Listed status could save ‘brutal’ Southend library building

12:00pm Monday 3rd September 2012 in Local News

Mark Sharp, Patsy Link and John Bully outside Southend Central library

A PROTEST group has applied for listed building status for Southend Central Library in a bid to protect it when the new library opens next year.

Campaign group Saxon King in Priory Park, known as Skipp, hopes the Seventies building, in Victoria Avenue, can be turned into an arts centre to house the
Beecroft collection, when the new £27million library, the Forum, opens off Elmer Avenue in September next year.

Member Mark Sharp, who submitted the online application to English Heritage on Monday, said: “The building itself has architectural merit.

“It’s a brutalist structure, but a very good brutalist structure. Of all the Sixties and Seventies architecture in the town, it’s the one that works.”

Mr Sharp submitted a large number of photographs of the glass and concrete building, which was completed by borough architect R Horswell in 1974 and features an inner wall, clad in ceramic tiles,
in an abstract design by Fritz Stellar.

The library is one of the most used in the country, but Southend Council plans to close it when the Forum, which will be shared by the University of Essex and South Essex College, opens.

The council, which is set to launch a cost-cutting review of its library services on Tuesday, is yet to decide a future for the present building.

Skipp has prepared a business plan suggesting it could be used to house exhibitions, film screenings and arts workshops. Heritage Minister John Penrose turned down an application to list the
building last year, based on advice from English Heritage.

The organisation said it would look at the new application, but “significant new information” about the historical or architectural interest of the building would need to be produced.

A spokesman said: “Particularly careful selection is required for the listing of post-war buildings and after considering the case, the Central Library building did not meet the high architectural
standard that is required when designating buildings from the period after 1945.”

Rob Tinlin , chief executive of Southend Council, said: “We will await the decision of the Secretary of State, although we are conscious of the fact a
similar request was declined in September 2011.

“The council is considering future uses for the property once the new joint library, the Forum, is ready in 2013.”

Westcliff library, London Road, is already a listed building.

Comments(20)

Saxonpride

says…

12:40pm Mon 3 Sep 12

What awful people.
Saxonpride

EssexBoy1968

says…

12:49pm Mon 3 Sep 12

Hang on a minute, I was under the impression that the library building was in such a state of disrepair as to be beyond economic use. Additionally we were told the building is ( presumably always has been) unfit for storing books etc.
With this in mind, why would SBC decide to house their art collection there – unless, of course, someone has misled the residents forced us into “accepting” an unnecessary new library which will (in all probability) have restrictions on it’s use by residents in favour of students.
Also, what has a 1970s “Brutalist” building got to do with the displaying of Saxon artefacts in Priory Park?
EssexBoy1968

beyond the valley of the asbos

says…

1:04pm Mon 3 Sep 12

they’ve got a point. it’s a great building
beyond the valley of the asbos

EssexBoy1956

says…

1:56pm Mon 3 Sep 12

It’s only artyfarty architect types that would want to preserve the building. It may well be a “good brutalist structure”, but that’s like saying it’s pretty ugly (which it is, and always has been). I wouldn’t even bother flattening it, on the grounds that would cost the taxpayer. Take the books out, put a barrier round it and let it rot. In another 40 years it might start to look attractive.
EssexBoy1956

j-w

says…

1:57pm Mon 3 Sep 12

[quote]Also, what has a 1970s “Brutalist” building got to do with the displaying of Saxon artefacts in Priory Park?[/quote]
That Is no longer the point of the group, their aim is to be an UNELECTED thorn in the councils side, sticking their collective noses in to anything that the council consider a good idea and they don’t, as they are still smarting from being evicted from Cuckoo Corner and having to pay £55000 costs.
j-w

V_is_back

says…

2:02pm Mon 3 Sep 12

They have a point. If the building is used as an arts centre it will save Southend council tax payers untold millions in consultation fees, surveyors fees, building contractors fees etc.
All of which will be SBC’s spendthrift choice if they get the chance. There’s nothing they like better than throwing our money away as if it falls from the sky like rain.
V_is_back

Max Impact

says…

3:17pm Mon 3 Sep 12

Not ANOTHER skip story, fed up with them, they seem to have a season ticket on the echo letters page!

The Beecroft Gallery should be going onto the Cliffs Museum.

Have they actually thought about the cost of converting the building?

It is not anywhere near as easy to convert as they think, the building is in essence an open atrium, not very good for what they want, also the roof is knackerd and needs replacing.

Why do they not concentrate on what they were founded for instead of becoming a serial protest group against any progress in Southend.
Max Impact

Nebs

says…

3:19pm Mon 3 Sep 12

More chance of my garden shed getting listed than that carbuncle. Knock it down and build something useful there, like a multi storey car park for commuters.
Nebs

V_is_back

says…

3:19pm Mon 3 Sep 12

[quote][p][bold]Max Impact[/bold] wrote:
Not ANOTHER skip story, fed up with them, they seem to have a season ticket on the echo letters page!

The Beecroft Gallery should be going onto the Cliffs Museum.

Have they actually thought about the cost of converting the building?

It is not anywhere near as easy to convert as they think, the building is in essence an open atrium, not very good for what they want, also the roof is knackerd and needs replacing.

Why do they not concentrate on what they were founded for instead of becoming a serial protest group against any progress in Southend.[/p][/quote]Open atriums seem to work very well for the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum, the National Gallery…
V_is_back

V_is_back

says…

3:20pm Mon 3 Sep 12

And converting an existing building will be a LOT cheaper for Southend’s hard-pressed council tax payers than demolishing the library and constructing a new building.
V_is_back

V_is_back

says…

3:22pm Mon 3 Sep 12

Oops. Sorry, I forgot who I was talking to. Southend council could say they were going to build a new gallery out of gold bricks with diamonds for windows and their spin doctor Max Impact would be on here cheering them on.
V_is_back

Max Impact

says…

3:44pm Mon 3 Sep 12

Darn right it would prove a massive tourism draw, also those stocks I brought in a gold mine wouls rocket in value…. PLEASE BUILD IT PLEASE BUILD IT.
Max Impact

Keptquiettillnow

says…

4:08pm Mon 3 Sep 12

Once its gone, fits in with the plan to build an access road/bridge over the railway tracks to ease the congestion once the Tesco is built.
Keptquiettillnow

Babbish1

says…

4:45pm Mon 3 Sep 12

[quote][p][bold]Keptquiettillnow[/bold] wrote:
Once its gone, fits in with the plan to build an access road/bridge over the railway tracks to ease the congestion once the Tesco is built.[/p][/quote]TESCO? What Tesco? Where can I find out about that?
Babbish1

JAS1983

says…

5:25pm Mon 3 Sep 12

This sound to me that SKIPP are being very devious, and once again will be ‘standing up for the majority’… I suspect there is more to this than meets the eye, maybe if listed, they know the council will have a useless building on their hands, so then when the cliff development goes ahead, or starts to, they will say that the council already have a building and throw yet another spanner in the works of moving Southend forward.
Mark, if you want to have a say for us as a town, please get elected as a councillor.
JAS1983

V_is_back

says…

5:58pm Mon 3 Sep 12

[quote][p][bold]JAS1983[/bold] wrote:
This sound to me that SKIPP are being very devious, and once again will be ‘standing up for the majority’… I suspect there is more to this than meets the eye, maybe if listed, they know the council will have a useless building on their hands, so then when the cliff development goes ahead, or starts to, they will say that the council already have a building and throw yet another spanner in the works of moving Southend forward.
Mark, if you want to have a say for us as a town, please get elected as a councillor.[/p][/quote]But the council DO already have a building: the library. It doesn’t take SKIPP or anyone else for Southend’s council tax payers to see that.

Southend council just want to waste more millions of OUR taxes on their vanity projects.

At a time when they are stealing the food from the mouths of pensioners and the disabled in the name of ‘cuts’, they should be cancelling ALL these multi-million pound projects.

It’s disgusting that they think a new museum/library etc. is more important than the wlefare of the town’s people.
V_is_back

Max Impact

says…

6:47pm Mon 3 Sep 12

V_is_back wrote:

JAS1983 wrote: This sound to me that SKIPP are being very devious, and once again will be ‘standing up for the majority’… I suspect there is more to this than meets the eye, maybe if listed, they know the council will have a useless building on their hands, so then when the cliff development goes ahead, or starts to, they will say that the council already have a building and throw yet another spanner in the works of moving Southend forward. Mark, if you want to have a say for us as a town, please get elected as a councillor.

But the council DO already have a building: the library. It doesn’t take SKIPP or anyone else for Southend’s council tax payers to see that. Southend council just want to waste more millions of OUR taxes on their vanity projects. At a time when they are stealing the food from the mouths of pensioners and the disabled in the name of ‘cuts’, they should be cancelling ALL these multi-million pound projects. It’s disgusting that they think a new museum/library etc. is more important than the wlefare of the town’s people.

The new Library and Museum proposals are both capital projects the money used for them can NOT be re-directed to prop up other services.

The current library is no longer fit for purpose, its an out dated building in need of major investment, the rook is knackerd, the is not the space to expand and noise carrys when they have the kids events.

Are you skipp’s Echo poster?

So I take it with you being so against the new library you will never use it, the square outside it or the large TV that is planned I also take it that should the museum be built you will never use it nor will you make used of the restored Cliff gardens over the top of it?

[quote][p][bold]V_is_back[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]JAS1983[/bold] wrote: This sound to me that SKIPP are being very devious, and once again will be ‘standing up for the majority’… I suspect there is more to this than meets the eye, maybe if listed, they know the council will have a useless building on their hands, so then when the cliff development goes ahead, or starts to, they will say that the council already have a building and throw yet another spanner in the works of moving Southend forward. Mark, if you want to have a say for us as a town, please get elected as a councillor.[/p][/quote]But the council DO already have a building: the library. It doesn’t take SKIPP or anyone else for Southend’s council tax payers to see that. Southend council just want to waste more millions of OUR taxes on their vanity projects. At a time when they are stealing the food from the mouths of pensioners and the disabled in the name of ‘cuts’, they should be cancelling ALL these multi-million pound projects. It’s disgusting that they think a new museum/library etc. is more important than the wlefare of the town’s people.[/p][/quote]The new Library and Museum proposals are both capital projects the money used for them can NOT be re-directed to prop up other services.

Are you skipp’s Echo poster?

V_is_back

says…

6:50pm Mon 3 Sep 12

Max Impact wrote:

V_is_back wrote:

JAS1983 wrote: This sound to me that SKIPP are being very devious, and once again will be ‘standing up for the majority’… I suspect there is more to this than meets the eye, maybe if listed, they know the council will have a useless building on their hands, so then when the cliff development goes ahead, or starts to, they will say that the council already have a building and throw yet another spanner in the works of moving Southend forward. Mark, if you want to have a say for us as a town, please get elected as a councillor.

But the council DO already have a building: the library. It doesn’t take SKIPP or anyone else for Southend’s council tax payers to see that. Southend council just want to waste more millions of OUR taxes on their vanity projects. At a time when they are stealing the food from the mouths of pensioners and the disabled in the name of ‘cuts’, they should be cancelling ALL these multi-million pound projects. It’s disgusting that they think a new museum/library etc. is more important than the wlefare of the town’s people.

The new Library and Museum proposals are both capital projects the money used for them can NOT be re-directed to prop up other services.

The current library is no longer fit for purpose, its an out dated building in need of major investment, the rook is knackerd, the is not the space to expand and noise carrys when they have the kids events.

Are you skipp’s Echo poster?

So I take it with you being so against the new library you will never use it, the square outside it or the large TV that is planned I also take it that should the museum be built you will never use it nor will you make used of the restored Cliff gardens over the top of it?

It isn’t about whether I would use it, it’s about the monumental waste of money on vanity project when people are suffering due to cuts.

When you’re broke you don’t build a swimming pool in the garden, you pay the bills and feed the family.

Southend already has a library, Southend already has a museum. There is no need for this massive waste of taxpayers money.

[quote][p][bold]Max Impact[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]V_is_back[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]JAS1983[/bold] wrote: This sound to me that SKIPP are being very devious, and once again will be ‘standing up for the majority’… I suspect there is more to this than meets the eye, maybe if listed, they know the council will have a useless building on their hands, so then when the cliff development goes ahead, or starts to, they will say that the council already have a building and throw yet another spanner in the works of moving Southend forward. Mark, if you want to have a say for us as a town, please get elected as a councillor.[/p][/quote]But the council DO already have a building: the library. It doesn’t take SKIPP or anyone else for Southend’s council tax payers to see that. Southend council just want to waste more millions of OUR taxes on their vanity projects. At a time when they are stealing the food from the mouths of pensioners and the disabled in the name of ‘cuts’, they should be cancelling ALL these multi-million pound projects. It’s disgusting that they think a new museum/library etc. is more important than the wlefare of the town’s people.[/p][/quote]The new Library and Museum proposals are both capital projects the money used for them can NOT be re-directed to prop up other services.

Are you skipp’s Echo poster?

When you’re broke you don’t build a swimming pool in the garden, you pay the bills and feed the family.

Southend already has a library, Southend already has a museum. There is no need for this massive waste of taxpayers money.
V_is_back

beyond the valley of the asbos

says…

7:17pm Mon 3 Sep 12

oh dear the ghost of shoebury cyclist in the vicinity
beyond the valley of the asbos

Max Impact

says…

7:36pm Mon 3 Sep 12

V_is_back wrote:

Max Impact wrote:

V_is_back wrote:

JAS1983 wrote: This sound to me that SKIPP are being very devious, and once again will be ‘standing up for the majority’… I suspect there is more to this than meets the eye, maybe if listed, they know the council will have a useless building on their hands, so then when the cliff development goes ahead, or starts to, they will say that the council already have a building and throw yet another spanner in the works of moving Southend forward. Mark, if you want to have a say for us as a town, please get elected as a councillor.

But the council DO already have a building: the library. It doesn’t take SKIPP or anyone else for Southend’s council tax payers to see that. Southend council just want to waste more millions of OUR taxes on their vanity projects. At a time when they are stealing the food from the mouths of pensioners and the disabled in the name of ‘cuts’, they should be cancelling ALL these multi-million pound projects. It’s disgusting that they think a new museum/library etc. is more important than the wlefare of the town’s people.

The new Library and Museum proposals are both capital projects the money used for them can NOT be re-directed to prop up other services. The current library is no longer fit for purpose, its an out dated building in need of major investment, the rook is knackerd, the is not the space to expand and noise carrys when they have the kids events. Are you skipp’s Echo poster? So I take it with you being so against the new library you will never use it, the square outside it or the large TV that is planned I also take it that should the museum be built you will never use it nor will you make used of the restored Cliff gardens over the top of it?

It isn’t about whether I would use it, it’s about the monumental waste of money on vanity project when people are suffering due to cuts. When you’re broke you don’t build a swimming pool in the garden, you pay the bills and feed the family. Southend already has a library, Southend already has a museum. There is no need for this massive waste of taxpayers money.

How many times do you need telling.

Capital Project funds can not be used for the proping up services how hard is that to understand.

Its the rules set by Central Government and the council can not change anything with that rule.

As you ARE V in the Vicinity you should know that as you have been told before.

[quote][p][bold]V_is_back[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]Max Impact[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]V_is_back[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]JAS1983[/bold] wrote: This sound to me that SKIPP are being very devious, and once again will be ‘standing up for the majority’… I suspect there is more to this than meets the eye, maybe if listed, they know the council will have a useless building on their hands, so then when the cliff development goes ahead, or starts to, they will say that the council already have a building and throw yet another spanner in the works of moving Southend forward. Mark, if you want to have a say for us as a town, please get elected as a councillor.[/p][/quote]But the council DO already have a building: the library. It doesn’t take SKIPP or anyone else for Southend’s council tax payers to see that. Southend council just want to waste more millions of OUR taxes on their vanity projects. At a time when they are stealing the food from the mouths of pensioners and the disabled in the name of ‘cuts’, they should be cancelling ALL these multi-million pound projects. It’s disgusting that they think a new museum/library etc. is more important than the wlefare of the town’s people.[/p][/quote]The new Library and Museum proposals are both capital projects the money used for them can NOT be re-directed to prop up other services. The current library is no longer fit for purpose, its an out dated building in need of major investment, the rook is knackerd, the is not the space to expand and noise carrys when they have the kids events. Are you skipp’s Echo poster? So I take it with you being so against the new library you will never use it, the square outside it or the large TV that is planned I also take it that should the museum be built you will never use it nor will you make used of the restored Cliff gardens over the top of it?[/p][/quote]It isn’t about whether I would use it, it’s about the monumental waste of money on vanity project when people are suffering due to cuts. When you’re broke you don’t build a swimming pool in the garden, you pay the bills and feed the family. Southend already has a library, Southend already has a museum. There is no need for this massive waste of taxpayers money.[/p][/quote]How many times do you need telling.

Capital Project funds can not be used for the proping up services how hard is that to understand.

Its the rules set by Central Government and the council can not change anything with that rule.

As you ARE V in the Vicinity you should know that as you have been told before.
Max Impact

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Listed status could save ‘brutal’ Southend library building

Listed status could save ‘brutal’ Southend library building