Southend's Victoria Plaza shopping centre is alive, well and facing the future with great optimist, according to a leading trader.

Tenants' association chairman Tony Belyavin spoke of his hopes for the 1960s complex and declared - we are facing our brightest period for 15 years.

He said that too many people had talked down the centre which provides a major pedestrian link between Victoria Avenue and Station and the town centre.

He added: "Make no mistake, Victoria Plaza is alive and fighting back and all the tenants, both independents and multiples alike, working closely with owners Bourne End, will return Victoria Plaza to an attractive shopping centre for Southend.

"We have established a positive working relationship with both Healey and Baker, the managing agents, and Bourne End managers and have the best communications and discussions regarding the future of Victoria Plaza than has been achieved for some considerable time."

Mr Belyavin insisted fresh plans to breathe new life into the centre will make the centre "a more attractive shopping experience" than it currently is.

He added: "What is more important is that it will not transform Victoria Plaza into the Royals or Bluewater thereby retaining its important character.

"Although it is indeed a disappointing blow that C & A is planning to move out, there is however, as I understand it from the landlords, good interest to replace them."

Mr Belyavin said the new Odeon multiplex cinema and the adjacent units had attracted many more visitors to the top end of the High Street and this in its turn was benefiting Victoria Plaza.

However, the proposed covering in of the escalators and providing doors to the various entrances to the centre would not be taking place.

He said: "The simple fact of the matter is the cost of putting a roof on and doors and all of the inherent legislative requirements make this a prohibitively expensive exercise, which I fear would ultimately mean the demise of small traders, the very heart of Victoria Plaza.

The centre was originally built in the late 1960s as part of the major redevelopment then planned for much of Southend. It replaced the former Victoria and Talza Arcades.

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