LET’S face it, congestion on our roads is only going to get worse, especially in the South-East.

As the population increases, there are going to be more drivers, and as a result, more cars on our roads.

Parking is therefore at a premium for those wanting to visit our towns. Shoppers and visitors are, however, spoilt for choice, with other attractions and indeed out of town shopping malls providing viable alternatives.

Therefore, it is heartening to know that Southend Council is doing all in its power to ensure the town remains a top destination for leisure-seekers and shoppers alike.

Southend already has plenty to offer with its seafront attractions, but the town centre desperately needs a revamp, which would hopefully lead to new businesses being attracted to open in some of the premises which currently lie vacant.

The construction of a plethora of new flats, which will completely transform the town centre and seafront, are a major step in the right direction.

Providing additional parking will not be easy, but innovative thinking and planning can often lead to solutions and at least councillors are not sitting and burying their heads in the sand.

The fact that the continuing improvement of Southend is being placed so high on the political agenda deserves both support and praise.

At this rate, the town will become a prime destination of choice and those who are working so hard to make it so have already made significant progress.