Pier Plan Re-think

PLANS to privatise Southend Pier could be scrapped under the new council administration.

Last October, the then-Tory-led council revealed that the seafront icon could be sold to a private operator as part of urgent cost-cutting measures.

Initially, businessman Philip Miller who owns Adventure Island was mooted as potential operator, but without confirmation.

The pier makes an annual £190,000 loss for the council, and previous plans discussed options to make sure it “pays its way.”

Now, the new Labour-led administration is confident losses can be overcome by hosting additional events on the pier to galvanise the pier’s full potential

Matt Dent, Labour councillor responsible for culture, tourism, and business, reportedly said: “At the moment nothing has been formerly decided, but our instinct is we think there is a lot of capacity within the council that hasn’t been fully utilised in terms of managing the pier.

“As portfolio holder, my feeling is it is better keeping it in house. We are already planning a lot more events on the pier to draw people there.

“Revenue is there to be generated, and that revenue coming into the council directly can then be put into improving the pier and helping fund vital services that are under strain.

“No formal decision has been made, but our instinct is to probably abandon those plans to find a private operator.

“There is a lot of potential for Southend Pier. There is also a lot of enthusiasm and talent within the council, that I feel hasn’t been properly utilised in making the pier the best it can.

“With sourcing to private companies, we have seen things like the Kursaal, and how it could go horribly wrong.”

Tony Cox, leader of the Conservative group, and key in previous proposals for subletting the 1.3-mile icon, reportedly said that the news was “disappointing.”

He added: “There were a whole raft of things as to why it made sense. Considering the output, the numbers, and how things are in terms of buying tickets, no online offering, the IT systems.

“I feel a commercial operator would have made a great success of it.”

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