Travellers again. You have probably heard that most seafront businesses have closed or been advised to close because of the latest large group of travellers pitched up at the Kursaal. They have been going in places mob handed and taking stuff, then threatening to kill staff that approach them about it. I've just been told by a couple of seafront traders that they went into the Kursaal Tesco with a large mob of both sexes and all ages, and almost cleared out the place. They took all the food and drink they could off the shelves. The police came, but as usual wouldn't approach the untouchables on their temporary site. They only approach them to hand them the silly bit of white paper, not about any crimes. The men got very drunk in The Hope a few nights back, had an argument with staff, and then wrecked the place. Any non travellers doing this stuff, would be arrested and charged. It's all on CCTV.
Just now from the Echo.
Business bosses say they cannot re-open until a large group of travellers have left a seafront site, after multiple reports of the group causing issues and forcing firms to shut.
Paul Thompson who runs Pebbles One Cafe and Baskin Robbins on
Southend seafront said he cannot re-open and will not until the group leaves the Rendezvous Casino car park at the Kursaal site.
He said: "The travellers have been terrorising our businesses including mine and our pubs too. They've been threatening to kill my staff and we've had to call police a few times too. It's not good enough and police and Southend Council are not doing enough.
"I do not want to open until they've gone - my staff have been crying and don't want to work due to the abuse and threats. They're very intimidating. We were shut for a long time due to Covid-19 and now we've got all this."
