There’s A Lot Of Things People From Southend Don’t Know How To Use….

Martin Richardson, owner of the Happidrome amusement centre, in Marine Parade, added: “It’s an absolute joke and they don’t work properly. People from Southend don’t really know how to use them, so what hope do visitors have?”

Puzzled by the backhanded compliment? Yeah, me too…

Leaving that aside, yes, it’s Southend’s ‘shared space’ fiasco again; this time, the £241,000 – yes, £241,000! – new crossings installed after too many near misses.

Part of that eye-watering sum being the cost of doing them at night:

Andrew Lewis, Southend Council’s corporate director for place, said: “During these works, we considered it was essential to minimise disruption to road users, seafront businesses and visitors, so we budgeted for the extra costs needed for the work to be undertaken overnight and within a road closure.

“For these reasons, the costs cannot be compared with the costs of installing a regular push-button controlled crossing.”

Though it still doesn't resolve the question of why you didn't just install those instead, does it? But we do actually know why – it’s because you don’t like to be proved wrong, do you?

…Tony Cox, councillor responsible for transport, said: “ I'm puzzled as to why we are even talking about alternative crossings now, when this was agreed years ago. Members subsequently voted to implement the improvement works and agreed the budget for it – which has been stuck to.

“Using decisions taken years ago to rubbish an award-winning scheme distorts the true position.”

Not when that ‘award-winning scheme’ has been proven to be unsafe, no.