Renaissance quango should go (From Echo)

Renaissance quango should go

1:21pm Thursday 11th March 2010 in

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If the Tories get in government, I wonder if they will keep their promise to cull the quangoes. I hope Renaissance Southend will be first on the list.

Renaissance Southend bought two ratepayerowned prime car parks with public money. It submitted plans to develop a Brighton Lanes-style complex with umpteen flats.

Working in partnership with Southend Council, it has a central area masterplan for the derelict office blocks along Victoria Avenue. Mike Lambert, Renaissance Southend chief executive, says the area looks tired.

Comatose is a better description.

It is spending a fortune on an exhibition over two weeks explaining its dreary plans.

Renaissance Southend is committed in the revamp of Warrior Square with a pretentious cafe and lime trees.

Councillor Anna Waite, who also holds a seat on a quango, ruled against private developers, handing it to Renaissance Southend. Is that goodbye swimming pool? It appears Renaissance Southend and Southend Council are running the town, or is that ruining it?

Ask any bookmaker what odds he will give you on which of these pie-in - the-sky schemes comes first.

Len Lierens
Southchurch Road
Southend