Southend Pier - What happens next?

Ask anyone who's heard of Southend to name one thing associated with the town, and chances are, it'll be the pier.

At one and a third miles, Southend's most famous landmark is the world's longest pleasure pier. The original opening was back in 1830, and in 1890 the first electric trains started running the length of the pier.

The Pier at Southend-on-Sea The pier's had more than its fair share of bad luck in recent years:

1959 - Fire destroying the land-end pavilion, which was to be replaced by a bowling alley some years later
1976 - Fire at the pier-head
1986 - A tanker, the MV Kingsabbey, crashed into the pier, creating a 70 foot gap
1995 - Another fire at the pier, this time at the land end, destroying the bowling alley
2005 - Another fire at the pier-head

The investigation into 2005's fire reveals a catalogue of errors, and with the cost of restoring the pier head, plus the costs of improved fire protection equipment, the future of our pier is unclear.

Many locals may remember a plan to revamp the pier - involving a rollercoaster called The Swine. The plan was put together by a local businessman, and would have meant that the pier would become a commercial concern, instead of being looked after by the council

The plan, however, was rejected, and the council has been looking after the pier ever since. Recently, they've replaced the old bridge with a new steel-and-glass construction, and installed a glass lift (currently out of order).

On 23 June 2006, a notice appeared in the Evening Echo announcing a planning request to develop on the land to the east of the pier (referred to as 'South Station'). The company behind this, is Epic World Leisure, and from looking at their website, they're proposing to pump £45 million into the re-development of the pier. This would include major redevelopment of the Pier, including new buildings at the Pier entrance and Pier Head, replacement of the trains with new air-conditioned stock, and the installation of tourist attractions including a rollercoaster. If this bid is accepted by the Council, the Company will invest some £45 million pounds in the project to make the Town and the Pier a major tourist attraction for the south-east of England.
If you're interested in finding out more, there's a website at www.atlantiscity.co.uk - there's also an animated fly-through available showing the proposed new look pier.

Update: Exclusive Interview!!

We've managed to secure an exclusive interview with the Chairman of Epic World Leisure, and quizzed him about the plans for revitalising our pier.

Have a listen in the pilot episode of a new upcoming Southend Podcast series.

Your vote: What should be done with the Pier?
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Southend Pier Head June 2006

The Perspex Thing

In 2006, the council has installed a perspex 'thing' on Pier Hill. Difficult to know how to describe it - it's obviously intended to be 'art', and the coloured lights appear to represent audio waveforms. We'd love to know if anyone actually likes, or wanted, this 'thing' blocking the view of the pier from the land.

Pier Hill Thing

As of June 2006, this 'thing' has already been scratched and scrawled on by the locals, and now has condensation stuck between the perspex layers - it's only a matter of time before the flashing lights stop flashing, and it gets covered in graffiti and posters, even though it has two CCTV cameras trained on it. A good use of council funds? Please vote below:

Your vote: What do you think of the Perspex Thing?
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Got anything else to say about Southend? Please visit our forum

Visiting Southend Pier:

If you're thinking of coming to Southend to visit the pier, see our Visiting Southend page for some useful links
Need the Pier's postcode for your Sat Nav? The Pier has a museum at the land end. The postal address is: Southend Pier (Shore End), Marine Parade, Southend-on-Sea, Essex SS1 1EE

Southend Pier - What happens next?

Update: Exclusive Interview!!

Southend Pier Head June 2006

The Perspex Thing

Visiting Southend Pier:

Other pier links: