A ONCE-prestigious shopping street in Westcliff - which has since lost its high-end boutique stores to empty shops - could be brought back to its glory days by campaigners.

Once considered the Bond Street of south Essex, there are plans for Hamlet Court Road to be returned to the “joys of decades ago”, as a number of creative projects have been mooted.

Fundraisers have now set up a GoFundMe page calling for £15,000 to “Make Hamlet Court Road Great Again”.

The page, set up by Danielle Hill, says: “One hundred years ago with no signs of online delivery or large supermarkets, Hamlet Court Road was a thriving bustling centrepiece of Southend, today is now a sad reflection to the joys of decades ago but, as proved in crumbling areas of London and other cities around the UK such as Liverpool - things can change with a little determination!”

Gaynor Solly, a Westcliff resident, has started a planting project on the road and has been overwhelmed by the response from people who have joined in on her mission to make Hamlet Court Road thrive.

Gaynor started by setting up an online map of Hamlet Court Road with details for all the businesses to promote them.

More recently she has started planting flowers on the street to make it more appealing.

Echo: Gaynor Solly Gaynor Solly

Gaynor said: “People’s image of the high streets changed so I suppose it was part of a national issue.

“Empty shops didn’t help.

“We all see eye to eye. We really want to get somewhere with this.

“I want to see Hamlet Court Road thriving economically so businesses don’t shut down.

“I got so many responses from people wanting to give up their time to plant flowers and to donate.”

Echo:

Gaynor is working alongside Ashley Baker, owner of Hatters and Hills and Ramen and Chill, in a joint partnership to make the road more appealing.

Echo: Ashley Baker Ashley Baker

Ashley said: “I’m in the process of trying to get a farmers market on St Helen’s Road by the T-junction.

“A lot of people have started small businesses in lockdown. We’re looking to help people get in the little markets so they can showcase their businesses so we can help them get in shops and shop fronts.”

Ashley hopes that with money raised in the fundraiser, they can help encourage local artists to help do up shop fronts and restore signposts by Westcliff railway station.

The group has also been supported in the mission by Southend council’s Make Southend Sparkle team.

Carl Robinson, director for public protection at Southend council said: “Our Make Southend Sparkle team have recently worked with another local volunteer Hamlet Court Road group, providing health and safety advice, plants and soil for planters in the area, and we are pleased that this group are keen to continue working with us.”

See www.gofundme.com/f/hamletcourtproject.