SOUTHEND High Street must be opened up to traffic as the "more activity an area has, the safer it becomes" a leading businessman has said. 

It comes after a seafront trader said the situation was “scary” and claimed the city centre was  a “war zone” after a serious attack on a man in Chichester Road, Southend on April 4.

A woman was also sexually assaulted in York Road last Monday.

Philip Miller MBE, owner of Adventure Island, said he believed opening up the high street would make the area safer. 

He said: “Cars are oxygen for businesses simple as that. Any measures that improve flow and parking are bound to help trade.

“This will allow bikes to keep on the road as against frightening shoppers on the pavements. Imagine being able to pull up outside Marks and Spencer to pick up your mum with her shopping bags.

“Same applies anywhere really along the high street it’s just that Marks and Spencer has a majority of older shoppers I know because I am one.

“Then to the evenings, it goes without saying the more activity an area has the safer it becomes. Especially with all the dash cams modern cars have these days."

Mr Miller said he believed the moved could run as a trial to test it out. 

He added: "It’s actually a relatively cheap experiment to conduct as all the original roads are underneath the paving, a few barriers and planters hey presto game on.

“Knowledgeable people without any actual experience love to quote the internet as the ruination of high streets. Unaffordable business rates and parking charges are the real culprits.

“Don’t you think shopping centres would charge for parking if they could get away with it?

"Imagine all those five or ten pounds piling in. Every time towns like Southend increase parking charges they laugh their heads off at the naivety of it.”

Steven Wakefield, councillor responsible for highways, transport and parking who is standing for re-election in Shoebury, said: “We are working on plans to make the high street greener with more trees and planting.

"It will make the environment nicer for people instead of having a  bit too much concrete.

“One idea I think could work is having a cycle lane through the high street. It would help connect cycle lanes in the city and make it easier and safer for people to use their bikes. It could also enhance the roads for the use of cars too.

"It’s just an idea of mine I could explore if I am elected.”

Essex Police are at pains to point out that crime is down in the area and the force is doing all it can to solve crimes and prevent violent incidents.

District commander for Southend, Chief Insp Jo Collins, said: “Crime is down across the district in the last year, including fewer reports of violent, sexual and domestic offences, and fewer robberies and burglaries.

“In the same time, antisocial behaviour has fallen by almost a third. We’re solving more crimes. We solved 380 more crimes in the last year than the previous 12 months and that includes investigations into violent and sexual offences, more burglaries solved, more thefts, and more domestic offences solved.”

Simon Ford, head of community safety at Southend Council, stressed the safety of residents and businesses is a “key priority”, adding: “Along with our £2.2m CCTV upgrade, we also have the fastest growing radio service in England with 176 active users on our Townlink radio system, a well-established network of partners and agencies fully committed to keeping our city safe.”

Southend Business Improvement District - which uses a levy from businesses to invest heavily in the city centre - urged businesses to collaborate with the BID over any concerns.

Suzanne Gloyne, Southend City BID Manager, said: "At Southend City BID we meet bi-monthly with Essex Police and local businesses at our Southend Businesses Against Crime meeting. During these meetings we discuss recent events, local concerns, and action points moving forward; helping to keep Southend’s community safe and eradicate crime locally is of the utmost importance to our committee.

"I encourage all BID members to attend these meetings and raise any concerns they have whilst hearing updates about the proactive work that is being done to keep Southend safe. 

"Meanwhile, our Street Ranger team work to support the public and local businesses in collaboration with Town Centre Police and the Community Safety team on a daily basis. If you have concerns whilst in the High Street, please do not hesitate to speak with one of our rangers."