Southend traders urge calm as business halves after violent scenes

By Christine Sexton, Local Democracy Reporter

Traders have revealed business has been slashed in half in the days following violent scenes in Southend – warning any troublemakers to “pack a toothbrush” if they’re heading to the city.

Seafront business owners have spoken out to reassure tourists and residents that the city is “safe” despite the violent mayhem on Tuesday, when rival gangs fought with machetes on a seafront.

Footage showed men fighting with large blades by the beach and high street.

Families and tourists have been quick to say they will avoid the city and seafront in coming weeks following the trouble, with traders fearing the machete-wielding yobs have badly dented the city’s image.

Paul Thompson, owner of Pebbles One café on Marine Parade and a member of the Southend Seafront Traders’ Association, said: “Following on from what happened on Tuesday, it’s absolutely dead, the whole town.

“Hotels are getting cancellations. We’re 60 per cent down on what we should be. This is our peak season.

“We’ve got our own little police station down here. It is a safe place. In the day it’s perfectly safe. We’ve got private security.”

Philip Miller, owner of Adventure Island, insisted Southend is the “safest seaside resort in the country” with added police present at all times following the chaos.

He said: “We have a semi-permanent police station along Marine Parade manned by high double digit numbers of police officers.

“They have fast access for back up officers if required, including helicopters, dog units and level two policemen. We also have the excellent British Transport Police who keep our train travellers safe and who also feed intelligence back.”

Miller added: “On top of that we have our own highly trained team of security personal court ready CCTV. There is town link radio where we can talk business to business and make contact with the councils CCTV HQ with a direct contact with the police.

“If you want to visit Southend and look for trouble, don’t forget your toothbrush.”

Martin Terry, councillor responsible for community safety. added: “Southend is not a dangerous place to come. A load of outsiders took it upon themselves to come to our city and cause trouble. Police have given us assurances they will have adequate resources in place to ensure public protection and community safety.

“I’m confident police will act in a way that will prevent these things from happening again.”

(Local Democracy Reporting Service)