Political Viewpoint

BY James Miller Leader of Southend’s Confelicity Party.
How long before Southend Labour “move the service provision’ and close every library in Southend?
I ask this because Coun Cowan, Southend Labour leader and leader of Southend City Council, spoke about how clever it was to provide the same service but more efficiently. Hence, retain library services by moving into the back of an existing building and save the money; then use the space for something that might generate income for the council.
Sound logic on paper, but ripping part of the heart of a community is not a positive move in the lives of local people who use it often – almost 30,000 visits last year. If all library buildings were closed across Southend and the “provision” moved into the back of some building that service will quickly disappear as it won’t be used.
For instance, where exactly did the service provision go when Thorpedene library closed? Does anyone know? What we have now is a derelict building and for what? A nominal saving in comparison to the budget and a library lost. The same will happen to Southchurch Library if, as Southend Labour hope for, it is demolished. Yes, the smoke and mirrors trick of “moving the provision” technically means they would have retained the service, but we’re not that stupid. It is a closure and every other library will be subject to the same threat under this administration.
What is even more galling is the false premise in which they have justified the demolition. In the present Cabinet meeting Coun Robinson, reading the prepared council report, stated the £250K repair bill for the building was just for the outside.
This is untrue. The 2023 Condition Report carried out by the council runs through in great detail every aspect of repairs required – inside and out. And much of the identified repairs were aesthetic. Coun Cowan stated the building was “beyond repair”, but the only item defined as this was the hot water cooler! While it is clear the building needs some love, it has stood tall for over 50 years and with the right will it could continue for another 50.
Miraculously out of nowhere, Coun Dent declares that the cost of the repairs is, in contradiction to their own report, actually £325K. Where this fresh figure has come from is currently a mystery, but an FOI will be asking for the answer.
Almost 400 residents signed the e-petition started by Confelicity, which was the reason the Cabinet were discussing in the first place. Coun Dent stated that residents were unaware that they weren’t just demolishing Southchurch Library, they were in fact moving it.
However, the petition clearly stated this, so I find this view impossible to believe. He also stated it wasn’t done in “good faith” and was politically motivated due to the election. Of course it is politically motivated – it is a policy and Confelicity oppose this vehemently. The only way a party without a seat can bring this to Cabinet’s attention is through an e-petition. Moreover, it is not our fault that they instigated such a policy so close to the elections!
Although Southend Labour are sticking to their guns having completely ignored the 400 residents who signed the petition, Confelicity will continue our campaign to save Southchurch Library.
Speaking of e-petitions, I have failed in my mission to launch an advisory local referendum on whether Southend residents are in favour of building on our green belt.
It was turned down by the council on the basis that a public consultation had already been carried out via the Local Plan. This is plainly ludicrous.
Firstly, almost everyone has no idea what the Local Plan is, how to access it and how to fill it in. It was something like a 600 page document and you had to find section 3a/b to provide your views on the green belt. Most importantly, it did not provide the opportunity for the public to state whether we would like it built on or not. With only 600 residents filling out that section of the Local Plan and without the option of allowing us to express our views on green belt building, it was comprehensively not fit for purpose.
As it stands we have no formal knowledge of how residents feel and it will be left to a small group of councillors on the Planning Committee in September as to whether we will have another 10,000 plus unaffordable houses not prioritised for local people concreted right next to us. Environment wrecked; food production wrecked; infrastructure and public services left impossible to cope; clogged roads and more pollution.
I will escalate this e-petition as high as it needs to go until we are given our democratic right to vote on what will fundamentally change our lives.
We will not be giving up on Southchurch Library or Bournes Green green belt land and I hope very much that anyone reading this might contact us and join our campaign.
Picture: James Miller Leader of Southend’s Confelicity Party.
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