AN MP has renewed calls for Southend to become a city to reflect its dynamic growth in recent years.

Sir David Amess, Conservative MP for Southend West, secured a commons debate to argue the case for city status to attract more investment to the borough.

The MP argued improvements to roads like the A13 and A127, particularly at the Tesco roundabout, along with an improved c2c London Fenchurch Street rail line meant the borough now had “excellent transport links”.

This, coupled with meteoric rise of Southend Airport, which now oper-ates with five airlines and attracts more than a million passengers a year, was “bringing investment of all kinds into the town”.

Addressing Mark Francois, Minister of State for Communities and Local Government, during the debate, Sir David said: “In future, I do not expect ministers just to pay lip service to what I am asking them to do. I expect action, and tonight is the start of the action. At the end of this short debate, I hope that my Right Hon Friend will see to it that Southend is granted city status.”

He added: “I fully expect city status to be granted to Southend. In every respect, Southend qualifies to be a city. It certainly has its own distinct identity.”

Sir David praised the previous Tory administration on Southend Council for securing £34.5million funding for infrastructure projects, including upgrades to the Kent Elms and the Bell junction. He also called for furthe development of the Anglia Ruskin, Southend and Rochford Business Park for medical excellence, near the airport, and asked for Government funding to help with costs of the cliffs slippage in Westcliff.

He said: “There is the problem of cliff slippage. The council has not used any Government money to tackle it. Having a picnic on the cliffs and looking across the wonderful Thames, people would think they were in the Mediterranean.

“The River Thames presents us with the most wonderful gift, a moving picture. If there is any way the minister and those in other departments could find more private investment to deal with clay slippage, our constituents would be very grateful.”

During the debate the MP also called for a plans for a marina, narrowly rejected in 2008, to be revived.

This, he said, “would be the jewel in the crown in achieving city status".

Not every organisation in Southend was praised by Sir David however, with Greater Anglia’s Southend Victoria line being heavily criticised.

He said: “I recently made a public journey on the line with the chief executive. I was very frank with him.

I said I thought it was a rotten service.

The prices were too high, and the rolling stock was clapped out. I asked what he was going to do about it.”

A spokesperson for Abellio Greater Anglia said: “The next long contract for the Greater Anglia franchise area is due to commence in October 2016 and this process is now underway.

“The Department for Transport has undertaken a consultation period with rail users and local stakeholders as part of the planning towards the new franchise, to invite aspirations on the type of service improvements that we would all like to see.

“In the meantime we will continue to do all we can to improve train services as part of the existing franchise, which includes investment of more than £30million to improve customer service and cleanliness, train performance, and upgrades to trains through to October 2016.”

COUNCIL BACKS MP'S BID

SOUTHEND Council leader Ron Woodley also backed city status for the town.

He said: “Southend is certainly growing and city status would definitely be worthwhile. It might include Rochford and Castle Point in a south Essex city.

“City status would mean we would attract more investment and we could devolve more power from central Government. Basildon is looking at becoming a unitary authority and with Brentwood and Thurrock there could be a south east power house. It would be a great opportunity for regeneration.

“It is certainly a very exciting proposition.

“City status is definitely on the cards in the next ten years. With Rochford and Castle Point we could really become a dynamic economic power house.”

 

MP'S BLUES DRAMA

SIR David revealed during the debate that he missed out on Southend United’s recent Wembley triumph.

Citing the club’s promotion as further reason for Southend to be granted city status, Sir David said: “I must confess that, when we were losing 1-0, the Member of Parliament for Southend West decided to leave two minutes before the end of the match.

“I was walking down Wembley Way when I heard huge cheers, and discovered Southend had equalised.

I thought it was too late to turn back.

“When I reached Stratford station, I managed to find the result on my mobile phone and we had won 7-6 on penalties.

“That was a magnificent achievement for Southend United, and it is another good reason for Southend to be declared a city.”