Essex’s youth jobless capital ????

MissAdventure

Southend/Westcliff has it's share of issues, despite it's beautiful pld buildings.
A lot are part of bedsit land now, and privately let houses of multiple ovcupancies.

Indeed! I’ve lived in Westcliff for 37 years, it’s not the same place I moved too, but guessing this could be said of many places.

It’s sad though because many of the beautiful old houses are now flats and our once quaint High Street, Hamlet Court Road, is anything but quaint!

Sigh 😕

Southend/Westcliff has it's share of issues, despite it's beautiful pld buildings.
A lot are part of bedsit land now, and privately let houses of multiple ovcupancies.

grumppa

At least Southend, whither I am heading tomorrow, has some fine Regency architecture, and desirable suburbs in Westcliff, Chalkwell, Leigh and Thorpe Bay, as well as two commuter lines into London. Nothing as arthritic as Frinton or as sad as St. Osyth.

There’s a lot of good stuff in those areas, enjoy your visit,

Btw I love St Oysth and Frinton, fine places but not exactly “commutable” easily unless one drives.

At least Southend, whither I am heading tomorrow, has some fine Regency architecture, and desirable suburbs in Westcliff, Chalkwell, Leigh and Thorpe Bay, as well as two commuter lines into London. Nothing as arthritic as Frinton or as sad as St. Osyth.

I really hope so.
Fingers crossed.

MissAdventure

Clacton has been in decline for years.
Lets hope the man with the bin on his bonce is able to at least try to solve some of the issues, instead of just "shining a light" on them.

Who knows, maybe all this publicity being received by Clacton may actually bring focus to the place, you just never know 🤷🏻‍♀️

Mr Google tells me this:-

“The biggest employer in Clacton is Tendring District Council, which employs between 500 and 600 staff and casual workers at its town hall and leisure centers.

The local authority is closely followed by major private employers, including Clacton Pier, which employs about 250 workers during the peak summer season, and the town's retail, hospitality, and care sectors.

Because Clacton’s economy heavily relies on tourism and services, there are no large-scale industrial factories. Instead, the top employers are anchored in:

Public Sector: Tendring District Council (Local government, leisure, and administration)
Tourism & Leisure: Clacton Pier and surrounding holiday parks like Parkdean Resorts
Care & Healthcare: Care homes and agencies like Bluebird CareRetail & Hospitality:

Supermarkets and chain restaurants (such as the Popeyes UK location on the Brook Retail Park)“

I can add that there are many nice restaurants and pubs in the areas surrounding Clacton.

Like my largest town (City), Southend, Clacton’s high street and pier areas are quite run down (though Southend has some nicer areas, I certainly wouldn’t choose to currently visit the top end of the High Street unless going to the Cinema)

Clacton has been in decline for years.
Lets hope the man with the bin on his bonce is able to at least try to solve some of the issues, instead of just "shining a light" on them.

Graphite

We know what some of the issues are with seaside towns. Low paid, low skilled seasonal work and poor transport links.

I can’t speak for Suffolk and Norfolk but for Clacton I expect one would have to travel into London or at least Colchester to find better paid work. I believe the train line into Colchester isn’t very reliable and the bus takes an hour.

How does a town attract inward investment if transport links to get goods in and out are poor?

If you know the area, Cossy, what would you suggest to create more local employment? I believe £60 million has been invested in the town recently. Do you think it has been spent well?

From that 2024 report:

16.3% of people in Clacton-on-Sea (town) are under 16 years old, and 29.8% are aged 65 and over. For context, the England average was 18.6% and 18.4%, respectively.

Is part of the problem that it has a much larger elderly population so fewer working age people who might want to develop businesses?

Just throwing out a few thoughts really because you have to identify the problem before you can start to resolve it.

There are plenty of affluent areas in and around Clacton, so like everywhere it’s not all doom and gloom.

I don’t think the issues and problems there are that much different to where I live in South East Essex.

I’ve got the train many times between London and Clacton, it’s not a bad service but may mean changes at Colchester.

It’s also got good road links for those who drive.

It does suffer, as do all English seaside towns, from seasonal work but has lots of things going on, including theatres, gigs and the annual Clacton air show.

Like many seaside areas it does have a lot of retirees, a lot of east end London people came to Clacton to retire for many years, attracted by low property prices, beaches, pubs and clubs.

It needs an injection of cash and a lot of motivation.

I hope AB initiatives for young people will have a positive effect on the town.

We know what some of the issues are with seaside towns. Low paid, low skilled seasonal work and poor transport links.

I can’t speak for Suffolk and Norfolk but for Clacton I expect one would have to travel into London or at least Colchester to find better paid work. I believe the train line into Colchester isn’t very reliable and the bus takes an hour.

How does a town attract inward investment if transport links to get goods in and out are poor?

If you know the area, Cossy, what would you suggest to create more local employment? I believe £60 million has been invested in the town recently. Do you think it has been spent well?

From that 2024 report:

16.3% of people in Clacton-on-Sea (town) are under 16 years old, and 29.8% are aged 65 and over. For context, the England average was 18.6% and 18.4%, respectively.

Is part of the problem that it has a much larger elderly population so fewer working age people who might want to develop businesses?

Just throwing out a few thoughts really because you have to identify the problem before you can start to resolve it.

Cossy yes I agree with you regarding Lowe.

I also agree that Farage hasn’t done anything (that we know of) for his constituents.

Graphite

The number are similar for other coastal towns in the east - Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft also Reform/Restore.

commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/sn05871/

However much I despise Lowe (Reform), at least he donates his MP salary each month to a local charity and meets with his community.

The number are similar for other coastal towns in the east - Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft also Reform/Restore.

commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/sn05871/

GrannyGravy13

Cossy not sure this can be blamed on Mr Farage, Clacton has pockets of poverty and unemployment, has done for many years.

He hasn’t helped the situation though.

Of course I don’t blame him, but I cannot condone the fact that he’s done zero to help it.

Like you, I know this area well and it’s always had deep pockets of deprivation, especially Pier Ward and Jaywick.

But honestly, given Mr Farage has chosen to leave them totally without an MP whilst he throws his theatrics, has not turned up for one single council meeting, rarely turns up to vote in Parliament, and when he does votes against the very things his constituency needs, like employment rights, renters rights, cannot possibly know what affects his community as he’s rarely there and doesn’t hold conventional surgeries, I don’t think he’s done a lot to help this situation.

Mind you, it’s Frinton Cricket week this week so he might just pop in there!

Cossy not sure this can be blamed on Mr Farage, Clacton has pockets of poverty and unemployment, has done for many years.

He hasn’t helped the situation though.

I doubt much has changed since this was published by the old DLUHC in March 2024.

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67cf11d775d299c71177bd1a/_WITHDRAWN_Clacton-on-Sea.pdf

See the chart on page 4.

And:

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-65984429