Southend residents say they won't make way for new cinema

9:30am Friday 25th January 2013 in Local News

Residents say they won't make way for new cinema Residents say they won't make way for new cinema

CONCERNED residents of a street threatened by the bulldozers are defiant about selling up to make way for a ten-screen cinema.

Herbert Grove lies at the centre of the St John’s Quarter development which would see Seaway car park and the area between the seafront and Tylers Avenue car park regenerated.

The Echo revealed this week Southend Council is in talks with an unamed operator for the multiplex cinema on Seaway car park.
The council has said it would, if necessary, use compulsory purchase orders to further the plans.

However, residents are furious.

Danny Smith, 36, said: “I’m not moving and I’m not selling – that’s the end of it. This house has been in the family for 25 years.”

Council leader Nigel Holdcroft tried to calm any worries.
He said: “Discussions are at a very early stage as part of our overall plans to regenerate the town centre.


“Clearly there is a lot of further discussion and negoiation that needs to take place before detailed proposals come forward.”


 

Comments(32)

JuliaM says...
10:04am Fri 25 Jan 13

"The council has said it would, if necessary, use compulsory purchase orders to further the plans."

Isn't compulsory purchase supposed to be used ONLY for vital infrastructure like roads and railways?

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Saxonpride says...
10:13am Fri 25 Jan 13

Wait, why does anyone have to move? The car-park looks very big. If they bulldoze only that area, surely there will be enough room for a cinema without forcing anyone to move?

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jayman says...
10:17am Fri 25 Jan 13

No firm plans for a cinema but plenty of firm plans for executive apartments with a sea view...

'penny drop'

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Eric Whim says...
10:30am Fri 25 Jan 13


Residents say they won't make way for new cinema


until they get a really big offer for their house

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J_blond says...
10:37am Fri 25 Jan 13

Love how the caption states residents won't make way - and has a picture of a car park.

Do people live in their cars in this area then?

Another quality mishap from our award nominated newspaper...

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thesouthendone says...
10:59am Fri 25 Jan 13

I think I would rather sell then have a monstrous cinema out the front of my house.

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Russ13 says...
11:01am Fri 25 Jan 13

If someone offered me an anywhere reasonable price for my place in that area I'd be out like a shot!

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j-w says...
11:03am Fri 25 Jan 13

No cinema ! NOT NEEDED!

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EssexBoy1968 says...
11:10am Fri 25 Jan 13

jayman wrote:
No firm plans for a cinema but plenty of firm plans for executive apartments with a sea view... 'penny drop'
Sorry, I cannot see where the plans for these "executive apartments with a sea view" are mentioned in this article. Could you please supply further details, such as links to planning applications etc.

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reptile says...
11:26am Fri 25 Jan 13

I agree with jayman something isn't right, I'm sure we need a new cinema as much as we need a Zeppelin mooring tower.

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Saxonpride says...
11:28am Fri 25 Jan 13

reptile wrote:
I agree with jayman something isn't right, I'm sure we need a new cinema as much as we need a Zeppelin mooring tower.
I'm getting sick of the anti-Zeppelin propaganda on this site.

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Eric Whim says...
11:32am Fri 25 Jan 13

Saxonpride wrote:
reptile wrote:
I agree with jayman something isn't right, I'm sure we need a new cinema as much as we need a Zeppelin mooring tower.
I'm getting sick of the anti-Zeppelin propaganda on this site.
those blinking zeppelins flying over my house night and day have reduced the amount they will pay to compulsorily purchase it in order to build a new stables for the pony express depot

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pendulum says...
11:48am Fri 25 Jan 13

Council threatening to compulsory purchase? Something is very wrong here.

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mys842 says...
12:57pm Fri 25 Jan 13

I'm in support of development in general. However, fixing the eyesore of Victoria Avenue might make more sense.

No need to kick out people from their homes, nor squeeze the Odeon out of town. They could quite easily make that area the evening entertainment 'end' and the seafront part the daytime activities 'end'.

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eddicaine says...
1:20pm Fri 25 Jan 13

Isn't there a multiplex in Southend at present? Is another one needed? I see apartments and houses here, perhaps even a supermarket.

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emcee says...
1:35pm Fri 25 Jan 13

I too cannot help think there is more to this than meets the eye. Compulsory purchase?
It seems that the council will happily have people chucked out of their homes rather than relinquish their entire car park to some private company. No car park, no income for the council.
If the council are into their compulsory purchase fad, why don't they "compulsory" purchase the land the other side of the Kursaal, seeing as nobody is using it, and turn that into a car park. There are plenty of other bits of land the council can turn into car parks where developers have abandoned plans or are sitting on land. Oh, but hang on a minute, if the council do that, perhaps the council may also have to hand back any little "bonuses".

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Nebs says...
2:17pm Fri 25 Jan 13

JuliaM wrote:
"The council has said it would, if necessary, use compulsory purchase orders to further the plans."

Isn't compulsory purchase supposed to be used ONLY for vital infrastructure like roads and railways?
That doesn't apply to Southend. They are talking about compulsory purchase around Roots Hall to make way for a new Sainsburys.

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Metropol73 says...
2:45pm Fri 25 Jan 13

There is definatley no need for another multiplex and shocked at it being considered. On a similar vein, would you all be in favour of a revamp of the old ABC cinema, as a 2 screen independent cinema plus have capabilities to also use as a theatre and venue for shows/gigs. with the idea of renovating it back to its former glory. It will house film festivals, show old classics and new films, with an atmosphere which has been lost in the world of the multiplex. Would like any feedback.” This may be an answer to the problem and would bring visitors into the town.

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emcee says...
3:17pm Fri 25 Jan 13

Metropol73 wrote:
There is definatley no need for another multiplex and shocked at it being considered. On a similar vein, would you all be in favour of a revamp of the old ABC cinema, as a 2 screen independent cinema plus have capabilities to also use as a theatre and venue for shows/gigs. with the idea of renovating it back to its former glory. It will house film festivals, show old classics and new films, with an atmosphere which has been lost in the world of the multiplex. Would like any feedback.” This may be an answer to the problem and would bring visitors into the town.
Whoever can pull off a project like that for the old ABC/Empire will not only be working a miracle but would acheive the ideal solution for the place. That building was a theatre first, then a cinema. To combine both these in the same original building would befantastic. I have always been a fan of the larger cinema auditorium. Most multiplex cinemas are just too "back room" for my liking. Larger screens are what cinema it is all about and there are not too many of those to the lb these days.

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sosad 1 says...
3:37pm Fri 25 Jan 13

the council will not be building onthe car park its a cash cow one of a few in britain owend by the local council where you pay 24hrs a day and the highwaymen (ticket enforcers) start in the middle of the night

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jolllyboy says...
8:35pm Fri 25 Jan 13

Discussions are just starting ie the strong arm tactics have not yet started and yet there is already talk of compulsory purchases. That's Southend Council what bully-boy tactics are these - why are these muppets voted in !

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Diannah says...
9:15pm Fri 25 Jan 13

The echo reported recently that the Empire Cinema in Alexandra Street couldn't sell. Now they're reporting that the Council would like to build a new cinema.

Maybe Council temp Mike Boyle could show that he deserves his £779 per day pay by working out a solution here!

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jayman says...
10:46am Sat 26 Jan 13

EssexBoy1968 wrote:
jayman wrote:
No firm plans for a cinema but plenty of firm plans for executive apartments with a sea view... 'penny drop'
Sorry, I cannot see where the plans for these "executive apartments with a sea view" are mentioned in this article. Could you please supply further details, such as links to planning applications etc.
sorry about the delay in responding.

from the councils minuets.

http://apps.southend

.gov.uk/minutes/

"Members were keen to ensure that the leisure development would be delivered ahead of the occupancy of any residential accommodation provided."

ta da!

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rhowes says...
11:18am Sat 26 Jan 13

This Tory administration has a long history of wasting public offficial's and Councillor's time, and therefor our money. Many projects have collapsed due to developers not having sufficient funds to carry them through. We already have 8 cinema screens, do we really need 10 more in Southend?

Smelly junk food and no ashtrays - thank God for "Lovefilm".

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_champagne2 says...
8:54pm Sat 26 Jan 13

If I lived in that area I'd be off like a shot at the right price. A multi complex cinema come on - more like posh apartments with a view to the sea but they'd have to get rid of the smell of take-a-ways first - I smell a rat

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busybee46 says...
10:13pm Sat 26 Jan 13

Bulldoze the car park!!! Where are all the daytrippers gonna park then? Theres plenty of buildings in Victoria Avenue that can be bulldozed to make way for something else we dont need in this borough.

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Eugene Speed says...
12:02pm Mon 28 Jan 13

As a resident of Marine Parade who had two vehicles with resident's permits for the Seaway, I am now concerned as to where I am supposed to park once the Seaway is built on. During the summer it is hard enough getting a space as it is so busy in there, exactly where are all the lorries and coaches that use the facility going to go? Trying to park on the surrounding streets like Hartingdon Road or Pleasant Road is like taking your life in your hands due to the residents being very protective over the spaces outside their properties! This plan is a stupid idea, compounded by the fact that our imperious leaders have just spent a shedload of money making the seafront a more pleasant place to be. Surely we should be looking at making more parking spaces, not further reducing them across the town. The seafront does not need a cinema any more than it needs the aforementioned Zeppelin facilities, but if it has to be built, why not stick it on the eyesore Esplanade House site, or the old Dizzyland/New Ship site, both of which have been badly managed and left to rot.

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maxell says...
9:08pm Mon 28 Jan 13

dont trust holdcroft or SBC develop the old gasworks site or vic ave anywhere that does not unrest people how crule to make people live under such a cloud,the council has started using this power more and more, a form of passive bullying only one way to stop it vote them out.

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jantone says...
11:44am Tue 29 Jan 13

Why are residents moaning? Surely if the council gives you enough money to re locate to another area, it must be worth it to accept it!! I just cannot see the problem!! Also all these wide & wonderful ideas take years to come to fruition, so what's all the fuss about? Are there not more important things in the world to worry about?

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Nebs says...
1:41pm Tue 29 Jan 13

jantone wrote:
Why are residents moaning? Surely if the council gives you enough money to re locate to another area, it must be worth it to accept it!! I just cannot see the problem!! Also all these wide & wonderful ideas take years to come to fruition, so what's all the fuss about? Are there not more important things in the world to worry about?
For most people in the world, if your house is about to be knocked down then there are not many more important things in the world to worry about.

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jantone says...
10:04pm Tue 29 Jan 13

I can assure you that it will take years for houses to be demolished, if at all, don't get so high & mighty for something that will never happen!!!!!!!!!!

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stevetomlin says...
12:56am Sat 2 Feb 13

Somebody in Southend Council’s planning department must have positioned their cranium in their alimentary canal? Don’t they remember that they knocked down the biggest cinema in Southend when they build the Royals? It stood opposite the Palace Hotel about 100 yards from the proposed new multi-screen and had been derelict for five years. Are the lessons of history never learned?

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