- Green Party campaigner AJ Sutherland criticises Southend Council for refusing to fix visibly damaged street signs.
- Leigh ward councillor Stuart Allen receives regular messages from residents that reports are being dismissed.
- The Green Party is urging the administration to take a proactive approach to infrastructure maintenance.
Green Party campaigner AJ Sutherland has criticised the Southend Council’s handling of reports of damaged street infrastructure, arguing that essential repairs are being ignored despite clear signs of damage.
AJ reported a leaning bus stop sign on Marine Parade in Leigh – tilted at an 11-degree angle – as well as a road sign on Tattersall Gardens that has been twisted 80 degrees in the wrong direction. Both did ‘did not meet the necessary requirements’ under the council’s current criteria. “These signs are visibly damaged and need fixing,” AJ said.
“Either the contractor isn’t doing its job, or the council is deliberately cutting corners to save money – all while residents face a 4.99% increase in council tax in April.”
“It’s hard to take pride in a city where basic infrastructure is falling apart,” he added.
Local councillor Stuart Allen, who represents Leigh ward, echoed these concerns. “The administration is pushing residents and councillors to report issues on mySouthend, but time-and-time again I receive messages from residents that reports are being dismissed. Pavements falling apart, signage damaged, bollards knocked over – all not meeting the said criteria.”
Building on their ‘Fix or No Fix’ social media campaign – which spotlighted ongoing issues with neglected infrastructure across the city – the Green Party is urging the administration to adopt a more proactive stance on maintenance. They’re also calling for greater accountability in ensuring that damage reported via the mySouthend system is swiftly and effectively resolved.
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