Echo readers name worst 'eyesore' sites in south Essex

However, a number of sites across the south of the county have been branded an "eyesore" by residents calling for action from developers and landowners and raising concerns over their impact.

We asked our readers this week which of these "eyesore" sites they believe are the worst in south Essex.

Here are your most common choices:

Laindon Centre

The most common choice among our readers by far, many have branded the former Laindon Centre site an "eyesore" since construction on the Laindon Place project stopped in 2022 and left a half-abandoned building site.

However, following the acquisition of Swan Housing by Sanctuary, the plans have been revived and residents told the Echo in August they are feeling "reassured" the project will be progressing.

Described as an “exciting regeneration project”, it is set to boast shops, office space, a health centre and a high-quality collection of homes.

In August, 500 people attended a community briefing to hear the latest plans from Sanctuary and get to have their say on the proposals.

Fishermans Wharf

Bosses behind the much-loved Fisherman’s Wharf eatery, in Southend's Western Esplanade, got the go-ahead from the council to put up a two-storey replacement venue in 2015.

The new building is set to be a “stunning restaurant” offering views of Southend’s beach and the Thames Estuary.

There was movement on the site in 2018 for clearing but five years later, it sits neglected and traders have said it is “not a good look”.

No official announcement has been made on the future of the project or the restaurant and anger is growing among residents and traders at the lack of movement.

Old Vienna

This half-demolished Leigh restaurant has been branded a “pigeon-infested eyesore” this week due to a lack of progress in transforming the building into flats.

Stephen Aylen outside the former Old Vienna building (Image: Stephen Aylen)

The Eastwood Road venue shut down in 2016 after bosses were accused of flouting hygiene rules and the business was slapped with a zero food safety rating.

Since then, plans have been given the green light for it to be demolished and turned into 13 flats. However, despite hoardings being placed around the site, little progress has been made and councillors are demanding work takes place as soon as possible as hundreds of pigeons have taken over the building.

Churchill's site

The former Churchill's nightspot in Tylers Avenue, Southend, has been branded an "eyesore" by some residents since the now-closed Mangetout moved to London Road in 2019.

The latest photos of the site show a long hoarding in place as the building has since been demolished.

Planning permission is being sought for a tower block with 58 new homes on the site, which was welcomed by former Tory councillor for Milton, Jonathan Garston, as he says it should not be left derelict for much longer.

He said at the time: "I very much welcome the potential of the site being put back into use as we cannot leave sites derelict like this for too long."

Pitsea Bingo Hall site

The space after the bingo hall was demolished earlier this year (Image: Google Street View)How the site looked in July this year

The former Pitsea Bingo Hall and Broadway Cinema building was labelled an “eyesore” in the area by many as the years went by after the hall closed back in 2009 as councillors said it effectively had been left "neglected".

Earlier this year, the historic building was razed to the ground following Basildon Council’s orders to the owners to take action as a matter of urgency due to the state of the building.

The building had previously been hit by two fires and a flood since it closed.

Jacqueline Harris received plenty of likes for her comment: "It was Pitsea Bingo Hall and now its the space where it was."

However, the space may not be empty for very long as developers previously hinted it could possibly be turned into 90 new flats and a series of shops.