A NEW museum and indoor market could improve Southend High Street, according to the Labour group.

The party is preparing an alternative vision for the town centre after hosting a public meeting about the future.

Labour councillors invited members of the public and business owners to attend in response to a previous meeting held by the Conservative administration, which was closed to opposition councillors.

Stephen George, the Labour candidate for Milton ward in May 2019, said: “The high street is the beating heart of the town, and the fact that it has been allowed to deteriorate to such a state is a damning indictment of the mismanagement by the Conservative council.”

He said the meeting was about “information gathering” before a full proposal is published.

Among the issues raised at the meeting were problems with the level of business rates and rent, with businesses struggling to compete with online sellers.

A lack of green space and cultural opportunities

A lack of cultural opportunities was also raised.

Mr George said suggestions included building a museum on the High Street and an indoor market.

“We want to develop an alternative vision for the High Street which we hope will be more sustainable for the future,” he said.

“The council started enforcement to get rid of aggressive begging but that is not a solution, all it will do is cause displacement to other areas.”

Councillor Julian Ware-Lane, of the Milton ward, said: “This event saw a packed room, full of residents with both serious concerns, but also imaginative ideas for how to make Southend better for everyone.

“In contrast to the Conservatives closed-shop summit, it shows what people power can really achieve.”

Deputy council leader James Courtenay defended the council’s approach.

He said: “For the meeting I held, I chose not to have a large public meeting because the purpose was to invite decision makers so we could tackle short term issues on the High Street, those being rough sleeping, aggressive begging and anti-social behaviour.

“That is completely different to the long-term future of the High Street.

“I appreciate that putting an enforcement team on the street isn’t going to solve all the issues that shops are facing.

“The longer term work need to be done through collaboration with businesses, the chamber of commerce and members of the public.”

He added that he is confused about why Labour is trying to create an alternative vision for the High Street when one of their own members, Councillor Kevin Robinson, is heading up a cross-party scrutiny committee which is currently work on a report on the future of the High Street which is due to be published.