While I agree with Mark Flewitt when he says far too many of Southend’s historic buildings have been lost, the present system, where the same councillor is chairman of both planning and conservation committees, plainly does not work.
Since 1959, when the beautiful pier pavilion caught fire, we have seen a continued deterioration in the landscape of our town.
The list is horrifying; the pierhead, Queen’s Hotel, all but one of our seafront shelters demolished, the illuminations, the bandstand and York Road market, allowed to rot away.
I am sure others can add items like the Ritz Cinema, the Municipal College, the Talza Arcade and so on.
Southend needs its various conservation groups to come together and campaign for proper maintenance of the few treasures we have left under one chairman. What about it, Jim Worsdale?
Ric Morgan
Hobleythick Lane
Westcliff
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