Airshow date change as Southend Council seeks to keep costs down (From Echo)

About time this was scrapped altogether. It's not eco- friendly, it nearly always rains and once you've seen one air show, you've seen them all, really.

I have it on good authority that for decades Southend Police Officers would see the BH Monday Airshow as a very "Good Earner"

Constables and Sergeants are paid an hourly rate for Overtime

A Bank Holiday Duty is always Overtime at Double The Standard Rate for the Individual.

So an Airshow duty of 8 to 12 hours at the BH rate (Double Bubble) can be worth up to 3 days extra pay

Plus if you brown nosed the right person and eased out someone else
double shift maybe possible

eg 16 hours at BH rate thats 32 hours pay ( 4 days extra pay)

This measure will save Essex Police
a significant amount of CASH.

Alice in Her Own Land - I'd wager the 400,000 people who watched last years event disagree....
Nick Burton - You have not really uncovered a state secret, police always get double time on bank holidays. What you havent said is that staffing is cut by 50% on bank holidays to avoid overspend.

(Alice in Her Own Land) get a life you miserable whinger eco freindly i see your part of the pc brigade

The Airshow (despite its reduced size) still brings a lot of money to the area.
I really wasn't expecting one this year with the cut backs and still no outside sponsor. So fair play to the Council for coming up with a solution.

Alice in her own land, please take note that Southend is a sea side town that relies on people comming into the town to keep it going the airshow attracts inexcess of 500,000 over just two days please of you have an event that can get as many people into Southend in just two day do tell us what it is.

A survey a year or so back say over 50% of those attending say they would return for other events and to see the towns other attractions.

How can you saw if you have seen one show you have seen them all change a few of the aircraft and its a diffrent show!

if you do not like the airshow leave town for the weekend I hear there are cheap flight to Ireland from Southend!

Be nice if Aer Arann could do a fly past with one of their aircraft as a statement of Southend Airport is back!

It might also mean that more aircraft are availabe for the airshow ?

The Southend of today is mainly a dormitory town for commuters. If you believe that the arcades and Peter Pans is the beating heart of this town then you are living in the past.
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House prices, good access via road, rail & air, good schools, good restaurants and all year round affordable leisure and entertainment (parks, theatres, clubs, etc) will determine the towns future.
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Yes the seaside element has a place, but if you rely on that the town will die just like Margate.

I wonder if this could be one of the last. The conflict of becoming a busy commercial airport at Southend and running an airshow will surely make it difficult in what will become increasingly busier air space. We shall see.

I shouldn't think it will make a huge difference. The Airport is not going to be alot busier in terms of movements. Bristol works with the annual Balloon festival, Bournemouth host an Air festival.

the air show is good for the town. it brings in a lot of people. i think the greatest hit on the air displays has been the loss of the military jets, helicopters ect as seen in past shows. but given David Cameron's performance the army will consist of a few blokes lost and hungry riding push bikes on the M1. the navy will be a small dingy moored somewhere outside Portsmouth and the air force will consist of a picture of a euro fighter blue tacked on the back of a filing cabinet. perhaps one of our pointless nuclear subs could pop up and down at high tide for the crowds to cheer at!!.. what people want is fast jets.. lots of noise and big planes. it doesn't have to be all military though. get an Airbus 360 to do a flypast. just think.. what would Jeremy Clarkson want in an air show and do that...

hay Jayman I think a bonafide miracle just happened we both think the airshow is good for Southend!

Afterburners are great but warbirds bring the true nostalgia just think a Spitfire low over the Thames Estuary, wing dipped in salute.

I'd like to see a few airliners, A380, 747 its a shame Obama leave the UK just a few days before the airshow just think Air Force One with two F15's escorting!

I always enjoy the airshow.
But some of the stalls brought in for the day on the seafront are a bit tacky. Could they not be used by local charities as fundraisers, thereby keeping the money generated in the town.

Rick Jones wrote:
hay Jayman I think a bonafide miracle just happened we both think the airshow is good for Southend!

Afterburners are great but warbirds bring the true nostalgia just think a Spitfire low over the Thames Estuary, wing dipped in salute.

I'd like to see a few airliners, A380, 747 its a shame Obama leave the UK just a few days before the airshow just think Air Force One with two F15's escorting!

agreed. the battle of Brittan memorial flight is always a great fixture of the air show. spits, hurricanes and Lancaster bomber = joy. but get rid of obscure air acrobatic teams from some unknown country. sack the double glazing stands and cash in stalls that always seem misplaced. chuck up some awesome aircraft. have some ground displays and you have yourself a great air show.

What really spoils the seafront display for me, is the music blasting out of some of the displays, as well as the distorted PA systems.
They often drown out the sounds of the aircraft.
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It would be nice if the RAF could do the displays they used to, or the warbirds from Duxford, but I don't think those days will return.
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I think the USAF have only appeared twice, once with a pair of F-III's and once with the F-117.

I think it was 1986 the USAF sent FOUR F111's! an in 1988they sent A10, F111, F15, F16 and of course in 2000 it was the F117a just as impresive was the Draken. The only UK seaside show to get one I beleve!

For a free airshow no one can really complain. It brings many a person to the town and really helps local business.

It would be nice to have aircraft not seen at the airshow before. However, i never tire of the airshow and even go on both days!

Only thing i don't like is the bad weather it seems to attract! Security words "well-rain"! Maybe a sign of weather to come...

Rick Jones wrote:
I think it was 1986 the USAF sent FOUR F111's! an in 1988they sent A10, F111, F15, F16 and of course in 2000 it was the F117a just as impresive was the Draken. The only UK seaside show to get one I beleve!

You got me nostalgic now. Those early airshows were bloomin' magic. Non stop entertainment in the sky and so much on the ground too. The arena had some great displays too. Happy days! Pity Brian Peapell the guy who really set standards so high and passed away sadly some years back, is now forgotten. Shame.

Rick Jones wrote:
I think it was 1986 the USAF sent FOUR F111's! an in 1988they sent A10, F111, F15, F16 and of course in 2000 it was the F117a just as impresive was the Draken. The only UK seaside show to get one I beleve!

I don't remember the A10, F-15s or Draken, and the only F-16 I remember was the Dutch one. They must have flown in from Mildenhall, when I was up that way for the weekend.
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I wonder if XH558 will be available this year ? We seem to keep losing out on seeing the Vulcan here.

And the traffic lights at Cuckoo Corner will create havoc as they are already-only this time back to Progress Road

SARFENDMAN wrote:

Rick Jones wrote: I think it was 1986 the USAF sent FOUR F111's! an in 1988they sent A10, F111, F15, F16 and of course in 2000 it was the F117a just as impresive was the Draken. The only UK seaside show to get one I beleve!

You got me nostalgic now. Those early airshows were bloomin' magic. Non stop entertainment in the sky and so much on the ground too. The arena had some great displays too. Happy days! Pity Brian Peapell the guy who really set standards so high and passed away sadly some years back, is now forgotten. Shame.

yes indeed...well done Southendman...if it was'nt for Brian Peapell Southend woudl'nt have had an Airshow. It was his idea. One of the best special events officers this town ever had. Funny how those on SBC tend to forget to mention his name when they make voice as to the beginnings the Airshow.

He was the master mind of the airshow indeed.

It looks like the Southend Timeline website have got a Special feature article coming up about Aviation in Southend, it lists the airshows as coming soon. Looks like it all starts next Saturday (26th feb) with the airport.

Lots of other coming soon tags listing:
Southend Airshow
Airport Airshows
Air Raids
Accidents & Incidents
Airships Over Southed
Fly Pasts & Other Events
Historic Aircraft Museum

Should be worth keeping an eye out, it's a facinating website already having the avaition

(sorry hit post before I finished the post!)

as well should be very intresting.

What the Airshow needs is a sponsor again. The Council do what they can, but the budget is limited. Based on the figures mentioned last year about individual displays, its no wonder its not as big as only 3 years ago when Maxims sponsored the event (along with the fact the military is committed elsewhere and shrinking on a daily basis).
The new dates will also hopefully produce another weekend to attract visitors, on top of a Bank holiday.

Well I'm pretty gutted about this one - I work on a Saturday now - so that's actually pretty pants!!!!! We usually have family to stay on the Sunday/Monday! Well that's a bummer.

I think that the airshow is good for the town but would be much better every other year rather than yearly. i just wonder how many people from Southend actually go every year.

The airshow is great for Southend as it brings in much needed trade and income.


....


But,



......




It attracts the wrong type of people, those who are true aircraft fans will visit the big shows, Farnborough and Fairford. You just have to look at the trade stands to see what kind of people Southend attracts. Make Southend a proper show, ditch the chav perfume and double glazing stalls, focus on the displays, that is what makes it special!

The airshow is great for Southend as it brings in much needed trade and income.


....


But,



......




It attracts the wrong type of people, those who are true aircraft fans will visit the big shows, Farnborough and Fairford. You just have to look at the trade stands to see what kind of people Southend attracts. Make Southend a proper show, ditch the chav perfume and double glazing stalls, focus on the displays, that is what makes it special!

pat charrey wrote:
I think that the airshow is good for the town but would be much better every other year rather than yearly. i just wonder how many people from Southend actually go every year.

problem with that is there will be a year where there would not be 500,000 people coming into Southend just what Southend does not need to happen, we need to get people into the town and the airshow is the key to that.

I'm in Southend and been every day of every year! it's a fantasic day out and free, take sarnies and a drink from home and just relax on the cliffs.

Steve H wrote:
The airshow is great for Southend as it brings in much needed trade and income. .... But, ...... It attracts the wrong type of people, those who are true aircraft fans will visit the big shows, Farnborough and Fairford. You just have to look at the trade stands to see what kind of people Southend attracts. Make Southend a proper show, ditch the chav perfume and double glazing stalls, focus on the displays, that is what makes it special!

It's the cost, and aiming at familys makes more sense as you get more "bums on seats" so to speak.

Anyway I beleve 2008 the Southend Airshow had more display it it that Waddington & Fairford combined! yes Southend was wet but it was torrential real wrath of god rain at Waddington and Fairford.

I worked on the first air show staged in Southend when I worked for Southend council. I can remember, it was the hottest day I have ever known, and it was a great show. The highlight for me was when Concorde flew over I was standing on the roof of the Cliffs Pavilion. It felt like I could touch it. There was a silence as it passed above me, and then an almighty roar Great times... Unfortunatley the quality of the show has deteriorated year by year and the weather has not been kind over the last couple of years. Having said that, it is a great family day out, normaly with no trouble and brings good business to the town. Another blow to the Council over the past few years is the loss of sponsors and as the times are hard for the big companies now it is going to get harder to find sposorship. Providing the cost does not fall on the Council tax payer, the airshow is fine by me.

Rick Jones wrote:
Alice in her own land, please take note that Southend is a sea side town that relies on people comming into the town to keep it going the airshow attracts inexcess of 500,000 over just two days please of you have an event that can get as many people into Southend in just two day do tell us what it is.

A survey a year or so back say over 50% of those attending say they would return for other events and to see the towns other attractions.

How can you saw if you have seen one show you have seen them all change a few of the aircraft and its a diffrent show!

if you do not like the airshow leave town for the weekend I hear there are cheap flight to Ireland from Southend!

Be nice if Aer Arann could do a fly past with one of their aircraft as a statement of Southend Airport is back!

Wonderful! Our future exists because we bring people in to Southend - what a load of COBBLERS!

Southend is a dormitory town for London with a decaying infrastructure and a council who's main main view is to make it as difficult to get about the town as possible.

Rather than beefing up transport infrastructure and making it easier for people to get where the real jobs are we reduce road capacity, price parking into the stratosphere, make it impossible to park near a station, have roads that are so pot-holed a 2 mile drive feels like you've been kicked in the kidneys and price buses so that its cheaper to drive.

Southend Council could try to do things for the vast majority of its residents than for a few tourists who come down, overtax already strained resources and the "businesses" on the seafront.

As for other events and attractions - like what? More events at Garons hwich completely foul up th etraffic flow?

mr_happy wrote:
I worked on the first air show staged in Southend when I worked for Southend council. I can remember, it was the hottest day I have ever known, and it was a great show. The highlight for me was when Concorde flew over I was standing on the roof of the Cliffs Pavilion. It felt like I could touch it. There was a silence as it passed above me, and then an almighty roar Great times... Unfortunatley the quality of the show has deteriorated year by year and the weather has not been kind over the last couple of years. Having said that, it is a great family day out, normaly with no trouble and brings good business to the town. Another blow to the Council over the past few years is the loss of sponsors and as the times are hard for the big companies now it is going to get harder to find sposorship. Providing the cost does not fall on the Council tax payer, the airshow is fine by me.

Actually, I remember attending airshows held at the airport itself in the late sixties, prior to the first Concorde test flight.

Why should the police get paid double on BH's?

They should be paid the same as any other day.

Andycal 172D wrote:

Rick Jones wrote:
Alice in her own land, please take note that Southend is a sea side town that relies on people comming into the town to keep it going the airshow attracts inexcess of 500,000 over just two days please of you have an event that can get as many people into Southend in just two day do tell us what it is.

A survey a year or so back say over 50% of those attending say they would return for other events and to see the towns other attractions.

How can you saw if you have seen one show you have seen them all change a few of the aircraft and its a diffrent show!

if you do not like the airshow leave town for the weekend I hear there are cheap flight to Ireland from Southend!

Be nice if Aer Arann could do a fly past with one of their aircraft as a statement of Southend Airport is back!

Wonderful! Our future exists because we bring people in to Southend - what a load of COBBLERS!

Southend is a dormitory town for London with a decaying infrastructure and a council who's main main view is to make it as difficult to get about the town as possible.

Rather than beefing up transport infrastructure and making it easier for people to get where the real jobs are we reduce road capacity, price parking into the stratosphere, make it impossible to park near a station, have roads that are so pot-holed a 2 mile drive feels like you've been kicked in the kidneys and price buses so that its cheaper to drive.

Southend Council could try to do things for the vast majority of its residents than for a few tourists who come down, overtax already strained resources and the "businesses" on the seafront.

As for other events and attractions - like what? More events at Garons hwich completely foul up th etraffic flow?

I do agree with Andycal that we seem to spend far too much on tourists. Double the summer parking fees along the seafront, with residents getting a permit allowing a 50% reduction.

Alice in Her Own Land :P wrote:
About time this was scrapped altogether. It's not eco- friendly, it nearly always rains and once you've seen one air show, you've seen them all, really.

Stay at home then. Problem solved.

Ian P wrote:

mr_happy wrote: I worked on the first air show staged in Southend when I worked for Southend council. I can remember, it was the hottest day I have ever known, and it was a great show. The highlight for me was when Concorde flew over I was standing on the roof of the Cliffs Pavilion. It felt like I could touch it. There was a silence as it passed above me, and then an almighty roar Great times... Unfortunatley the quality of the show has deteriorated year by year and the weather has not been kind over the last couple of years. Having said that, it is a great family day out, normaly with no trouble and brings good business to the town. Another blow to the Council over the past few years is the loss of sponsors and as the times are hard for the big companies now it is going to get harder to find sposorship. Providing the cost does not fall on the Council tax payer, the airshow is fine by me.

Actually, I remember attending airshows held at the airport itself in the late sixties, prior to the first Concorde test flight.

Gosh! That brings back a memory or two from those early shows. A Lightning Fighter/Bomber with full after burn doing a vertical climb over the airfield AWESOME!
Shame we lost the Aircraft Museum in Aviation Way too.

Ron Martin is doing the Wing walking this year coz his hair dryer dosn't work!

Andycal 172D wrote:

Rick Jones wrote: Alice in her own land, please take note that Southend is a sea side town that relies on people comming into the town to keep it going the airshow attracts inexcess of 500,000 over just two days please of you have an event that can get as many people into Southend in just two day do tell us what it is. A survey a year or so back say over 50% of those attending say they would return for other events and to see the towns other attractions. How can you saw if you have seen one show you have seen them all change a few of the aircraft and its a diffrent show! if you do not like the airshow leave town for the weekend I hear there are cheap flight to Ireland from Southend! Be nice if Aer Arann could do a fly past with one of their aircraft as a statement of Southend Airport is back!

Wonderful! Our future exists because we bring people in to Southend - what a load of COBBLERS! Southend is a dormitory town for London with a decaying infrastructure and a council who's main main view is to make it as difficult to get about the town as possible. Rather than beefing up transport infrastructure and making it easier for people to get where the real jobs are we reduce road capacity, price parking into the stratosphere, make it impossible to park near a station, have roads that are so pot-holed a 2 mile drive feels like you've been kicked in the kidneys and price buses so that its cheaper to drive. Southend Council could try to do things for the vast majority of its residents than for a few tourists who come down, overtax already strained resources and the "businesses" on the seafront. As for other events and attractions - like what? More events at Garons hwich completely foul up th etraffic flow?

My what a jolly little person you are Time of the month? wrong side of the bed? or just one of the few who hate anything that anybody else enjoys?

So Southend is not a seaside resort is it, so all that water between us and Kent is waht? (I know it's an Estuary not the sea) is it extra wet sand or concrete that has not set.

Seems like your anti-Southend so leave Southend, and let those of us who like what the town puts on enjoy the events withut your misrible mug spoiling our fun.

Bye bye.

Oh yes other very popular events include:
Mon 25 Apr 2011 Ace Cafe Southend Shakedown
Sat 28, Sun 29 May 2011 Festival of the Air (try it out Weekend)
Wed 1 - Sun 5 Jun 2011 Festival of the Sea – Tall ship Atlantis visit
Sat 6, Sun 7 Aug 2011 Tudor Festival
Sat 20 Aug 2011 Southend Carnival Procession
Fri 28 - Sun 30 Oct 2011 Fright Fantastic

The Kiss me qwik brigade need to visit Margate to see what the future for a so called seaside reasort is.
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I do hope that this town is not dependant on airshows, carnivals, city beach, Bavarian xmas sheds or other gimmicks.
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Access, Rail road & air, schools, health care and housing. You can reminisce about past air show glories till the cows come home.But gimmicks don't make a town. Southend is a dormitory town and if people cannot commute easily and the housing and schools aren't up to scratch they will go elsewhere.
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If HMRC pull their couple of thousand staff out and relocate, it will take more than an airshow to make up for that.

Mary Lou wrote:
The Kiss me qwik brigade need to visit Margate to see what the future for a so called seaside reasort is. . I do hope that this town is not dependant on airshows, carnivals, city beach, Bavarian xmas sheds or other gimmicks. . Access, Rail road & air, schools, health care and housing. You can reminisce about past air show glories till the cows come home.But gimmicks don't make a town. Southend is a dormitory town and if people cannot commute easily and the housing and schools aren't up to scratch they will go elsewhere. . If HMRC pull their couple of thousand staff out and relocate, it will take more than an airshow to make up for that.

So you're saying that just because a wholly tourism-centred economy is unviable (which is correct), Southend shouldn't concentrate AT ALL on efforts to attract visitors?
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You're right that tourism on its own isn't the solution - no economy should rely too heavily on one industry - just look at Sheffield after the collapse of the steel industry. However, it has to be said that Southend DOES have part of its industry set up to cater for day trippers, and it provides employment and revenue for the town, so why not make the most of it? Margate is a miserable failure of a town, but other places such as Bournemouth or Brighton have managed to combine a tourist economy with a strong service sector to the economy.
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Fundamentally a mixed and diverse economy is the way forward, and there is no reason not to incorporate leisure/tourism as one aspect of this.

DannyK86 wrote:

Mary Lou wrote: The Kiss me qwik brigade need to visit Margate to see what the future for a so called seaside reasort is. . I do hope that this town is not dependant on airshows, carnivals, city beach, Bavarian xmas sheds or other gimmicks. . Access, Rail road & air, schools, health care and housing. You can reminisce about past air show glories till the cows come home.But gimmicks don't make a town. Southend is a dormitory town and if people cannot commute easily and the housing and schools aren't up to scratch they will go elsewhere. . If HMRC pull their couple of thousand staff out and relocate, it will take more than an airshow to make up for that.

So you're saying that just because a wholly tourism-centred economy is unviable (which is correct), Southend shouldn't concentrate AT ALL on efforts to attract visitors? . You're right that tourism on its own isn't the solution - no economy should rely too heavily on one industry - just look at Sheffield after the collapse of the steel industry. However, it has to be said that Southend DOES have part of its industry set up to cater for day trippers, and it provides employment and revenue for the town, so why not make the most of it? Margate is a miserable failure of a town, but other places such as Bournemouth or Brighton have managed to combine a tourist economy with a strong service sector to the economy. . Fundamentally a mixed and diverse economy is the way forward, and there is no reason not to incorporate leisure/tourism as one aspect of this.

Tourism is a major part of Southends eccomony and its vital that it's supported.

There is also a major employment centre at the airport, call centres are also a major centre of employmant in Southend.

RBS have a couple of sites in Southend, and industrial sites are dotted around the town.

There is not much the council can do to improve the railways into/out of Southend as they do not operate or own them!

The people draging the town down are the protesters trying to block the re-birth of Southend airport and those that moan about every road improvement scheme proposed.

I agree that the quality of the airshow has gone down over the years, but still is a good free day out.I used to work on one of the promotional stalls down the front and the first year when I watched in awe the harrier almost defying the law of physics with its stationary display makes any air show worth while.But classics like concorde flypast and the Vulcan with its errie noise make these days special, I hope that they can find a sponsor and make this air show great again.

Rick Jones wrote:

DannyK86 wrote:

Mary Lou wrote: The Kiss me qwik brigade need to visit Margate to see what the future for a so called seaside reasort is. . I do hope that this town is not dependant on airshows, carnivals, city beach, Bavarian xmas sheds or other gimmicks. . Access, Rail road & air, schools, health care and housing. You can reminisce about past air show glories till the cows come home.But gimmicks don't make a town. Southend is a dormitory town and if people cannot commute easily and the housing and schools aren't up to scratch they will go elsewhere. . If HMRC pull their couple of thousand staff out and relocate, it will take more than an airshow to make up for that.

So you're saying that just because a wholly tourism-centred economy is unviable (which is correct), Southend shouldn't concentrate AT ALL on efforts to attract visitors? . You're right that tourism on its own isn't the solution - no economy should rely too heavily on one industry - just look at Sheffield after the collapse of the steel industry. However, it has to be said that Southend DOES have part of its industry set up to cater for day trippers, and it provides employment and revenue for the town, so why not make the most of it? Margate is a miserable failure of a town, but other places such as Bournemouth or Brighton have managed to combine a tourist economy with a strong service sector to the economy. . Fundamentally a mixed and diverse economy is the way forward, and there is no reason not to incorporate leisure/tourism as one aspect of this.

Tourism is a major part of Southends eccomony and its vital that it's supported.

There is also a major employment centre at the airport, call centres are also a major centre of employmant in Southend.

RBS have a couple of sites in Southend, and industrial sites are dotted around the town.

There is not much the council can do to improve the railways into/out of Southend as they do not operate or own them!

The people draging the town down are the protesters trying to block the re-birth of Southend airport and those that moan about every road improvement scheme proposed.

No Rick Jones, those who protest against the airport are not trying to bring the town down (a pretty childish arguement to use)
People are trying to think of different ways to regenerate the town. Not everyone agrees with you and the town does not belong to you!
I used to attend the air show every year for 20 years, and it is not keeping pace with what people really want. The population of Southend is rising every year, so surely that would mean the numbers going to the airshow increase every year. If it rains it spoils the day, and if the weather is nice, the alcoholic idiots have to ruin it for others.
Southend needs a makeover, not patch work. You may have lived there all your life, but that does not mean it has to stay the way you have always known it.
Some of my family work in the Arcades on the seafront, and they probably know a bit more about the levels of people spending than most, and it is going down year on year. Why? Because they do not change. Brighton is the benchmark of a seaside town in England. SBC need to go and see how a seadside should be run!
The airshow was the coolest thing i'd seen when I was a child, but, like most things in the town, it has been flogged to death year after year after year. Between the private car park owners, SBC, and general access to the town, it is not a FREE day out. Unless you live in the town already, in which case, it's not tourism
As for changing the day, the whole point of having it on the bank holiday was so that people don't have to think about work the next day. Another great bit of thinking by SBC, save a £1 but still lose £2 in the process.
If you're going to do the airshow, do it properly!

r6keith wrote:
I agree that the quality of the airshow has gone down over the years, but still is a good free day out.I used to work on one of the promotional stalls down the front and the first year when I watched in awe the harrier almost defying the law of physics with its stationary display makes any air show worth while.But classics like concorde flypast and the Vulcan with its errie noise make these days special, I hope that they can find a sponsor and make this air show great again.

Yes I agree with you on that note,Its still a good day out but as you say no Vulcan and harrier..I used to love the sound of them.

Balexan wrote:

Rick Jones wrote:

DannyK86 wrote:

Mary Lou wrote: The Kiss me qwik brigade need to visit Margate to see what the future for a so called seaside reasort is. . I do hope that this town is not dependant on airshows, carnivals, city beach, Bavarian xmas sheds or other gimmicks. . Access, Rail road & air, schools, health care and housing. You can reminisce about past air show glories till the cows come home.But gimmicks don't make a town. Southend is a dormitory town and if people cannot commute easily and the housing and schools aren't up to scratch they will go elsewhere. . If HMRC pull their couple of thousand staff out and relocate, it will take more than an airshow to make up for that.

So you're saying that just because a wholly tourism-centred economy is unviable (which is correct), Southend shouldn't concentrate AT ALL on efforts to attract visitors? . You're right that tourism on its own isn't the solution - no economy should rely too heavily on one industry - just look at Sheffield after the collapse of the steel industry. However, it has to be said that Southend DOES have part of its industry set up to cater for day trippers, and it provides employment and revenue for the town, so why not make the most of it? Margate is a miserable failure of a town, but other places such as Bournemouth or Brighton have managed to combine a tourist economy with a strong service sector to the economy. . Fundamentally a mixed and diverse economy is the way forward, and there is no reason not to incorporate leisure/tourism as one aspect of this.

Tourism is a major part of Southends eccomony and its vital that it's supported.

There is also a major employment centre at the airport, call centres are also a major centre of employmant in Southend.

RBS have a couple of sites in Southend, and industrial sites are dotted around the town.

There is not much the council can do to improve the railways into/out of Southend as they do not operate or own them!

The people draging the town down are the protesters trying to block the re-birth of Southend airport and those that moan about every road improvement scheme proposed.

No Rick Jones, those who protest against the airport are not trying to bring the town down (a pretty childish arguement to use)
People are trying to think of different ways to regenerate the town. Not everyone agrees with you and the town does not belong to you!
I used to attend the air show every year for 20 years, and it is not keeping pace with what people really want. The population of Southend is rising every year, so surely that would mean the numbers going to the airshow increase every year. If it rains it spoils the day, and if the weather is nice, the alcoholic idiots have to ruin it for others.
Southend needs a makeover, not patch work. You may have lived there all your life, but that does not mean it has to stay the way you have always known it.
Some of my family work in the Arcades on the seafront, and they probably know a bit more about the levels of people spending than most, and it is going down year on year. Why? Because they do not change. Brighton is the benchmark of a seaside town in England. SBC need to go and see how a seadside should be run!
The airshow was the coolest thing i'd seen when I was a child, but, like most things in the town, it has been flogged to death year after year after year. Between the private car park owners, SBC, and general access to the town, it is not a FREE day out. Unless you live in the town already, in which case, it's not tourism
As for changing the day, the whole point of having it on the bank holiday was so that people don't have to think about work the next day. Another great bit of thinking by SBC, save a £1 but still lose £2 in the process.
If you're going to do the airshow, do it properly!

i think Rick worked for renaissance Southend or works for something in a similar capacity. I think this because he use the word "rebirth" a very specific word used by people who think that way.

Balexan wrote:

Rick Jones wrote:

DannyK86 wrote:

Mary Lou wrote: The Kiss me qwik brigade need to visit Margate to see what the future for a so called seaside reasort is. . I do hope that this town is not dependant on airshows, carnivals, city beach, Bavarian xmas sheds or other gimmicks. . Access, Rail road & air, schools, health care and housing. You can reminisce about past air show glories till the cows come home.But gimmicks don't make a town. Southend is a dormitory town and if people cannot commute easily and the housing and schools aren't up to scratch they will go elsewhere. . If HMRC pull their couple of thousand staff out and relocate, it will take more than an airshow to make up for that.

So you're saying that just because a wholly tourism-centred economy is unviable (which is correct), Southend shouldn't concentrate AT ALL on efforts to attract visitors? . You're right that tourism on its own isn't the solution - no economy should rely too heavily on one industry - just look at Sheffield after the collapse of the steel industry. However, it has to be said that Southend DOES have part of its industry set up to cater for day trippers, and it provides employment and revenue for the town, so why not make the most of it? Margate is a miserable failure of a town, but other places such as Bournemouth or Brighton have managed to combine a tourist economy with a strong service sector to the economy. . Fundamentally a mixed and diverse economy is the way forward, and there is no reason not to incorporate leisure/tourism as one aspect of this.

Tourism is a major part of Southends eccomony and its vital that it's supported. There is also a major employment centre at the airport, call centres are also a major centre of employmant in Southend. RBS have a couple of sites in Southend, and industrial sites are dotted around the town. There is not much the council can do to improve the railways into/out of Southend as they do not operate or own them! The people draging the town down are the protesters trying to block the re-birth of Southend airport and those that moan about every road improvement scheme proposed.

No Rick Jones, those who protest against the airport are not trying to bring the town down (a pretty childish arguement to use) People are trying to think of different ways to regenerate the town. Not everyone agrees with you and the town does not belong to you! I used to attend the air show every year for 20 years, and it is not keeping pace with what people really want. The population of Southend is rising every year, so surely that would mean the numbers going to the airshow increase every year. If it rains it spoils the day, and if the weather is nice, the alcoholic idiots have to ruin it for others. Southend needs a makeover, not patch work. You may have lived there all your life, but that does not mean it has to stay the way you have always known it. Some of my family work in the Arcades on the seafront, and they probably know a bit more about the levels of people spending than most, and it is going down year on year. Why? Because they do not change. Brighton is the benchmark of a seaside town in England. SBC need to go and see how a seadside should be run! The airshow was the coolest thing i'd seen when I was a child, but, like most things in the town, it has been flogged to death year after year after year. Between the private car park owners, SBC, and general access to the town, it is not a FREE day out. Unless you live in the town already, in which case, it's not tourism As for changing the day, the whole point of having it on the bank holiday was so that people don't have to think about work the next day. Another great bit of thinking by SBC, save a £1 but still lose £2 in the process. If you're going to do the airshow, do it properly!

"As for changing the day, the whole point of having it on the bank holiday was so that people don't have to think about work the next day."

What day follows Bank Holiday Monday?

Sat-Sun people do not have to worry aboout work the next day!

jayman wrote:

Balexan wrote:

Rick Jones wrote:

DannyK86 wrote:

Mary Lou wrote: The Kiss me qwik brigade need to visit Margate to see what the future for a so called seaside reasort is. . I do hope that this town is not dependant on airshows, carnivals, city beach, Bavarian xmas sheds or other gimmicks. . Access, Rail road & air, schools, health care and housing. You can reminisce about past air show glories till the cows come home.But gimmicks don't make a town. Southend is a dormitory town and if people cannot commute easily and the housing and schools aren't up to scratch they will go elsewhere. . If HMRC pull their couple of thousand staff out and relocate, it will take more than an airshow to make up for that.

So you're saying that just because a wholly tourism-centred economy is unviable (which is correct), Southend shouldn't concentrate AT ALL on efforts to attract visitors? . You're right that tourism on its own isn't the solution - no economy should rely too heavily on one industry - just look at Sheffield after the collapse of the steel industry. However, it has to be said that Southend DOES have part of its industry set up to cater for day trippers, and it provides employment and revenue for the town, so why not make the most of it? Margate is a miserable failure of a town, but other places such as Bournemouth or Brighton have managed to combine a tourist economy with a strong service sector to the economy. . Fundamentally a mixed and diverse economy is the way forward, and there is no reason not to incorporate leisure/tourism as one aspect of this.

Tourism is a major part of Southends eccomony and its vital that it's supported. There is also a major employment centre at the airport, call centres are also a major centre of employmant in Southend. RBS have a couple of sites in Southend, and industrial sites are dotted around the town. There is not much the council can do to improve the railways into/out of Southend as they do not operate or own them! The people draging the town down are the protesters trying to block the re-birth of Southend airport and those that moan about every road improvement scheme proposed.

No Rick Jones, those who protest against the airport are not trying to bring the town down (a pretty childish arguement to use) People are trying to think of different ways to regenerate the town. Not everyone agrees with you and the town does not belong to you! I used to attend the air show every year for 20 years, and it is not keeping pace with what people really want. The population of Southend is rising every year, so surely that would mean the numbers going to the airshow increase every year. If it rains it spoils the day, and if the weather is nice, the alcoholic idiots have to ruin it for others. Southend needs a makeover, not patch work. You may have lived there all your life, but that does not mean it has to stay the way you have always known it. Some of my family work in the Arcades on the seafront, and they probably know a bit more about the levels of people spending than most, and it is going down year on year. Why? Because they do not change. Brighton is the benchmark of a seaside town in England. SBC need to go and see how a seadside should be run! The airshow was the coolest thing i'd seen when I was a child, but, like most things in the town, it has been flogged to death year after year after year. Between the private car park owners, SBC, and general access to the town, it is not a FREE day out. Unless you live in the town already, in which case, it's not tourism As for changing the day, the whole point of having it on the bank holiday was so that people don't have to think about work the next day. Another great bit of thinking by SBC, save a £1 but still lose £2 in the process. If you're going to do the airshow, do it properly!

i think Rick worked for renaissance Southend or works for something in a similar capacity. I think this because he use the word "rebirth" a very specific word used by people who think that way.

Nope I'm an Insurance underwriter for the shipping and airline industry & claims assessor.

This looks like it's going to be intresting:

http://www.southendt
imeline.com/aviation
insouthend.htm

Starts with the airport on Saturday and on Monday something about airships over Southend.

Balexan wrote:

Rick Jones wrote:

DannyK86 wrote:

Mary Lou wrote: The Kiss me qwik brigade need to visit Margate to see what the future for a so called seaside reasort is. . I do hope that this town is not dependant on airshows, carnivals, city beach, Bavarian xmas sheds or other gimmicks. . Access, Rail road & air, schools, health care and housing. You can reminisce about past air show glories till the cows come home.But gimmicks don't make a town. Southend is a dormitory town and if people cannot commute easily and the housing and schools aren't up to scratch they will go elsewhere. . If HMRC pull their couple of thousand staff out and relocate, it will take more than an airshow to make up for that.

So you're saying that just because a wholly tourism-centred economy is unviable (which is correct), Southend shouldn't concentrate AT ALL on efforts to attract visitors? . You're right that tourism on its own isn't the solution - no economy should rely too heavily on one industry - just look at Sheffield after the collapse of the steel industry. However, it has to be said that Southend DOES have part of its industry set up to cater for day trippers, and it provides employment and revenue for the town, so why not make the most of it? Margate is a miserable failure of a town, but other places such as Bournemouth or Brighton have managed to combine a tourist economy with a strong service sector to the economy. . Fundamentally a mixed and diverse economy is the way forward, and there is no reason not to incorporate leisure/tourism as one aspect of this.

Tourism is a major part of Southends eccomony and its vital that it's supported. There is also a major employment centre at the airport, call centres are also a major centre of employmant in Southend. RBS have a couple of sites in Southend, and industrial sites are dotted around the town. There is not much the council can do to improve the railways into/out of Southend as they do not operate or own them! The people draging the town down are the protesters trying to block the re-birth of Southend airport and those that moan about every road improvement scheme proposed.

No Rick Jones, those who protest against the airport are not trying to bring the town down (a pretty childish arguement to use) People are trying to think of different ways to regenerate the town. Not everyone agrees with you and the town does not belong to you! I used to attend the air show every year for 20 years, and it is not keeping pace with what people really want. The population of Southend is rising every year, so surely that would mean the numbers going to the airshow increase every year. If it rains it spoils the day, and if the weather is nice, the alcoholic idiots have to ruin it for others. Southend needs a makeover, not patch work. You may have lived there all your life, but that does not mean it has to stay the way you have always known it. Some of my family work in the Arcades on the seafront, and they probably know a bit more about the levels of people spending than most, and it is going down year on year. Why? Because they do not change. Brighton is the benchmark of a seaside town in England. SBC need to go and see how a seadside should be run! The airshow was the coolest thing i'd seen when I was a child, but, like most things in the town, it has been flogged to death year after year after year. Between the private car park owners, SBC, and general access to the town, it is not a FREE day out. Unless you live in the town already, in which case, it's not tourism As for changing the day, the whole point of having it on the bank holiday was so that people don't have to think about work the next day. Another great bit of thinking by SBC, save a £1 but still lose £2 in the process. If you're going to do the airshow, do it properly!

Well said. I beginning to think that the dinosaurs ruled.

Mary Lou wrote:

Balexan wrote:

Rick Jones wrote:

DannyK86 wrote:

Mary Lou wrote: The Kiss me qwik brigade need to visit Margate to see what the future for a so called seaside reasort is. . I do hope that this town is not dependant on airshows, carnivals, city beach, Bavarian xmas sheds or other gimmicks. . Access, Rail road & air, schools, health care and housing. You can reminisce about past air show glories till the cows come home.But gimmicks don't make a town. Southend is a dormitory town and if people cannot commute easily and the housing and schools aren't up to scratch they will go elsewhere. . If HMRC pull their couple of thousand staff out and relocate, it will take more than an airshow to make up for that.

So you're saying that just because a wholly tourism-centred economy is unviable (which is correct), Southend shouldn't concentrate AT ALL on efforts to attract visitors? . You're right that tourism on its own isn't the solution - no economy should rely too heavily on one industry - just look at Sheffield after the collapse of the steel industry. However, it has to be said that Southend DOES have part of its industry set up to cater for day trippers, and it provides employment and revenue for the town, so why not make the most of it? Margate is a miserable failure of a town, but other places such as Bournemouth or Brighton have managed to combine a tourist economy with a strong service sector to the economy. . Fundamentally a mixed and diverse economy is the way forward, and there is no reason not to incorporate leisure/tourism as one aspect of this.

Tourism is a major part of Southends eccomony and its vital that it's supported. There is also a major employment centre at the airport, call centres are also a major centre of employmant in Southend. RBS have a couple of sites in Southend, and industrial sites are dotted around the town. There is not much the council can do to improve the railways into/out of Southend as they do not operate or own them! The people draging the town down are the protesters trying to block the re-birth of Southend airport and those that moan about every road improvement scheme proposed.

No Rick Jones, those who protest against the airport are not trying to bring the town down (a pretty childish arguement to use) People are trying to think of different ways to regenerate the town. Not everyone agrees with you and the town does not belong to you! I used to attend the air show every year for 20 years, and it is not keeping pace with what people really want. The population of Southend is rising every year, so surely that would mean the numbers going to the airshow increase every year. If it rains it spoils the day, and if the weather is nice, the alcoholic idiots have to ruin it for others. Southend needs a makeover, not patch work. You may have lived there all your life, but that does not mean it has to stay the way you have always known it. Some of my family work in the Arcades on the seafront, and they probably know a bit more about the levels of people spending than most, and it is going down year on year. Why? Because they do not change. Brighton is the benchmark of a seaside town in England. SBC need to go and see how a seadside should be run! The airshow was the coolest thing i'd seen when I was a child, but, like most things in the town, it has been flogged to death year after year after year. Between the private car park owners, SBC, and general access to the town, it is not a FREE day out. Unless you live in the town already, in which case, it's not tourism As for changing the day, the whole point of having it on the bank holiday was so that people don't have to think about work the next day. Another great bit of thinking by SBC, save a £1 but still lose £2 in the process. If you're going to do the airshow, do it properly!

Well said. I beginning to think that the dinosaurs ruled.

Southend died years ago..and it will never recover..it has no major attractions..everyth
ing that bought people to Southend has gone.

The Airshow was good 25 years ago..but it will not atttract anyone if all the Military Aircraft are gone.

Personally id rather go to Farnborough or Duxford.

I tend to remember the year that SBC decided to (I think Charge to see the show) and put a barrier of Tarpaulin covers up along the cliff top at Southend in an attempt to obscure the view, presumably for none payers. Someone had forgotten that aircraft fly so the barriers proved completely useless. There after it became a free airshow. Is my memory correct or did I dream all I have just wrote?

Southend won't recover because of a once a year airshow. All the facilities are dying or already gone. Anyone remember the Palace on Pier Hill or Roller City? These were there all year round and brought many people into Southend.
---
FYI a Skating rink was set to open in Rochford last year but planning permission was thwarted by one vote!
---
Thank you very much Cllr Chris Black.

Broadwaywatch wrote:
I tend to remember the year that SBC decided to (I think Charge to see the show) and put a barrier of Tarpaulin covers up along the cliff top at Southend in an attempt to obscure the view, presumably for none payers. Someone had forgotten that aircraft fly so the barriers proved completely useless. There after it became a free airshow. Is my memory correct or did I dream all I have just wrote?

Only the first year (1986) was a pay event £3 for adults, children aged 3-16 were £1.

54 posts about 2 days in a year. What mighty things are happening on the other 363 days then??

Rick Jones wrote:

Balexan wrote:

Rick Jones wrote:

DannyK86 wrote:

Mary Lou wrote: The Kiss me qwik brigade need to visit Margate to see what the future for a so called seaside reasort is. . I do hope that this town is not dependant on airshows, carnivals, city beach, Bavarian xmas sheds or other gimmicks. . Access, Rail road & air, schools, health care and housing. You can reminisce about past air show glories till the cows come home.But gimmicks don't make a town. Southend is a dormitory town and if people cannot commute easily and the housing and schools aren't up to scratch they will go elsewhere. . If HMRC pull their couple of thousand staff out and relocate, it will take more than an airshow to make up for that.

So you're saying that just because a wholly tourism-centred economy is unviable (which is correct), Southend shouldn't concentrate AT ALL on efforts to attract visitors? . You're right that tourism on its own isn't the solution - no economy should rely too heavily on one industry - just look at Sheffield after the collapse of the steel industry. However, it has to be said that Southend DOES have part of its industry set up to cater for day trippers, and it provides employment and revenue for the town, so why not make the most of it? Margate is a miserable failure of a town, but other places such as Bournemouth or Brighton have managed to combine a tourist economy with a strong service sector to the economy. . Fundamentally a mixed and diverse economy is the way forward, and there is no reason not to incorporate leisure/tourism as one aspect of this.

Tourism is a major part of Southends eccomony and its vital that it's supported. There is also a major employment centre at the airport, call centres are also a major centre of employmant in Southend. RBS have a couple of sites in Southend, and industrial sites are dotted around the town. There is not much the council can do to improve the railways into/out of Southend as they do not operate or own them! The people draging the town down are the protesters trying to block the re-birth of Southend airport and those that moan about every road improvement scheme proposed.

No Rick Jones, those who protest against the airport are not trying to bring the town down (a pretty childish arguement to use) People are trying to think of different ways to regenerate the town. Not everyone agrees with you and the town does not belong to you! I used to attend the air show every year for 20 years, and it is not keeping pace with what people really want. The population of Southend is rising every year, so surely that would mean the numbers going to the airshow increase every year. If it rains it spoils the day, and if the weather is nice, the alcoholic idiots have to ruin it for others. Southend needs a makeover, not patch work. You may have lived there all your life, but that does not mean it has to stay the way you have always known it. Some of my family work in the Arcades on the seafront, and they probably know a bit more about the levels of people spending than most, and it is going down year on year. Why? Because they do not change. Brighton is the benchmark of a seaside town in England. SBC need to go and see how a seadside should be run! The airshow was the coolest thing i'd seen when I was a child, but, like most things in the town, it has been flogged to death year after year after year. Between the private car park owners, SBC, and general access to the town, it is not a FREE day out. Unless you live in the town already, in which case, it's not tourism As for changing the day, the whole point of having it on the bank holiday was so that people don't have to think about work the next day. Another great bit of thinking by SBC, save a £1 but still lose £2 in the process. If you're going to do the airshow, do it properly!

"As for changing the day, the whole point of having it on the bank holiday was so that people don't have to think about work the next day."

What day follows Bank Holiday Monday?

Sat-Sun people do not have to worry aboout work the next day!

I meant the Sunday!
Which is why having it over the bank holiday is better for the town and for those that attend! People can go and stay in the town from Saturday to Monday at one of the hotels on/near the sea front. People want long weekend breaks, it's cheaper than going on a full holiday and makes more money for the town. By not having it over the bank holiday, it is more likely people will only go for the one day, if at all.
The towns bars and restaurants will make a good trade on bank holiday weekends too, people go out late on a Sunday because of the bank holiday Monday.
This is a stupid idea to not have it on the bank holiday! Southend and it's Tourism always peaks on a bank holiday weekend!

You say something against the town, people don't like it. You say something that would help the town, and they still don't like it!

Alice in Her Own Land :P wrote:
54 posts about 2 days in a year. What mighty things are happening on the other 363 days then??

Apparently according to the Echo poll to support City status there are ambitous plans for the pier and soccer stadium.
.
So that's ok then. Come to Sunny Southend the tourist paradise where dreams are just dreams.

Mary Lou wrote:

Alice in Her Own Land :P wrote:
54 posts about 2 days in a year. What mighty things are happening on the other 363 days then??

Apparently according to the Echo poll to support City status there are ambitous plans for the pier and soccer stadium.
.
So that's ok then. Come to Sunny Southend the tourist paradise where dreams are just dreams.

Ambitious plans for a semi-derelict Pier and a three sided football stadium - Gods help us!!!!

Still the historians, as they are always living in the past, on here can reminisce about what bi-plane they saw as youths fly past the Punch and Judy booth.

my god what a bunch of sad miserable **** you lot are, how the f can you expect events every day of the year are you goig to help pay for them?

Just because you do not enjoy an event you seen to have the belief that nobody else is permitted to enjoy it.

Get a life, what events would you like to see then, that is viable and would attract just as many people as the airshow?

Why do you always make false assumptions, because someone doesn't agree with you?
.
Also I'm not the one that believes Southend is a tourist hotspot. It's a dormitory town and as such I don't want to attract additional people to it as the infrastructure cannot cope as it is.

Rick Jones wrote:

Balexan wrote:

Rick Jones wrote:

DannyK86 wrote:

Mary Lou wrote: The Kiss me qwik brigade need to visit Margate to see what the future for a so called seaside reasort is. . I do hope that this town is not dependant on airshows, carnivals, city beach, Bavarian xmas sheds or other gimmicks. . Access, Rail road & air, schools, health care and housing. You can reminisce about past air show glories till the cows come home.But gimmicks don't make a town. Southend is a dormitory town and if people cannot commute easily and the housing and schools aren't up to scratch they will go elsewhere. . If HMRC pull their couple of thousand staff out and relocate, it will take more than an airshow to make up for that.

So you're saying that just because a wholly tourism-centred economy is unviable (which is correct), Southend shouldn't concentrate AT ALL on efforts to attract visitors? . You're right that tourism on its own isn't the solution - no economy should rely too heavily on one industry - just look at Sheffield after the collapse of the steel industry. However, it has to be said that Southend DOES have part of its industry set up to cater for day trippers, and it provides employment and revenue for the town, so why not make the most of it? Margate is a miserable failure of a town, but other places such as Bournemouth or Brighton have managed to combine a tourist economy with a strong service sector to the economy. . Fundamentally a mixed and diverse economy is the way forward, and there is no reason not to incorporate leisure/tourism as one aspect of this.

Tourism is a major part of Southends eccomony and its vital that it's supported. There is also a major employment centre at the airport, call centres are also a major centre of employmant in Southend. RBS have a couple of sites in Southend, and industrial sites are dotted around the town. There is not much the council can do to improve the railways into/out of Southend as they do not operate or own them! The people draging the town down are the protesters trying to block the re-birth of Southend airport and those that moan about every road improvement scheme proposed.

No Rick Jones, those who protest against the airport are not trying to bring the town down (a pretty childish arguement to use) People are trying to think of different ways to regenerate the town. Not everyone agrees with you and the town does not belong to you! I used to attend the air show every year for 20 years, and it is not keeping pace with what people really want. The population of Southend is rising every year, so surely that would mean the numbers going to the airshow increase every year. If it rains it spoils the day, and if the weather is nice, the alcoholic idiots have to ruin it for others. Southend needs a makeover, not patch work. You may have lived there all your life, but that does not mean it has to stay the way you have always known it. Some of my family work in the Arcades on the seafront, and they probably know a bit more about the levels of people spending than most, and it is going down year on year. Why? Because they do not change. Brighton is the benchmark of a seaside town in England. SBC need to go and see how a seadside should be run! The airshow was the coolest thing i'd seen when I was a child, but, like most things in the town, it has been flogged to death year after year after year. Between the private car park owners, SBC, and general access to the town, it is not a FREE day out. Unless you live in the town already, in which case, it's not tourism As for changing the day, the whole point of having it on the bank holiday was so that people don't have to think about work the next day. Another great bit of thinking by SBC, save a £1 but still lose £2 in the process. If you're going to do the airshow, do it properly!

"As for changing the day, the whole point of having it on the bank holiday was so that people don't have to think about work the next day."

What day follows Bank Holiday Monday?

Sat-Sun people do not have to worry aboout work the next day!

Hang on Rick,

I've mis-read the article!

I thought it was changing the weekend it was running on!

Still, would have been better on bank holiday. Is a Saturday a good day to have the airshow? Would it not have given the shops/bars/restauran
ts a good Sunday and bank holiday trade.
Southend on Saturday is a mad house!

I'm looking forwards to it.
But I'll be very honest and say that the Airshow is the only reason I'd think of visiting Southend these days. Sorry, but for me, if I can't get what I need in Basildon, I'll go to Lakeside or Bluewater, Southend just doesn't have the shops I want to shop in.

I don't think it's right to have the airshow on the saturday.And I have a complaint.Last year when the BBMF were displaying a dance group decided to have there rubbish music playing through the display !!.I currently wre looking through some archives back to 1986 and back then they had a FW190 767's 757's and concord + f-15's what is there now a cap 232 !!