TRAVELLERS have pitched up at the Kursaal overnight, Southend’s councillor responsible for community safety and public protection has revealed.

In an X post, James Courtenay said they descended on the closed seafront site’s car park.

The space was used for the old Rendezvous casino, which was pulled out of the Grade II listed building in 2020.

It now provides a parking space for customers using the site’s Tesco Express store.

Mr Courtenay said: “We’ve had some travellers over the last few days.

“Southend Council and Essex Police’s response has been swift and proportionate.

“Overnight, they’ve turned up at the Kursaal Tesco car park.

“The council is liaising with the landowner and offering support to move the travellers on.”

 

The 120-year-old building lies almost vacant, with the supermarket chain being the only remaining tenant.

But with negotiations in the works for the council to buy back the 200-year lease from London-based property group AEW, the piece of Southend’s golden age could once again be brought back into community use.