10-22-2009 JAR2 asks that you please support the local population of Southend-on-Sea in their fight against the razing of the local market and the loss of a part of the town's heritage, dating back almost 2000 years .
Masonic Hand in Southend-on-Sea Market Closure? Is this Progress?
Closure of
York Road Market, Southend-on-Sea
By
Michael John Smith
Southend-on-Sea Borough Council, based in Essex, a county in
the UK, have made a decision to tear down half of the old
historic part of the town, and to possibly replace it with
modern buildings. The local radio station and
the local newspaper are running campaigns to
slow down the potential damage that is expected to be done
to the town.
The immediate threat is to the old Victorian covered market
in York Road. The market traders were given only 3 days to
get out of their shops and to vacate the premises. Many of
these traders have been there for many years, and they are
upset at the damage that is being done to their businesses
and their futures. This is the
response of the local government website. They
claim that the market has become a hazard to the health and
safety of the local resident's and even went so far as to
commission a survey. However, the local government are
responsible for the York Road Market, and they allowed it to
deteriorate, deliberately, leading the inevitable demolition
of the market.
On 16 September 2003, the Council decided to restrict the
leases of the market traders, so that they could be evicted
quickly when a decision to demolish the market was taken. So
it is clear that this plan has been in the works for quite
some time.
The Council is responsible for maintaining the market, but
now, 6 years later, the Council have decided that "health &
safety" issues mean that the market must be closed and all
the traders thrown out onto the streets. I think this is
only a trick. The real reason to to shut down the market is
to enable the developers to make money.
How many of the local Council are Freemasons, and have an
interest with the contractors to make money out of the
redevelopment of this part of the town? This is what the
destruction of this old part of Southend really means to the
Councilors - an opportunity to make profits for themselves.
Another sad part of the story, and one the has international
ramifications, is that young
Russian cadets, who regularly visit Southend-on-Sea,
from
the famous sailing ship "The SS Sedov"
will be shocked to see that the Southend Council are tearing
down this historic part of the town.
Local radio on the closure of the market
Responsible parties for the closure. Are they all Masons?
Photograph of the York Road Market a few hours before closure, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, England October 17, 2009
The next day. The York Road Market Southend-on-Sea, Essex, England October 18, 2009