8:56pm Saturday 4th September 2010
I usually enjoy reading the letters page, but occasionally wonder whether I am living in the same town described by some of your correspondents.
I have been hosting French students, aged 13 to 17, showing them around Southend.
They were amazed how many large parks and green spaces we have as well as other amenities like the museum, planetarium, libraries, shopping centres, the Arches cafes, seafront amusements and numerous cafes and restaurants.
They commented that not only do we have large parks with a great deal of green space, but most of them have historic houses in them.
They all agreed that one of the highlights of their visit was the afternoon they spent walking down the pier, learning about the lifeboat and catching our quaint train back to shore.
The observation deck at the end of the pier, as well as the part where the fire occurred, has been redecked using sustainable timber and we enjoyed reading the dedications on the new benches.
I wonder when was the last time Mr Hansford (Aug 24) visited these places? Perhaps he does not realise that it is because people have not always registered on the electoral roll that Southend has lost funding over the ten years since the last census of £8million a year.
This could have been added to the tens of millions spent on the town by the council he denigrates.
This has seen a world class swimming and diving facility, a £3million youth centre in Shoebury, investment which has helped bring better hotels, new shops, a renewed Victoria Plaza and better theatre facilities.
Doing the tourist visits opened my eyes to how many facilities are available in Southend.
Too many people spend negative time and energy knocking Southend. If they spent half as much time being positive ambassadors for the town, we would have even more to be proud of.
Verina Weaver
The Garrison
Shoebury
© Copyright 2001-2012 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.echo-news.co.uk/trade_directory/