A BRIGHT and vibrant future for Southend town centre would see visitors spilling onto a high street filled with quirky and different independent shops and homes. 

In a decade’s time, council bosses are expecting the high street to feature an array of smaller shops as well as restaurants with outside dining and hundreds of flats.

While Christine Hindle, who started a petition in January to improve Southend High Street, envisages a Camden-style open mark and a Covent Garden-esque entertainment area.

Council bosses are confident the purchase of the Victoria Shopping Centre will allow them to have much more influence, with a host of discussions taking place on the best possible short, medium and long term use for the site.

Mr Woodley, said: “In ten years time I think it will be a combination of housing and independent shops.

“I think we will have more homes, especially with plans for Queensway, the Roots Hall development and the plans for Victoria Avenue. While it does look like the days of multi-storey shops apart from a few like M&S aren’t as likely.

“When people are living and shopping in the area of course they’re going to want their butchers, bakers and hairdressers. So if we’re able to bring more independent shops and restaurants to the high street I hope to see it buzzing, people spilling out onto the pavements in the good weather and enjoying themselves.”

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Ms Hindle, a 63-year-old French teacher from Shoebury, added: “At the moment I wouldn’t walk into Southend High Street at night time when it used to be the most vibrant place.

“I remember around Christmas time especially it was always buzzing. You used to be able to lose yourself throughout the town.”

Recently, Southend BID hosted a future of the high street meeting where vacant spaces were discussed, alongside conducting surveys to understand what businesses and residents wants to see in the town.

The council is also offering shop front grant schemes where businesses can benefit from £5,000 for renovations. alongside its zero per cent loan scheme.

Suzanne Gloyne, BID manager, said: "At Southend BID we recently hosted a Future of the High Street meeting with our Southend BID committee.

"We reviewed research into current and future trends and discussed our ambitions for our town.

"We have also been supporting Southend Council on the Town Centre Interventions project which includes a zero per cent loan scheme for businesses looking to take on vacant units, grants for owners looking to spruce up their shop fronts and a new public realm improvement piece to boost the usage of the Forum area.

"Lots of work is taking place for the benefit of the town and I look forward to seeing each outcome."