A GROUP of councillors are spearheading a campaign to revive Southend High Street by calling for a new town centre market.

Southend Council’s Independents took to the streets to gain support for their initiative for a new market in the High Street.

They believe the town centre has suffered since York Road market closed in 2009 and attempts to revive it, with a weekly open-air market on the same site, have proved unsuccessful.

Martin Terry, Independent group leader, said: “It’s what the people of the town want.

“They come to Southend and either want to buy things which are cheap, or different things you simply can’t get in our High Street shops.

“A market will make Southend High Street lively again. We’re going to fight to make sure we get it.”

The councillors would like to see a traditional market at the Victoria Circus end of the High Street once or twice a week.

With the likes of multi-millionaire Sir Alan Sugar and Marks and Spencer founder, Michael Marks, starting out as market traders, they also hope it will give budding entrepreneurs a platform to start their own business.

The campaign launch in Southend High Street attracted hundreds of shoppers who signed the councillors’ petition.

Nazrul Mannan, 43, of Westbourne Grove, Westcliff, said: “I think it would bring more people into the High Street, especially now a lot of the big shops are closing. It gives people an opportunity to start out if they can’t afford to rent a shop.”

Barry Attwood, 44, of Cliffsea Grove, Leigh, grew up in London and misses the big markets of Brick Lane, Portabello Road and Spitalfields.

He said: “I like it when they do the special farmers’ market here occasionally and it would be great to have somewhere to regularly buy nice fresh food and local crafts.”

The Independents hope to get at least 1,500 signatures in order to present their petition before a committee of Tory councillors and have the issue considered.