Southend Pass set to be available to all

February 10, 2021

The Southend Pass is set to be offered to residents from outside the Borough too, as the cabinet member for transport looks at boosting visitor numbers for the summer season.

The council’s cabinet will discuss extending the Southend Pass to anyone that wishes to buy it, as part of proposed amendments to the draft 2021/22 budget (cabinet, 16 February). It is hoped that expanding the offer to non-residents will help increase visitors to Southend-on-Sea throughout the year and boost the Borough’s economy.

The annual pass, which will cost £8.50 per month, will be available for use from 1 April 2021, and enable the holder to park in any council-owned car park or on-street pay and display parking bay in Southend for up to three hours at a time across each of the newly proposed four zones across the Borough.

At just £8.50 per month, the pass works out at 28p if used daily, 85p if used ten times across a month or £2.12 if used four times a month.

The pass will be available using the MOBON app. Once parked, activate your parking session on the app. Once your three hours have expired, you can top up your parking session with the app to extend your stay for the relevant additional charge.

For those who do not have access to a smart phone or the MOBON app, there are other ways to pay for the Southend Pass. Please contact the parking team on 01702 215003 for more information.

Cllr Ron Woodley, deputy leader and cabinet member for transport, capital and inward investment said: “The Southend Pass is a great parking offer and will be a benefit to both Southend residents and, if agreed by Cabinet, people who visit our great Borough regularly.

“We believe that opening up the Pass to people who live outside of the Borough will encourage more use of local shops and our many attractions. The more people who have the chance to buy the Southend Pass means more potential visitors to boost the local economy.

“Even if someone uses the pass once a week, they will still see incredible benefits, with parking costing the equivalent of £2.12 for three hours in each zone. The Pass will be ideal for people who live across south Essex and want to visit all our Borough has to offer.

“If you want to stay longer than three hours, you will be able to top up at the end of your parking session using the app or on a parking machine.

“The Southend Pass will help encourage residents and visitors to explore the town, visiting different shops, restaurants, parks and open spaces across the Borough, increasing the spend in local shops and boosting the local economy.

“It is also worth highlighting that as part of our fees and charges, visitors staying overnight in our hotels or guest houses will also still be able to access a 50% reduction off of the daily charge where the hotel is situated through the MOBON app.”

Anyone interested are asked to sign up to receive updates via email at www.southend.gov.uk/SouthendPassSignUp You will then receive notifications without any commitment to buy, closer to the time the pass launches. More information is available on our website: www.southend.gov.uk/southendpass