Seafront traders are angry because a car park is being closed for the airshow weekend (May 21).

In answer, the council says it is encouraging visitors to use public transports.

It claims bus operators will be supplying additional buses during the two days of the airshow, unlike the fiasco which occurred before, during and after the airshow last year when the bus operators were operating a Sunday service.

People who live within the borough were unable to access the buses due to high demand and the severe overcrowding caused by people who live outside the borough using the buses in order to travel to Southend.

Even buses which operate entirely within the borough could not cope with the demand.

The problems were brought to the attention of the special events department at the Civic Centre, which I would have thought would negotiate with bus operators in order to provide the additional service required.

Contrary to what is being claimed, the two bus operators, First Bus and Arriva are operating a normal Sunday service, to my knowledge.

Most of these services are either at one-hour or two-hour intervals, with a late start and early evening finish.

However, according to the Echo report, the council is encouraging people to use public transport. I wonder what planet it is on?

The council, having been told of the fiasco last year, is seeking to replicate the problem and to make matters worse, we are being give false information with regard to the level of the bus service over the two day period and is not providing residents of the borough with the bus service that is required to support the airshow.

Alan J Grubb
Westbourne Grove
Westcliff