Following the furore over the Cuckoo Corner and City Beach redevelopments, Mark Flewitt, the new executive councillor for Transport and Planning, is handling some of the most contentious issues facing the local authority. Here, Cllr Flewitt discusses the transport and planning issues Southend has, and the villification of his predecessor, Cllr Anna Waite.
“You have inherited a poison chalice” – that’s a comment I have heard more than once since enthusiastically taking on my new role. And I have always replied “Actually it’s far from poisoned – it’s full of opportunities to advance the future of our great town.”
I see this portfolio as the one which bridges a number of key areas – either delivering physical improvements to the land and networks in Southend, or protecting the character of the heritage of our Borough. Some of these improvements are welcomed; others are not, so a balance has to found so we improve the lot of the individual, the local communities and the Borough.
Looking at the vibrancy of the campaign groups which oppose some of the big, key projects gives me a sign that we live in a truly healthy democratic community. However, seeing the personality led persecution of my predecessor was distinctly unpleasant. I am always willing to listen and see if an agreed acceptable path can be found for input on the future of Southend at the earliest possible stages – past events have shown me this is a necessity.
Some of the campaign groups have deep rooted causes and must be accepted as part of Southend’s democratic map. Unfortunately, I saw in the recent election a crop of very ugly literature using personality as a fear factor – however the election results conclusively proved that the vast majority of people saw through it all.
Our new Government is moving towards localisation and this is welcome – but the freedom to take decisions of the financial kind will be tempered with an increasing economic straight jacket arising from our inherited national debt. There are some major projects in progress and whatever their rights and wrongs, Southend Borough Council has found the funding for improvements to benefit the people who live and visit this town. Among these projects we will see City Beach, Victoria Gateway, Cuckoo Corner, Progress Road, the Southend Transport Model, we will become a Cycle Demonstration Town, and last but not least, there will be developments to the Pier Head and its structure. A remarkable list for a remarkable period in this town’s history.
The gloomy £6 billion of cuts that the Government has announced will affect service provision. In Southend we are trying to make sure that we are well placed to weather any storm by having stimulants within the local economy.
Having moved forward from my previous portfolio, but remaining the Deputy to it, I now see the Transport and Planning role as a delivery tool for the corporate wellbeing of Southend. What I along with the staff team try to deliver to individuals, we now need to give collectively. One area that affects all of the town, and its residents, is our transport network.
Transport is an intrinsic part of my life. I use public transport nearly every weekday in travelling to and from London Liverpool Street – and I walk a great deal, seeing those on bikes shoot past me. Southend is well served by a robust, but nowhere near faultless, transport network which offers some choice. I believe that public transport in the Borough is too expensive – especially train fares, even locally. We will soon have ten stations (including the new Southend Airport station) and I want to keep all of them. There is absolutely no support from the Conservative Administration – or probably from any group on the Council – that Prittlewell or Rochford stations should be allowed to close. Southend Airport will remain a key economic driver for the town and hopefully its role will expand throughout the Thames Gateway.
I want to see local travel made easier and cheaper with an “Oyster” style local card for local travel; it is surely not beyond the wit of the two rail companies? At the heart of this thought is the principle of movement and the promotion of accessibility – by vehicle, bike or almost any other method – as promoting the “on the move” economy. Here there is a clear link between the two elements of my portfolio, which need to work well together to deliver the necessary improvements.
Southend Airport has really started to look the part of a regional, strategic asset. It is giving the town an added value and will enhance the connectivity that many of us will remember from the 1960’s and 1970’s. The process is nearing fruition with a new control tower and railway station approaching completion. There is constant dialogue as to community balance and the issue of residual fears remaining from the planning stage. A salient couple of facts to remember are that it has been an airfield since 1914 and the first commercial flights were in 1935. It has since served this town and many of its people. The Council has given detailed consideration to the plans, with cross-party support.
Planning is contentious and is likely to remain so as it touches all our lives, but it is stimulating and environment shaping. I want to play a very ‘listening’ role, as well as contributing to the planning policy for Southend with all of my councillor colleagues – especially the so called “ordinary councillors” who take the quasi-judicial planning decisions that can prove either very popular or make them the subject of some interesting communications! I rightly cannot interfere with their views or lobby, but I can ensure that planning policy reflects the wishes of the town.
My ward of St Laurence has had a few small matters, along with Borough and regionally significant ones – recently Southend Airport was our major one. In addition, a nearby a McDonalds restaurant was the subject of a successful negotiation, resulting in the agreement of a 12 month trial of 24/7 operation, instead of moving directly to 24/7 with no trial period – who said planning was always difficult?!
Seriously though, planning requires difficult choices about the use of land and we have not always got it right in the past. In the future we are going to have to make tough decisions about employment, housing and retail policies, as well providing the necessary support for Southend as a visitor attraction and a Borough proud of its green spaces. This Transport and Planning portfolio touches almost every aspect of life in our town.
But the portfolio is not just about Transport or Planning – we all need housing, and for it to be as affordable as possible. The house building market has slumped nationally and slowed locally. Affordable housing is far from being forgotten and I pledge to continue encouraging appropriate developments for Southend residents, along with my friend Cllr Anna Waite who has the portfolio covering housing.
Recently there was the welcome news that Southend has been included in a list of top visited seaside resorts. Our “offer” is constantly improving – you have only to look at the progress of the City Beach scheme and the new cycle track – but our transport network must keep up to the pace that is expected of it. We can all give examples of waiting too long for the bus or train, but our plans must never stand still – even if occasionally we might.
Being a seaside town our sea defences and flood provision are essential. Cllr John Lamb has championed this and will speak on it at any opportunity! A member of the public recently criticised the materials that the Council were using for sea defence work, and this best illustrates the uneven playing field most councils have to cope with, wrong or misinformation. I will always be happy to facilitate fact finding by residents who genuinely “want to know”! Our coastal features are a key attraction, as are the general amenities of Southend and the special environment we have here. We are working hard to enhance and protect what we have, as can be seen from recent tree planting along the seafront.
Trees are a subject that I am going to show that we have a record to be proud of. Aside from the recent projects that have necessitated the removal of trees, we plant and maintain these pieces of environmental history with care and compassion. I am seeking to consult upon a refreshed tree policy that I hope will define for the future exactly what we need to do to preserve and enhance our beautiful tree stock. Our local environment is special and we are trying to safeguard it for the future and to make Southend a town that people want to live in and to visit.
This gives rise to the usual battle between our green agenda and the necessity of the car – it is a tough one to crack. To deny the reality is just foolish, but to go on promoting alternative travel and fuel sources is clearly in all of our interests – especially for those who will be around long after we have become part of the earth environment. But it is not all gloom, as an invigorated Cycle Southend is in full swing and attracting many new people of all ages to the fantastic experience of cycling, visitors and local residents alike.
Car parking can be a cause of great angst and one of the first things put to me was the approval to consult on changes to the area around Chalkwell Station. This has been given the green light – not just by me, but by relevant councillors who will also be interested in resident experiences and whether or not we make some, or all, changes permanent. We have just won awards for 18 of our car parks with one of the criteria being security, which does not make us perfect but shows me that there is much to be optimistic about. I intend this way of working with our residents and trying to balance our strengths will be a hallmark of my term in office.
Finally, the dreaded acronym – and my favourite has to be SWOT! When this is stripped back it is strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, which in the local Government area of my daily life, there are more than I can even begin to think about – I expect to come up against most of them in the coming year!
In recent years Southend Borough Council has appeared to be actively pursuing a policy of ignoring the people of our town, instead preferring to further the aims of a few selected individuals at the expense of the majority of Southend residents.
Recent comments to Councilbust by Executive Councillor for Transport and Planning Mark Flewitt, seem to indicate a new willingness to listen and try to reach agreement with the people about the future of own town, rather than simply imposing the will of the ruling elite and their chosen favourites.
SKIPP cautiously welcomes the Councillors comments and looks forward to the prospect of a closer working relationship with the Council on the many diverse issues that affect our town. However, we would like to remind Mr Flewitt that actions speak louder than words, and if he wishes to gain the respect of the town he will have to deliver on his rhetoric.
The SKIPP Committee
Patsy Link
Sheena Walker
Mark Sharp