Action calls for Craylands, Old Vienna, Kursaal and other eyesores

From major shopping centre redevelopments with hundreds of homes left uncompleted to Southend’s iconic Kursaal standing empty for years.

Fed up residents are calling for action from developers and landowners. Others are even raising concerns about the impact of run down sites on south Essex communities.

Kursaal 

CALLS are mounting for the iconic Southend Kursaal to be put to use, after it has sat empty for years.

The 120-year-old building was one of the world’s first purpose-built amusement parks and has one tenant, Tesco Express, after The Rendezvous casino closed more than two years ago.

Caroline Green, 56, from Southend said: “It’s a terrible shame that it’s just rotting and should be one of the crown jewels in the city. “I fear a developer will eye it up and it makes me sad to see it like this.”

Paul Collins, Lib Dem councillor responsible for asset management and inward investment, said: “We know how well loved the Kursaal is with our residents and we remain in touch with the agent and the leaseholder AEW to stay informed about their options for the building.

“The council would love to see them bring forward plans which see investment in the building and enable it to become a great asset to our city again.”

Fisherman's Wharf

WORKS on a Southend seafront fish restaurant are facing further delays more than four years after the project began.

Plans for the rebuild of Fisherman’s Wharf was agreed in 2015 and work began on the in 2018. Paul Greenward, 42, from Southend, said: “It looks terrible and we all want to see the restaurant come back as it was so popular.

“I can’t understand how it’s been left like this for so long now. “I feel sad to see it in this state and also it doesn’t help the look of this part of the seafront.”

Last September bosses said ground works were almost complete and works would resume when funding was agreed.

The restaurant owners and agents for the plans were contacted for comment but did not respond before we went to press

The Ship, Leigh

WORRIED residents insist plans to redevelop a Leigh hotel must be fast tracked after long delays.

Bosses of East Anglia Pub Company hope works for The Ship in the town can start this summer. The business is planning on converting the site into a hotel with 15 bedrooms and en-suites, and seven parking spaces.

Leigh resident Becky Cole, 38, said: “It would be nice to see something done with the site soon. “It doesn’t look very good for the town. “It’s a prominent site. We need to see some progress there.”

Paul Barthaud is a owner and Director of East Anglia Pub Company. He said: “We are committed to the development of The Ship Hotel. Serious delays have occurred due to the Covid-19 pandemic and rising development costs.

“With the support of Southend Council we hope construction will begin later this year. “We will continue to maintain the site until its development.”

Craylands, Basildon

A BASILDON housing estate with “rotting” derelict homes looks “dreadful” say angry residents.

Swan Housing is developing the Craylands Estate, with dozens of homes still unfinished and derelict. Kevin Wright, 41, from Basildon, said: “I’ve never seen anything like it in my life, it’s a disgrace.

“People living in the newer homes next to this mess must be very unhappy. “There’s a housing shortage and dozens here are rotting and it looks dreadful. “I can’t get my head around how they’ve done half a job and left lots of the homes undeveloped.”

A Swan Housing spokesperson said: “There have been delays on the delivery of some elements of our Beechwood Village scheme, a transformation of the Craylands Estate. “Swan remains committed to delivering much needed new homes. “Extra security was introduced to the site last summer to help address these issues.”

Laindon Centre

FED up residents fear major plans to redevelop a former shopping centre may be completed. Swan Housing is behind plans at the Laindon Centre project – which has been more than two decades in the making – is taking longer than expected, and designs are being “reviewed”.

Proposals include a 224- home development, which will be built alongside a new Lidl, 16 shops, and a medical centre. Maureen Tilley, 61, from Laindon said: “We are sick and tired of this and feel like it is just broken promises.

“It’s a total mess and there’s no communication from the Swan. “The longer it goes on the less faith I have in it actually happening.

“If its not happening the company should let another business step in and get it done.” A spokesperson for Swan said: “We are continuing to progress our review of the Laindon regeneration scheme.

"We understand that the delays are disappointing for the community and are committed to providing an update as soon as we can.”

Old Vienna 

CONCERNED residents are calling for progress on works at a derelict restaurant in Leigh. Hoardings and scaffolding is surrounding the former Old Vienna. Michelle Platts, 36, of Leigh said: “I think it’s a real shame.

“It would be good to see it back as a restaurant or something similar as we could do with it here. “It doesn’t look very good for the town and area. “It’s not nice to have this on the doorsteps for people who live here.

“I hope we can see something be done or some progress happening very soon. “It’s a good sized site so I think a few things could work well there, perhaps flats and a business or something like that.”

Various plans have been handed to Southend Council by developer, SK Architects, for blocks of flats atthe site. The Old Vienna closed its doors in 2016 following a poor hygiene inspection and has been described as “absolute eyesore” since.

The former business was once one of the most popular restaurants in Leigh. Its regular “oompah bands” were a much-loved feature of the well patronised restaurant. SK Architects were contacted for comment

Southend United plans, Victoria Avenue, Southend

PARTLY derelict homes next to Southend United’s Roots Hall stadium need attention soon, say worried residents. The properties in Victoria Avenue, Southend, are part of the football club’s plans for hundreds of new homes.

Bob Knight, 42, from Southend said: “I know the club is doing its best but we do need to see some action with these sites. “It can’t be easy to get plans like this done quickly but these two sites do not look good.

“These properties have been in a bad way for some time now, it’s a good few years. “Perhaps the club can try to tidy up the sites or look at something. Last May plans for the 502 new homes at Southend United’s Roots Hall were approved.

The club is planning a new stadium and hundreds of new homes at Fossetts Farm in Southend. Southend United was contacted for comment.

Former Southend cinema site

A FORMER cinema and theatre site in Southend must be developed, residents are demanding. The former Empire Theatre site in Alexandra Street, Southend, has been left derelict and empty for years, becoming an eyesore.

The building was previously used as ABC cinema before being taken over by the New Empire Theatre Company in 2008. Southend resident Maurice Brown, 72, said: “It’s not doing any good for the city with it as an empty site that’s a mess.

“It has such a rich history so leaving it in this way is just awful. “It brings down the whole area and has so much potential.

“I can see a developer being very interested in this site, which I think would be a real shame.”

Plans were previously discussed for homes and shops but nothing has materialised. By 2016, the building had become run down and its roof collapsed, destroying part of the first floor. The New Empire Theatre Company left the site