The Grand Hotel

More years ago than I really care to count I played at the Grand Hotel; I was a singer and guitarist in a band in my early twenties. Over the years I have seen many acts play in the upstairs function room. The Grand also functioned for me as a regular haunt for drinking with friends - it was a very busy venue for many years and had a real buzz about the place.

Sadly, it fell out of popularity and soon became a tired and pale shadow of its former self.

Now, it stands empty, seemingly unloved and neglected. Yet, whilst clearly neglected I do believe it is actually cherished, especially by those who recall the happy days of the past.

Perhaps it is a testament to modern life that this beautiful building stands near-derelict.

It is a wondrous building to behold, something majestic in the heart of Leigh. If nothing else, the external visage must be retained because nothing like it will be built again in this area.

We have had a  number of false starts as regards to putting life back into the Grand, and maybe it is the cynic in me that thinks some of this is because the developers want to radically alter the building. I hope I am wrong.

Whilst we should not obstruct progress, neither should we see culturally important heritage architecture trashed in the rush to develop an area. I hope The Grand's structure is largely preserved for future generations to enjoy.

Another day spent trying to save Leigh Post Office

Saturday morning, 10 till 12. Many signatures collected, many conversations had.

Save Leigh Post Office campaign day

Cllr David Norman turned up to lend his support

It was a little chilly but that did not dampen the enthusiasm of those who attended the Save Leigh Post Office Campaign Day. Two hours of light snow, near-freezing temperatures, plenty of signatories to the petition, and many toots from passing motorists. This is an important campaign, and one I reckon can be won by people power.

Alex Nicholas, Ashleigh Condon, Mike Smith

A young man who wants his post office kept open

A good crowd assembled by midday

I did not count all who attended the event, numbers that grew considerably during the two hours that it ran for. It was mostly Labour Party members, but we had Greens and at least one Tory, plus a media celebrity.

Phil Jupitus and Ashleigh Condon

This is not a Labour campaign, but it is a campaign supported by Labour in Southend.

I encourage you all to like the Facebook page.

Protest against Leigh Post Office Closure

PRESS RELEASE

Protest against Leigh Post Office Closure

Customers of the Post Office in Rectory Grove, Leigh-on-Sea, are becoming increasingly upset and angry that their branch is to be closed, and they are preparing to show their feelings this coming Saturday. Members of the postal workers union, the CWU, Southend’s Trades Union Council and the local Labour Party have joined forces to organise a campaign outside the branch between 10:00 am and 12:00 noon on 11th February.

During the rally local residents and customers of this branch will have the chance to sign a petition and discuss their concerns about what closure will mean for them. Several Southend Labour Councillors have expressed their concern and will be present at this rally.

As in other cases, where large organisations make decisions that affect ordinary lives, many local Leigh people feel powerless to have their say about what will happen next, as the Post Office has not consulted them over the future of their branch. However, it is possible to complain to the local MP and Councillors, and questions can be put to the PO's Communications and Corporate Affairs Team - Laura.tarling@ postoffice.co.uk

To make this event more unique there will be a Lightning Demo for 2 minutes at 12:00 noon, when as many people as possible will be able to join together for a mass photo to show our opposition to this proposed closure.

A special banner has been produced with the slogan: “Save Our Post Office”, and this will be on display on Saturday. A Facebook Page was set up on 30th January to publicise this campaign and by 7th February it already had 479 “likes” with growing support every day. https://www.facebook.com/saveleighpo/

 

A community is more than just a collection of customers - save Leigh post office

https://www.facebook.com/saveleighpo

I think Post Offices are important. I think this for a number of reasons.

The most obvious is the services they provide. Whilst some of what they offer is available elsewhere, the local post office is still the go-to place for so many things.

The post office is trusted in ways that make them the envy of many businesses. You can trust your local post office.

Service is a word that comes to mind when I think of post offices. An unhurried and genuine service, so often absent in other places.

Whilst mergers may make business sense, depriving a community of its post office diminishes that community, much like closing a library, or public convenience. A community is more than just a collection of customers.

Please like the SAVE Leigh-on-Sea Post Office Facebook page.

A resident complains about the gas mains repairs in The Fairway

Whilst I think all would agree that replacing and repairing gas mains is a good idea, some are less than content with the planning, communication and disruption.

Here is what one resident thinks:

Whilst I appreciate that these works have to take place,  it's frustrating that no formal notification was sent out to me or my neighbours, meaning aside from the signs which went up along the A127 I was completely unaware of the extent and duration of works, or the proposed detours until the day before when I contacted my local councillors.

We are fairly fortunate that at the moment the children are off school which should make this easier in the mornings at least, but I can already see there being a mass of congestion because of a lack of planning and alternative routes.

Yesterday evening my journey home took around 25 minutes longer than normal and I noted that the traffic at Progress Road was still stacked way back towards Rayleigh at gone 7pm when its normally quite clear at this time.  This morning it seemed that the lights to the right of The Fairway had been adjusted to allow more cars through to aid with congestion, however those immediately to the left had not, meaning the traffic would bunch up more making it impossible to exit or turn into the Fairway safely.

For the second phase of the works, where the main entry to The Fairway is to be closed, the current proposed detour means over a minimum 10 week period, I will be travelling around an extra 300 miles to get into work etc.   I am not on a realistic public transport link to where I work and having walked the proposed route, I am not convinced that the roads in question around the Bellhouse Lane area are suitable for the weight of traffic that will be coming through.

Chris Adley

Wayletts, Old Eastwood Road

Chris is not the only resident to have made their feelings known to me, but they are the first since the roadworks went in.