Southend-on-Sea’s historic listed Kursaal building has been targeted by vandals, prompting an urgent call to action from the local MP.
Labour’s Bayo Alaba, the MP for Southend East & Rochford, has urged the owners of the iconic building to address the damage without delay following the discovery of a smashed window on one of its upper floors.
The Grade-II listed structure, which stands as a cherished symbol of Southend’s seaside heritage, has fallen on hard times and remained empty for some years, save for a Tesco convenience store.
Since then, it has been beset by problems, including pigeons nesting inside before remedial work was undertaken, and now appears to have been struck by vandalism.
Mr Alaba said: “I share disappointment at the damage to the window at the front of the Kursaal.” He added that he has “requested that the issue be inspected urgently and that the necessary repairs are carried out.”
Lee Clark, standing as the Confelicity Party candidate for Kursaal Ward, also raised alarm at the damage to what locals consider a true emblem of the town.
“Residents see this as an iconic landmark-a true symbol of Southend-yet visible damage is growing and it raises serious concerns about what state the inside must now be in,” he said.
Matt Dent, the Labour councillor representing Kursaal ward, confirmed that local authorities are aware of the broken pane.
The Kursaal building has remained derelict since 2020
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He stated that the council is liaising with the leaseholder to ensure swift remedial action is taken.
“Restoring and protecting this landmark remains a priority for the council,” he said.
A spokesman for AEW, which holds the lease on the property, attributed the damage to local vandals.
“We are aware of the broken window which unfortunately is the result of local vandals. We are arranging for it to be repaired,” the spokesman said.
The Grade-II listed building first opened in 1901
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Southend Council, which retains the freehold of the building, has cautioned AEW that inadequate maintenance could constitute a breach of the 250-year lease agreement.
Such a breach could potentially enable the council to reclaim ownership of the site.
Earlier this year, the MP and local councillors met with AEW representatives to discuss options for returning the building to public use.
The Kursal was first opened in 1901 as one of the world’s first purpose-built amusement parks.
It is famed for its distinctive dome, designed by George Campbell Sherrin, which featured on a Royal Mail special stamp in 2011.
Between 1919 and 1934, the building was home to Southend United FC and also contained a greyhound racing track.
However, the majority of the park was closed in 1973 and finally shuttered completely in 1986.
A 1990s redevelopment saw the Kursal reopen in 1998, but by 2020 it was once again derelict.
