Wed 17 Mar 10
yayyay, southend says...
3:46pm Wed 17 Mar 10
Nebs, Westcliff-on-Sea says...
8:32am Thu 18 Mar 10
yayyay wrote:THEY don't want you to go there. It is now a perfect spot for development.
I drove there the other day as I hadn't seen what it looked like. Not impressed! It isn't even a proper car park, just a space for cars to park. I didn't notice any marked bays and the ground is all uneven. I used to always go there when I was a child and when my children were young and it was lovely to park next to your car and have a picnic. There used to be an area at the back with trees where children used to climb through. East Beach won't be the same for the children of today. What a shame! As stated if only 175 cars can park there what's the point of the rest of the green space? You can't walk there with all your chairs picnic stuff balls lilos etc!
EstuaryView, Southend says...
1:39pm Thu 18 Mar 10
.
When is SHE going to be evicted from the council?
Barricade – new anti-parking measures at East Beach
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'V', In the Vicinity says...
8:00am Wed 17 Mar 10
I am waiting to see what happens in the summer. People used to park on the grass and set up chairs and picnics beside their cars. There would be easily four or five hundred cars parked up. Now there are only 175 parking spaces I wonder how this will impact parking in local streets at the height of the season.