A NEW STREET MARKET FOR WESTCLIFF
One of the strongest ideas to come from the first community High Street Task Force meetings and picked up by Hamlet Court Calling is the idea of bringing a new street market to Hamlet Court Road.
A destination market, drawing in both locals and visitors from across the city and beyond, could inject life into the road, create jobs and boost the local economy.

It will need to attract people, so it could be a farmers market, perhaps with a flea/vintage/bricabrac offer – somewhere to pick up locally grown , low cost food and browse for value clothing and
interesting items. This could help support the local independent shops, the numerous
charities and the bar/café culture in the road. Wouldn’t it be great if Westcliff became
a high footfall centre the place for vintage and pre-loved goods!

A market that supports our young people is also a possibility, providing somewhere that young
entrepreneurs can launch their small business at low/no cost.
We think there is an early consensus that the market should not be a general
household goods market

We already have the space for a market in the widened section of the road, south of
St Helen’s Road, with road closure demonstrated by the ‘In Harmony’ event.
Or there’s the car park on London Road.
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This will need public consultation and the chance for traders and the public to give their views.
Look out for your chance to have your say in due course.

But for now, this early stage proposition has been put to Southend City Council with a detailed document justifying the advantages of a local market. There is a great deal of evidence from across the country that good markets can transform places, to the benefit of local businesses, the city economy and, most importantly, the wider community. Markets have been found to bring mental health benefits and community bonding.
The project is in the early stages but if you have a comment on a local market
please email us at info@hamletcourtcalling.org
Watch this space as we shall be reporting the progress of the market proposal at key stages here and on social media.