Fears flats may replace landmark seaside venue

Southend-on-Sea City Council owns the freehold of the land but London-based property group AEW has a 200-year lease on the Kursaal building

A failure to protect an unused seafront landmark could result in plans being submitted to turn it into flats, a former councillor fears.

Kay Mitchell, a former independent councillor spoke at a meeting to urge Southend City Council to seek help from the government regarding the former Kursaal theme park and entertainment centre.

She hoped it could bring the endangered building, thought to be the world's first entertainment park, back into council control from London-based property group AEW, which has a 200-year lease on the building.

The Labour-led council said it would remain open to discussions about how it might help them achieve a better outcome as it recognised the Kursaal's importance to Southend.

'Awful planning decisions'

The Kursaal Amusement park was designed by George Sherrin in 1896 and completed in 1901.

Historic England, described the building as the remnants of the original development from Southend's Edwardian boom period.

The Victorian Society regards is as a building worthy of restoration.

During a meeting the Local Democracy Reporting service said Ms Mitchell called on Paul Collins, the councillor responsible for finance, assets and investments, to reveal his "plan of action" and to contact the secretary of state "to intervene".

She raised concerns the building could be viewed as a "prime" spot for development and highlighted work carried out by community group Concrete Culture who pushed for the building to become a market.

She added: "If the Kursaal building is left any longer without action, I imagine we are likely to see an application to build flats in the not too distant future, rather than securing this iconic building for future generations.

"The city is losing so much architectural heritage through awful planning decisions and it would be devastating to see the Kursaal on the scrap heap due to complete inaction."

Southend hitmakers the Kursaal Flyers outside the venue, which was on the touring circuit and hosted acts including Deep Purple, Queen and Dr Feelgood

In reponse, Mr Collins said: "The council and its cabinet would like to see a long-term sustainable use of the Kursaal and has had several discussions with the leaseholder’s representatives on how we might assist them in bringing the site back into better use.

"We remain open to discussions to all parties that have influence, as to how we might help them achieve a better outcome... as we do recognise its importance."

The Kursaal featured a fairground with rides, including this picture of the rollercoaster from 1957

A motion calling on the new Labour-led administration to "take steps" to get control of building and bring it back into use will be debated at a full council on Thursday.

The Tory motion will urge the council to take legal action because the lack of maintenance meant the Kursaal was had "fallen into a state of disrepair" and the operator was "in breach of the terms of the lease".

Conservative councillor David Garston said: "We’re getting absolutely nowhere on it. I’ve had written questions on it before.

"The council does own the lease and we ought to be able to require them to at least do it up, even if they won’t let us have it."