TRADERS have warned the number of takeaways being allowed in the area will kill off their businesses.

They feel their needs are often forgotten, in comparison to those who are in nearby Southend High Street.

The short area of Southchurch Road between Chichester Road and Queensway now has nine takeaways or restaurants with another planning to move in as well.

Concerns have led Southend Council’s development control committee to adjourn the latest plan to examine the situation in more detail.

Andrew Turner, director of Broadway Presentations, a shop in the road, has been acting as a representative for other shops in the area.

He said: “The situation is getting out of hand and we are being swamped by takeaways and off-licences.

“This used to be a road of quality shops, but there has been a steady deterioration over the years and I am concerned there are going to be more problems with public disorder late in the evening if this plan goes through.

“Every extra takeaway or licensed premises they allow along here makes things worse. The council should be looking at encouraging more quality shops which would give a boost to those here already. Southend needs to be upgraded and that isn’t going to happen if you just keep putting in more takeaways.”

Jonathan Garston, Tory councillor for Milton ward, said the matter should be looked into. He said “Without referring to this particular application, I think there are difficulties with putting in more takeaways along this part of the road. I think we need to look closely at the area before any more planning applications are approved.

“We are talking about an area which is close to the town centre and for many of my residents, it is not somewhere they like to go late in the evening because of the risk of disturbances as well as the problems with litter.

“Many takeaways do clear their litter up, but there are sometimes those which don’t, especially when there is so much of a concentration in one small area.”

Labour councillor for Victoria Ward, David Nor-man, said he felt it would be wrong to allow more takeaways until there had been a proper study of the area. He said: “We have to make sure we look after the interests of existing traders.”

In Clifftown Road, off the High Street, traders also feel they are being neglected and that it is causing harm to Southend.

Del Gaisford runs Renalls, a jewellers and one of the oldest family-run businesses in the town. He believes Clifftown Road should be a showpiece for Southend, but instead pavements have been in need of repair for years.

Mr Gaisford said: “For people coming to the town by train from Fenchurch Street, Clifftown Road is the first they see when they get to Southend. We have the oldest established jewellers in Southend, as well as the oldest established gents’ outfitters, Ravens, and an award-wining hair salon.

“It should be a real showpiece for Southend, instead of a road where people have to watch their step in case they fall over.”

Paul Van Looy, owner of a fish and chip restaurant there believes his business has suffered after firms were forced to remove advertising A-boards.

He said: “We offered to put up a professionally made sign in the High Street giving details of the businesses in the road, but we have not heard anything yet.

“In fact I have had to go back to one of the oldest ways of advertising with a sandwich board man walking up and down the High Street.”