Southend's police chief today spoke of his fears over the town's booming nightlife.

Chief Supt Mick Thwaites is concerned about a lack of trained security staff and CCTV coverage around clubs.

Public transport is also not good enough to support yet more night-time venues, he said.

Mr Thwaites was commenting after plans for a 400-capacity nightclub in the basement of Zanzibar restaurant, in Alexandra Street, Southend, were revealed.

Proposals for the nightspot will be discussed by Southend Council's licensing committee on Monday.

The news comes a day after plans for a 900-capacity nightclub, hotel, bars and casino at the back of the old Keddies building, in Chichester Road, Southend, were announced.

Mr Thwaites said: "The number of clubs isn't the issue.

"Do we have well-trained nightclub staff and door supervisors, do we have enough cameras monitoring the venues?"

A town centre working group with representatives of the buses, trains, taxis, clubs and business are working to produce a crime reduction strategy with night transport a key issue.

Paul Sutton, Southend Taxi Drivers' Association chairman, said: "My personal view is the infrastructure we have is not capable of dealing with the numbers of people."

Andy Artemi, joint owner of Zinc, in Lucy Road, Southend, said: "If this new nightclub is offering something rather unique, it may attract outsiders and that would be great for Southend, but if not we will all suffer."

Published Wednesday, April 9, 2003

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