Hundreds of car enthusiasts descend on Southend seafront

Southend Seafront was brought to a standstill tonight, as hundreds of car enthusiasts arrived during a busy Bank Holiday Monday.

There was very heavy traffic between the Pier and Westcliff seafront, with travel times along the stretch of seafront taking up to 20 minutes.

Essex Police and Southend’s Community Safety Officers were patrolling.

Local resident Elaine Murrill said she doesn’t think car cruises are a problem: “We used to love this in the 80’s. Cruise night down Southend was always something to look forward to. If police say it’s a problem then there should be organised events. All they want to do is have somewhere to show off there cars.”

Another resident also supports these kind of events. Gaye Cullen said: “The second Saturday in the month in the 70’s was the Southend cruise night. All along the Golden Mile, it was a brilliant atmosphere, with loads of big American cars and bikes. Such wonderful memories.”

View a video from the scene here.

Car cruises in Southend, Essex, began in the 1960s as informal gatherings of car enthusiasts. They gained further popularity in the 1990s and Southend seafront often hosted the unofficial events.

Southend Council and Essex Police became concerned with a number of issues relating to the events including:

• Noise Disturbance: The revving of engines and the blaring of car stereos can disturb the peace and quiet of nearby residential areas. There have been frequent noise complaints from local residents.
• Public Safety: Large congregations of vehicles and spectators in one area can pose safety risks. Reckless driving, dangerous stunts, and overcrowding can lead to accidents and injuries.
• Environmental Impact: The concentration of vehicles, particularly those modified for performance, often leads to increased air and noise pollution. This can have adverse effects on the local environment and the health of residents.
• Traffic Disruption: Car cruises, especially when they occur on main roads or highways, can disrupt regular traffic flow and cause congestion.

In response to these issues, Southend-on-Sea Borough Council introduced an injunction, prohibiting car cruises to take place on the seafront unless authorised.