Southend to bid for cultural capital title (From Echo)

I expect the knockers will moan and bleat on if they dislike Southend so much why not pack up and leave, but guess they will moan that they shouldn't have to or they can not afford too, shame the dregs are the most vocal at bringing Southend down.

I expect the knockers will moan and bleat on if they dislike Southend so much why not pack up and leave, but guess they will moan that they shouldn't have to or they can not afford too, shame the dregs are the most vocal at bringing Southend down.

Joe Wildman-Clark wrote:
I expect the knockers will moan and bleat on if they dislike Southend so much why not pack up and leave, but guess they will moan that they shouldn't have to or they can not afford too, shame the dregs are the most vocal at bringing Southend down.

Probably, but hey, us pro Southenders may need to be a bit more vocal :-)

Nothing wrong with trying, who knows we may just be in with a chance. You usually find the moaners are the people that live in the little towns around Southend Borough. What they don't realise is their towns have the exact same negatives as Southend, but none of the positives.

' Cultural centre on the Pier, venue for a wedding dust up, as reported by this rag.
The only culture Southend is likely to encourage is that in the bottom of a Petri dish.

http://www.echo-news
.co.uk/news/10252887
.Southend_Pier_s_fir
st_wedding_descends_
into_brawl/?ref=mr - at the new 'Cultural Centre'

leighman wrote:
' Cultural centre on the Pier, venue for a wedding dust up, as reported by this rag. The only culture Southend is likely to encourage is that in the bottom of a Petri dish.

Whereas Leigh is a pit of culture - that of TOWIE!

One problem...
How can Southend be crowned "City" of Culture when Southend is not even a city.
That aside, Southend is merely a mediocre seaside town with mediocre entertainment and "culture". This town is no better than many other town and cities across the land. Don't get me wrong, I would love Southend to be as great as some people think it is but, to be frank, the town's councils, over the years, have seen to it that this town no longer has very much to offer and is clinging onto the false hopes and aspirations that "mediocre" brings with it.

How much is this 'bid' going to cost, and would that money have been better spent keeping the pier open, or supporting the airshow...

mys842 wrote:

leighman wrote: ' Cultural centre on the Pier, venue for a wedding dust up, as reported by this rag. The only culture Southend is likely to encourage is that in the bottom of a Petri dish.

Whereas Leigh is a pit of culture - that of TOWIE!

Believe it when you see it, work was supposed to be starting on 'The Grand' before the end of last month, thus far..NOTHING!
We do have some very good 'fishermen' though!!

quick! call an ambulance, I've just split my sides while falling off the chair laughing.....

If we win it will bring loads of people and their money into the town. Worth a try.

So would the Air show but they scrap that. Idiots.

Ha ha ha ha ha.

Southend applying for Culture City Of The Year, that is so funny it's made my day!

If we had a council that cared about Southend and actually listened to residents, we may have a chance. I do see a rather small but seemingly overlooked point though. The title is UK ‘CITY’ of Culture. I wonder if that’s why it didn’t get as far as the judges last time. So far, only two cities – Leicester and Aberdeen – have officially stated their intention to bid for the City of Culture title. The fact they ARE cities may give them an edge

Go for it, city or no city!

I had to check my calendar to confirm it was March 1st & not April 1st when I read this!
However, anything that would bring some investment & "life" into the borough is worth a try, as long as it doesn't end up costing the council tax payers a fortune.....

No no, Rayleigh with it's historic windmill, mount and olde world, far surpasses Southend-On-Sea, as the Culture capital.

Carnabackable wrote:
No no, Rayleigh with it's historic windmill, mount and olde world, far surpasses Southend-On-Sea, as the Culture capital.

Rayleigh is a hole!

Southend has plenty of culture, in the same sense that penicillin will display its presents on a petri dish!!!

also...

would someone please ensure Southend council receive a meaningless award each month. they seem to find great joy and pleasure in this..

would someone also instruct METAL that they are not a recognised public body. they are an organisation that supports art activities and artists.... Thats it!!

Nothing in the rules stating you have to be City it is just the title of the award.

Clearly those against the plan have not looked at the cultural side of Southend, such attitudes show a lack of understanding of the arts scene what they do not understand they attack.

The more enlightened people of Southend will support this scheme whilst the lesser people who lack even the most rudimentary knowledge and understanding of arts will moan about it.

emcee wrote:
One problem...
How can Southend be crowned "City" of Culture when Southend is not even a city.
That aside, Southend is merely a mediocre seaside town with mediocre entertainment and "culture". This town is no better than many other town and cities across the land. Don't get me wrong, I would love Southend to be as great as some people think it is but, to be frank, the town's councils, over the years, have seen to it that this town no longer has very much to offer and is clinging onto the false hopes and aspirations that "mediocre" brings with it.

That's what I used to think. However, Southend is actually a Borough, not a town and borough's can apply for city status (although that doesn't mean they will be awarded it)

The towns are actually Prittlewell, Southchurch, Eastwood etc..

Joe Wildman-Clark wrote:
Nothing in the rules stating you have to be City it is just the title of the award.

Clearly those against the plan have not looked at the cultural side of Southend, such attitudes show a lack of understanding of the arts scene what they do not understand they attack.

The more enlightened people of Southend will support this scheme whilst the lesser people who lack even the most rudimentary knowledge and understanding of arts will moan about it.

Oh, I would support it if I thought Southend supported 'culture' (whatever that is). And yes, the Village Green / Metal / Leigh Folk Festival are highlights. But we now have a 'Cultural Centre' about which the most prominent feature has probably been the recent brawl at a wedding, and elsewhere we've had naked backsides in mid-winter, and Margaret Thatcher overseeing the shoppers in the High Street. I'm not denigrating them, but I would like to see evidence of a wider portfolio... and would welcome (almost) anything that supports the local economy. Even the ear-splitting / sabre-rattling airshow.

wælcyrge wrote:

Joe Wildman-Clark wrote:
Nothing in the rules stating you have to be City it is just the title of the award.

Clearly those against the plan have not looked at the cultural side of Southend, such attitudes show a lack of understanding of the arts scene what they do not understand they attack.

The more enlightened people of Southend will support this scheme whilst the lesser people who lack even the most rudimentary knowledge and understanding of arts will moan about it.

Oh, I would support it if I thought Southend supported 'culture' (whatever that is). And yes, the Village Green / Metal / Leigh Folk Festival are highlights. But we now have a 'Cultural Centre' about which the most prominent feature has probably been the recent brawl at a wedding, and elsewhere we've had naked backsides in mid-winter, and Margaret Thatcher overseeing the shoppers in the High Street. I'm not denigrating them, but I would like to see evidence of a wider portfolio... and would welcome (almost) anything that supports the local economy. Even the ear-splitting / sabre-rattling airshow.

"sabre-rattling" So I take it you are against the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight a flying memorial to the aircrews lost?

I take it you are one of those people who are happy to live in a free country but hate to accept the sacrifices generations of our troops have made to give you the freedom you have?

What about the Beecroft Art Gallery, Focal Point, TAP, countless orchestras and choirs right across Southend

The "naked backsides" was an art exhibition was by Keith Farquhar.

The Margaret Thatcher eyes on the old railways bridge was an art exhibition, the picture was originally by Norman Parkinson it was used by artist John Russell who made the eyes the focal point of his exhibit.

Art is culture and Southend a hive of art.

what is going on with the council!! They hold a 5 hour meeting to push ahead with cuts to some basic services we all use,cancel a long standing public event. (the largest free airshow)
The world famous pier has its opening times reduced and along with the airshow is what many outside of the town relate to when thinking of the town.
Who is funding the bid? If southend won would we have all the costs covered?
There is a reason only two cities have bid , all councils are skint and a few years ago everyone applied because central goverment gave arts grants (which helped fund the pier center)
These grants do not exist now and its expected that councils self fund or find sponsors. Not very good at finding sponsors for current events and self funding should be out of the question.

jayman wrote:
also...

would someone please ensure Southend council receive a meaningless award each month. they seem to find great joy and pleasure in this..

would someone also instruct METAL that they are not a recognised public body. they are an organisation that supports art activities and artists.... Thats it!!

Yes, and very selective they are about that also. Not very receptive to people if you are not part of the 'set'

Look further through this edition of the online "Echo" and you will see a report regarding dog mess and parking in Southend East, and included in the comments are some from Leigh and Westcliff, which move into the area of spitting on the pavement, discarding of beer cans, inverted snobbery and even a wholesale dispute about whether or not it is legal to park across each others driveways. Walk into any pub and your cultural experience will be exhilarating, with many of the vocalists being able to communicate using nothing more, it seems, than the top 10 banned words from the bygone Saxons.

You really think this is culture?

Devils Advocate wrote:
Look further through this edition of the online "Echo" and you will see a report regarding dog mess and parking in Southend East, and included in the comments are some from Leigh and Westcliff, which move into the area of spitting on the pavement, discarding of beer cans, inverted snobbery and even a wholesale dispute about whether or not it is legal to park across each others driveways. Walk into any pub and your cultural experience will be exhilarating, with many of the vocalists being able to communicate using nothing more, it seems, than the top 10 banned words from the bygone Saxons.

You really think this is culture?

Why do we need to win a competition? If it's such a good idea then have a festival of culture. Just try it for a week and see if it works, and if it does then make it bigger the following year. We don't need a panel of experts to tell us if we can run cultural events, just get up and do it.

Nebs wrote:
If we win it will bring loads of people and their money into the town. Worth a try.

Muggers to the fore then! Do you never walk in your own town? I think culture is as culture does. Culture involves people, not inanimate paintings. Learn to walk a mile without spitting, shouting or swearing, behaving considerately to other civil people around you and you may, in time, reach the level of common decency. Not too much of a step to a little culture from there. But award-winning? I do not think so. On the other hand, I walked around Liverpool's riverside and within a couple of hours saw more culture than a bacteriological testing station! Then, already, the worst fault with Southend's culture is showing: It's all about the money!

UK City of Culture.

Southend have virtually nil chance of success.

Bring back the Air Show instead.

.twinning with Florida,
.regional casino bid,
.city status bid,
.city of culture bid,

all failures.

southends Tory administration would do well to remind themselves that community groups are crying out for representation in these austere times, how dispelling it must for these groups to learn that METAL have the 'ear' of some influential councillors. Regrettably things such as abstract 'culture' and non representative community groups are dispensable when fundamental concerns such as food are of a top priority to many people.

I think they may have misunderstood the use of culture when applying. Think they must have read it as being multi-culutred.

What a laugh - culture - that has to be a joke. We cannot even house all our own archaelogy, because no-one wants it.

We plead we are multi-cultural and diverse yet we want to be a city of culture - which one shall we choose.All I see is greedy useless councillors who do not listen to the residents, do not reply to letters, do not canvas at voting time, make cuts that affect the needy but do not take a pay cut themselves like we have to. City of culture dream on - if we get it I would be really suspicios of how.

jolllyboy wrote:
What a laugh - culture - that has to be a joke. We cannot even house all our own archaelogy, because no-one wants it.

We plead we are multi-cultural and diverse yet we want to be a city of culture - which one shall we choose.All I see is greedy useless councillors who do not listen to the residents, do not reply to letters, do not canvas at voting time, make cuts that affect the needy but do not take a pay cut themselves like we have to. City of culture dream on - if we get it I would be really suspicios of how.

Southend wants it's archaeology back, at present there is nowhere of fit standard to exhibit the Saxon relics for an extended period of time in the climate controlled conditions they would need to be housed in for the long term.


Clearly you are not in to the art scene that thrives and thrives and flourishes across Southend, if the bigoted would look beyond the end of their noses they might actually see just what a wealth of art and culture Southend really has.


However I guess that there are those of us that understand and enjoy such intellectually stimulating things and then there are those that fail to understand and enjoy such things and their only form of defence is to resort to loathing and distain towards efforts to bring such a title to Southend.


It is these intellectual Neanderthals that moan about every little thing and it is those that really need to learn about the art scene in Southend-on-Sea, then perhaps they might learn to appreciate what Southend has to offer...


But then again!

Why not go for it, I see the knockers (jayman) has started crowing on. No doubt rub his hands with glee if the town dose not win.

What a laugh CULTURE DUMP of the year.
Now you will see the parking fees go UP could be £5.00 per hour
to pay for title !!!

southendshrimper wrote:
Why not go for it, I see the knockers (jayman) has started crowing on. No doubt rub his hands with glee if the town dose not win.

the only way Southend could win is if the judges fail to actually come to see the borough itself and instead read 'council brochures' or a copy of the Tory in-house propaganda AKA 'outlook'.

failing this I suggest taking the windows of an executive car and replacing them with flat screen TV's that face into the car.

the council driver could drive around York road or the entirety of westborough and pipe in scenes from 'le miserable' to satisfy the requirement for pretentious, self congratulating, middle class perception of what they believe to be 'culture'..

the irony is, Southend once had culture in its purist form. until Anna Waite and Nigel Holdcroft & co decided upon themselves that that particular brand of 'culture' was not modern enough...

jayman wrote:

southendshrimper wrote:
Why not go for it, I see the knockers (jayman) has started crowing on. No doubt rub his hands with glee if the town dose not win.

the only way Southend could win is if the judges fail to actually come to see the borough itself and instead read 'council brochures' or a copy of the Tory in-house propaganda AKA 'outlook'.

failing this I suggest taking the windows of an executive car and replacing them with flat screen TV's that face into the car.

the council driver could drive around York road or the entirety of westborough and pipe in scenes from 'le miserable' to satisfy the requirement for pretentious, self congratulating, middle class perception of what they believe to be 'culture'..

the irony is, Southend once had culture in its purist form. until Anna Waite and Nigel Holdcroft & co decided upon themselves that that particular brand of 'culture' was not modern enough...

jayman the Philistine he of no Culture, A conformist who follows the flock, a unionist who waves the red flag he thinks of the British as second class people who should bow down to those that demand everything without wanting to give anything.

A man who only wants to see failure and will rejoice in it, shame on you shame on you.

Shoebury_Cyclist wrote:
How much is this 'bid' going to cost, and would that money have been better spent keeping the pier open, or supporting the airshow...

The Airshow and the Pier are just like the rest of the town - tired, shabby and past their best.

Spend the money repairing potholes.

Joe Wildman-Clark wrote:

jayman wrote:

southendshrimper wrote:
Why not go for it, I see the knockers (jayman) has started crowing on. No doubt rub his hands with glee if the town dose not win.

the only way Southend could win is if the judges fail to actually come to see the borough itself and instead read 'council brochures' or a copy of the Tory in-house propaganda AKA 'outlook'.

failing this I suggest taking the windows of an executive car and replacing them with flat screen TV's that face into the car.

the council driver could drive around York road or the entirety of westborough and pipe in scenes from 'le miserable' to satisfy the requirement for pretentious, self congratulating, middle class perception of what they believe to be 'culture'..

the irony is, Southend once had culture in its purist form. until Anna Waite and Nigel Holdcroft & co decided upon themselves that that particular brand of 'culture' was not modern enough...

jayman the Philistine he of no Culture, A conformist who follows the flock, a unionist who waves the red flag he thinks of the British as second class people who should bow down to those that demand everything without wanting to give anything.

A man who only wants to see failure and will rejoice in it, shame on you shame on you.

philistine...?

At least I know that 'culture' is not a thing that can be brought, commissioned or installed..

culture is the essence of daily life and the way local life is lived and the art that celebrates or deplores it.

it has nothing to do with a particular 'click' of upper middle class local society or the best (misplaced efforts) of a local Tory administration that dare not walk amongst parts of the town that make them 'think'...

Joe Wildman-Clark wrote:

jayman wrote:

southendshrimper wrote:
Why not go for it, I see the knockers (jayman) has started crowing on. No doubt rub his hands with glee if the town dose not win.

the only way Southend could win is if the judges fail to actually come to see the borough itself and instead read 'council brochures' or a copy of the Tory in-house propaganda AKA 'outlook'.

failing this I suggest taking the windows of an executive car and replacing them with flat screen TV's that face into the car.

the council driver could drive around York road or the entirety of westborough and pipe in scenes from 'le miserable' to satisfy the requirement for pretentious, self congratulating, middle class perception of what they believe to be 'culture'..

the irony is, Southend once had culture in its purist form. until Anna Waite and Nigel Holdcroft & co decided upon themselves that that particular brand of 'culture' was not modern enough...

jayman the Philistine he of no Culture, A conformist who follows the flock, a unionist who waves the red flag he thinks of the British as second class people who should bow down to those that demand everything without wanting to give anything.

A man who only wants to see failure and will rejoice in it, shame on you shame on you.

philistine...?

At least I know that 'culture' is not a thing that can be brought, commissioned or installed..

culture is the essence of daily life and the way local life is lived and the art that celebrates or deplores it.

it has nothing to do with a particular 'click' of upper middle class local society or the best (misplaced efforts) of a local Tory administration that dare not walk amongst parts of the town that make them 'think'...

typo 'click' should have been 'clique'

Joe Wildman-Clark wrote:

jolllyboy wrote:
What a laugh - culture - that has to be a joke. We cannot even house all our own archaelogy, because no-one wants it.

We plead we are multi-cultural and diverse yet we want to be a city of culture - which one shall we choose.All I see is greedy useless councillors who do not listen to the residents, do not reply to letters, do not canvas at voting time, make cuts that affect the needy but do not take a pay cut themselves like we have to. City of culture dream on - if we get it I would be really suspicios of how.

Southend wants it's archaeology back, at present there is nowhere of fit standard to exhibit the Saxon relics for an extended period of time in the climate controlled conditions they would need to be housed in for the long term.


Clearly you are not in to the art scene that thrives and thrives and flourishes across Southend, if the bigoted would look beyond the end of their noses they might actually see just what a wealth of art and culture Southend really has.


However I guess that there are those of us that understand and enjoy such intellectually stimulating things and then there are those that fail to understand and enjoy such things and their only form of defence is to resort to loathing and distain towards efforts to bring such a title to Southend.


It is these intellectual Neanderthals that moan about every little thing and it is those that really need to learn about the art scene in Southend-on-Sea, then perhaps they might learn to appreciate what Southend has to offer...


But then again!

"Art scene" Are you referring to the perspex block that adorned the top of Pier Hill?
Your writings scorn the rank and file of your town. then denigrate any contributor here who does not wholly agree with every word that issues from your every orifice. Are you, by any chance, the leader of the towns Tory Council, or do you have an art collection locked in your cellar? Priory park is the best "Art work" I have seen in your town. That is an art form that seems indeed rare. That where a very rich man gave away to the people of his town a massive slice of his wealth. Many, many people come to admire his work, a piece so rare it may be the only true work of art most of us low lives are allowed in to view!

City-on-Sea ring any bells?

We've just had a massive budget cut pushed through. The airshow was a small part of that as was losing our right to free black bin bags. Definitely a lot worse was the big chunk of cash for children's services in the town.

I have no idea what the cost of this latest scheme is going to be - but if it is applied for with the same level of competence applied to Victoria Gateway...or indeed planting Palm Trees with a low salt tolerance directly on the promenade, it will be cash down the drain.

All our council cares about is kudos for itself. Council of the year. City of culture? Stuff the residents!

Devils Advocate wrote:

Joe Wildman-Clark wrote:

jolllyboy wrote:
What a laugh - culture - that has to be a joke. We cannot even house all our own archaelogy, because no-one wants it.

We plead we are multi-cultural and diverse yet we want to be a city of culture - which one shall we choose.All I see is greedy useless councillors who do not listen to the residents, do not reply to letters, do not canvas at voting time, make cuts that affect the needy but do not take a pay cut themselves like we have to. City of culture dream on - if we get it I would be really suspicios of how.

Southend wants it's archaeology back, at present there is nowhere of fit standard to exhibit the Saxon relics for an extended period of time in the climate controlled conditions they would need to be housed in for the long term.


Clearly you are not in to the art scene that thrives and thrives and flourishes across Southend, if the bigoted would look beyond the end of their noses they might actually see just what a wealth of art and culture Southend really has.


However I guess that there are those of us that understand and enjoy such intellectually stimulating things and then there are those that fail to understand and enjoy such things and their only form of defence is to resort to loathing and distain towards efforts to bring such a title to Southend.


It is these intellectual Neanderthals that moan about every little thing and it is those that really need to learn about the art scene in Southend-on-Sea, then perhaps they might learn to appreciate what Southend has to offer...


But then again!

"Art scene" Are you referring to the perspex block that adorned the top of Pier Hill?
Your writings scorn the rank and file of your town. then denigrate any contributor here who does not wholly agree with every word that issues from your every orifice. Are you, by any chance, the leader of the towns Tory Council, or do you have an art collection locked in your cellar? Priory park is the best "Art work" I have seen in your town. That is an art form that seems indeed rare. That where a very rich man gave away to the people of his town a massive slice of his wealth. Many, many people come to admire his work, a piece so rare it may be the only true work of art most of us low lives are allowed in to view!

Do not work for the council never have done, I'm in civil engineering, method statement. health & safety risk assessments, procedural logistics tied to a desk a lot of the time but still make sure to find time to get down to the work site and get stuck in with the lads.

Yes I love art I go to the Opera, theastre and art gallerys, I enjoy a beer and watching the footy.

I hate TOWIE, X Factor and all those "celebrity" dance, cook, pick their nose shows that always seem to be on.

When did I mention "Lifelines" (apart from just then)

So that's me a hard grafter who likes art, I speak my mind and will always say what I am thinking if that gets on bits so be it, better than a yes person.

The only culture in Southend is the mugging, clubbing and drug culture. I am pleased I got away...

mr_happy wrote:
The only culture in Southend is the mugging, clubbing and drug culture. I am pleased I got away...

So why post on a Southend news website when you do not live in Southend, wherever you live must be such a squalid dive that even the dead can't find anything to do!

Only an idiotic idiot posts on other town's websites.

Before anything else. Southend has to appeal to people. Over the years southend has lost all appeal that it once had. Everything about the town has gone down hill. I used to pop into town weekly for various reasons and there was always something to see or do. Now i go to town maybe once every 6 weeks and its getting worse each time. Its clear im not the only one who thinks like this as all you need to do it witness the traffic leaving town Saturday mornings. On their way to other areas (Lakeside, freeport, Bluewater to name a few). People would rather get trains to London to get their fix of culture and free museums and art galleries for example. Cmon southend. APPEAL to people.

Devils Advocate wrote:

Nebs wrote:
If we win it will bring loads of people and their money into the town. Worth a try.

Muggers to the fore then! Do you never walk in your own town? I think culture is as culture does. Culture involves people, not inanimate paintings. Learn to walk a mile without spitting, shouting or swearing, behaving considerately to other civil people around you and you may, in time, reach the level of common decency. Not too much of a step to a little culture from there. But award-winning? I do not think so. On the other hand, I walked around Liverpool's riverside and within a couple of hours saw more culture than a bacteriological testing station! Then, already, the worst fault with Southend's culture is showing: It's all about the money!

You sound just like that obnoxious mincing little snob Brian Sewell, he always thinks he is oh so superior to everyone else, and in spite of your sneering remarks about what you saw in Liverpool, if you think this little town can compete with Liverpool for culture and history you are a deluded snob as well.
I happen to like Southend very much and I just wish there were many more of its residents that supported my town instead of being so negative about it, try it, it might make you a bit happier.

Love where you live, it can only improve it!

Chris storey wrote:

Devils Advocate wrote:

Nebs wrote:
If we win it will bring loads of people and their money into the town. Worth a try.

Muggers to the fore then! Do you never walk in your own town? I think culture is as culture does. Culture involves people, not inanimate paintings. Learn to walk a mile without spitting, shouting or swearing, behaving considerately to other civil people around you and you may, in time, reach the level of common decency. Not too much of a step to a little culture from there. But award-winning? I do not think so. On the other hand, I walked around Liverpool's riverside and within a couple of hours saw more culture than a bacteriological testing station! Then, already, the worst fault with Southend's culture is showing: It's all about the money!

You sound just like that obnoxious mincing little snob Brian Sewell, he always thinks he is oh so superior to everyone else, and in spite of your sneering remarks about what you saw in Liverpool, if you think this little town can compete with Liverpool for culture and history you are a deluded snob as well.
I happen to like Southend very much and I just wish there were many more of its residents that supported my town instead of being so negative about it, try it, it might make you a bit happier.

Love where you live, it can only improve it!

Apart from a two year break in the middle, I have lived in Southend all my life. Nearly fifty years, in fact.
The town and county councils, over those years, have made sure that "my" town has become an expensive, dirty and unsafe place in which to live and work.
I see litter and dog mess on the streets. Roads and pavements are broken and potholed. Most of the town's history has been demolished and replaced with characterless concrete, steel and housing developments. Any history that has been spared demolition has been left to rot.
Public transport has become very expensive and unreliable. Police are never there when you want them and the nasty sections of our society are allowed to mug and stab without the slightest possibility of them ever being caught.
Neighbours have become strangers because nobody trusts anyone any more and many incoming cultures just want keep themselves to themselves. In fact, where is this cultural "mix" I keep hearing about?
Businesses are closing on a daily basis and those that are left are struggling against hight rents and rates. However, there is one industry that is growing at an alarmingly fast rate... illegal drugs. But, hey, any growing industry for the town is better that no industry....isn't it?
I would so very much like to be able to love "my" town but there are so many reasons why I cannot and the examples I give are only scratching the surface.

I Love Southend but it has about as much culture as a dead fish. Not only that the Tories are ruining the town. Vote them out and vote independent in except slippery Ron Woodly

Chris storey wrote:

Devils Advocate wrote:

Nebs wrote:
If we win it will bring loads of people and their money into the town. Worth a try.

Muggers to the fore then! Do you never walk in your own town? I think culture is as culture does. Culture involves people, not inanimate paintings. Learn to walk a mile without spitting, shouting or swearing, behaving considerately to other civil people around you and you may, in time, reach the level of common decency. Not too much of a step to a little culture from there. But award-winning? I do not think so. On the other hand, I walked around Liverpool's riverside and within a couple of hours saw more culture than a bacteriological testing station! Then, already, the worst fault with Southend's culture is showing: It's all about the money!

You sound just like that obnoxious mincing little snob Brian Sewell, he always thinks he is oh so superior to everyone else, and in spite of your sneering remarks about what you saw in Liverpool, if you think this little town can compete with Liverpool for culture and history you are a deluded snob as well.
I happen to like Southend very much and I just wish there were many more of its residents that supported my town instead of being so negative about it, try it, it might make you a bit happier.

Love where you live, it can only improve it!

Have you been to Liverpool? If not, give it a try, you might be surprised. It's a very maligned town, but visit it and learn. You like your town, you say, but you don't say you love it. I think a rethink is well overdue. I know of no other town that has made access as difficult as Yours, nor can I think of a town that leaves a half demolished office block standing on its inglorious section of sea front. A near by-pass that gives you access from around Eastwood to the East end of the seafront could transform the town. I also think the work being done along its golden 200 yards has transformed it, and I include the 20mph limit which I think is a brilliant move. However, I still think the loss of the full Kursaal amusement park killed Southend as Essex's premium fun place. Do you honestly think that hugely expensive blocks of flats create the "in" scene? Call me an inverted snob by all means, but I do try to love where I live. Sadly, where I live is being destroyed by greedy out-of-town councillors who run my town as a dictatorship. Anyway, you tell me to love my town but was has loving Basildon got to do with Southend?