New Town Centre Car Park to Open - Southend Council PR

August 31, 2014 by Joanna Harrison

A new town centre car park is planned to open on Friday 12th September 2014 in Essex Street.

Following the demolition of Queensway House and Essex Street multi-storey car park, a new surface public car park will open in its place.

Queensway House was home to various Council and Health services for many years however the building was an arrangement of small rooms and corridors and was not fit for purpose for the delivery of modern services. Many people had negative associations with the building and the area surrounding it had attracted anti-social behaviour. The building has now been cleared away and the land opened up which has greatly improved the environment.

This work also helps to prepare the site as a longer term development opportunity whilst providing town centre parking for local residents and shoppers and bring in income to help the Council meet ever increasing budget pressures in the meantime.

Cllr Ron Woodley, Leader of the Council says: “I am delighted that this new public car park will be open well in time for the Christmas shopping season. It is a good use of the land and I am pleased to see it being used to provide more car parking for our residents, businesses and visitors. “This area will be used as a car park until any future plans for the regeneration of the Queensway area are carried out.” Standard town centre pay and display rates will apply and access to the car park will be off Essex Street.

Photo opportunity: Cllr Ron Woodley and Cllr Martin Terry will be available for a photo opportunity to mark the opening of the car park at 10am on Friday 12th September.