The Centre for Social Justice
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Councillor Peter Halliday, Leader of Tendring District Council (TDC), said: ‘It is a fact that
Clacton has changed significantly over the years and, in keeping with many other seaside
towns, its economy has altered dramatically. Like other resorts we face a number of
difficult challenges with more people choosing to go abroad for their holidays. That said,
we still get more than one million visitors a year spending almost a million pounds a day
in the district. One of our biggest challenges is to find ways to encourage them to return
so that we can make the very most of that spending potential. That is still very much a
work in progress.’
The CSJ was told that one of the biggest social problems is that the town has a high number
of houses in multiple occupation (HMOs). One official referred to it as ‘bedsit land’. The Essex
town is home to a large number of bed and breakfasts, many of which have been turned into
bedsits or other kinds of temporary accommodation. Another Pier B&B owner said: ‘Because
there aren’t as many tourists staying overnight many of us B&B owners have started letting
some of our rooms out to the council for emergency accommodation. It’s not what you want
to be known for, as it is hardly going to encourage business to your B&B, but you have to pay
the bills.’ A Government report said HMOs can have a negative social impact on areas and in
some cases lead to crime and anti-social behaviour.
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There is a forum of frontline organisations and individuals, Clacton Central Community
First, that comes together to discuss social problems and ways of countering them. One
forum member said: ‘One of the biggest problems is HMOs – overcrowding brings so many
problems to a society. Clacton simply doesn’t have the resources or things in place to help
people. Local people are doing their best to fight this, but it’s an uphill struggle and the
council and local authority only seem to be acknowledging this now.’ Concerns have been
expressed that HMOs can be detrimental to people’s health as well as the community. A
report by the University of Essex’s School of Health and Human Sciences recently looked at
the mental health of vulnerable people living in bedsits in seaside towns and found that the
living conditions can have a significant impact on people.
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Councillor Halliday said: ‘There is an HMO problem in Clacton, especially in the Pier ward
which is in the heart of the town centre. We are tackling this by introducing new licensing
regulations to ensure that properties must come up to a certain standard before they can
become HMO.’
Some officials in the town have said that there has been an increase of HMOs since the
Tendring Night Shelter was opened in the town around four years ago. The shelter aims to
provide support so clients can become independent. Residents, who are allowed to stay for
28 nights, are provided with support from Tendring Mental Health Support and local charities.
After clients of the shelter complete their stay, many move into HMOs and need continuing
support. The shelter has drawn in some people from other parts of Essex and further afield
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Department for Communities and Local Government,
Evidence Gathering – Housing in Multiple Occupation and possible planning
responses – Final Report
, London: Department for Communities and Local Government, September 2010, pp6-7
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Barratt C, Green G, Speed E, Price P,
Understanding the relationship between mental health and bedsits in a seaside town
, University of
Essex School of Health and Human Sciences and Tendring District Council, 2012 [accessed via:
bedsits_and_mental_health_report.pdf
(16/07/13)]
who have then remained in Clacton and continued to use local services. One former shelter
resident said: ‘The night shelter is a life saver. It offers great support, but obviously it means
there will be more people moving from different areas to Clacton so they can get help.’
Tracy Cooke, from Clacton, is the co-ordinator at the local Salvation Army Community
Centre, which runs a food bank service. She said: ‘The rise in food we hand out in recent
years has been incredible and is no longer sustainable so we are having to move to another
delivery model so we can cope with the demand. I have been here for seven years and in
the first two years we would have the occasional family coming in for food on referral. But
in the last four years we have seen a major increase. Our majority client base changed from
older people to males aged 25-45 who may be staying in bedsits or are couch surfing. In the
last year we gave out 2,500 food parcels, which I could never have expected.’
A frontline service provider said: ‘The picture of life in Clacton and where the town is going
is really frightening. What has happened here is indicative of many seaside towns, but much
more could be done. We would like to see more done with the Big Society Fund. Many
people lack the basics for getting into work or training, like something as obvious as a fixed
abode. More funding to social enterprises could improve the situation.’
The TDC has said that if it was given greater powers to deliver services, the local area would
benefit. Ian Davidson, Chief Executive of TDC, said: ‘Giving greater power and accountability
to the districts could help solve the problems in our local areas. We are on the ground and we
have the local knowledge and an understanding of the local agencies. If it’s done at a local level
you can actually switch money to being less reactive and more proactive. We recently ran a
‘families with complex needs’ pilot and it worked very well because we could co-ordinate
it better with the local agencies. We would like to see this delivery model used more in the
future – it is better for the taxpayer, the community and people we want to help.’
The local authority has agreed the town ‘is not fulfilling its potential’ and that it ‘lacks a
distinctive quality tourism/visitor offer’.
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As well as improving current facilities, the council has
said it needs to develop new ones. It has been reported in local media that a £30 million
development may be outlined soon.
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While fresh investment in the Pier area will be widely welcomed, it is becoming clear that
seaside towns, like Clacton, can no longer afford to rely solely on tourism and will need to
build a more stable economy.
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Tendring District Council and INTend,
Celebrate-on-Sea, Putting the fun back into Clacton!
gov.uk/sites/default/files/documents/business/regeneration/clacton/Celebrate%20on%20sea%20reduced%20file%20size.pdf (29/07/13)]
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This is Total Essex,
Cause for optimism in Essex ‘benefit ghetto’ says council
Cause-optimism-Essex-benefit-ghetto-says-council/story-19068629-detail/story.html#axzz2ZmR4gTSD (22/07/13)]
Greg_L-W. said…
presumably Chris Pain is expected to follow the example of the Tory MEP Roger Helmer who announced he was about to retire but when his party rejected his ultimatum to replace him with his chosen successor he dishonourably withdrew his resignation and announced his support for UKIP and now sits as a UKIP supporting MEP, as a member of the racist, anti homosexual, Holocaust dennying, xenophobic and extremist EFD Group!
That those who have worked closest to Chris Pain, namely his co elected Councilors and others have chosen NOT to remain in support of Farage’s centralised, authoritarian, racist and clearly corrupt party – may just provide an indication of just how corrupted UKIP has become.
I freely admit that I did not believe Chris Pain would have the required clout and guile nor the cash or clout to achieve his aim to clean-up UKIP from within.
We should all be aware just how many UKIP executives, staff and claque have records for repeated dishonesty and convictions for defrauding the public purse or are under investigation for their frauds.
That UKIP’s selection processes are suspect is hardly surprising based o n their proven track record of rigging elections.
Chris Pain & his fellow supportive Councillors and supporters can fulfill THEIR elected term and we will see at the next election just how they have acquitted their duty to their electorate – Though I doubt their ability to acquit their core duty towards the policy of Leave-The-EU.
In real terms UKIP has consistently failed in domestic politics despite the surge in popularity of the aim to Leave-The-EU – a message UKIP has diluted with idiotic obsession with drink, fags and internal squabbling.
There is no denial that Farage is a competent opponent of EU membership but clearly he surrounds himself with weak and self serving low lifes unfit for purpose without gravitas or ability.
UKIP can not achieve anything long term with merely the one performing monkey – no leader of ability, no strategy, no tactics and not even a clear EU exit & survival plan – Just personal ambition and a thirst for seats on the gravy train.
Regards,
Greg_L-W.
http://UKIP-vs-EUkip.com
Greg_L-W. said…
attribution is NOT proof!
We do know and it is provable fact that UKIP leadership team will willingly lie to protect their income stream.
I understand the police have been unable to prove racist postings on the internet in this instance – however there is no doubt that Gerard Batten a UKIP MEP has published and promoted material which is likely to cause racial hatred and UKIP’s EFD Group are beyond doubt inclusive of known racists, anti homosexuality, violence, Holocaust denial and anti Judaism this is the group of EU politicians which Nigel Farage chairs!
Perhaps some balance would help and though I hold no brief for Chris Pain or his supporters likewise I do believe in justice and honesty.
Please note the claims made against Chris Pain and others who seek to clean-up UKIP are all too often made by cowards sheltering behind anonimity and without honour, integrity or credibility.
I have no reason to believe that Chris Pain posted racist material or acted in a racist manner other than via UKIP contacts and we KNOW UKIP is not to be trusted.
That is not to say Pain did not post such material.
Perhaps the dictum of innocent until proven guilty should be given greater credence!
Regards,
Greg_L-W.