Southend-on-Sea City Council has retained the prestigious Purple Flag accreditation for its evening and night-time economy.
This is the ninth consecutive year that the council has retained the award having first been accredited in 2012.
Awarded by the Association of Town & City Management (ATCM), the Purple Flag aims to raise the standard and broaden the appeal of town and city centres between the hours of 5pm and 5am.
Areas awarded the Purple Flag are recognised for providing a vibrant and diverse mix of dining, entertainment and culture while promoting the safety and wellbeing of visitors and local residents.
Cllr Martin Terry, cabinet member for public protection, said:
“I am delighted Southend has again been awarded the prestigious Purple Flag accreditation because it recognises what the council and stakeholders have done to make the night-time economy safer and more welcoming. “This is the ninth consecutive year that the council has retained the award having first been accredited in 2012 – a fantastic achievement! “Some of the key reasons for our success is our great work in supporting rough sleepers, the wide range of ongoing and upcoming diverse projects in the area such as LuminoCity and last year’s Halloween Parade, and the running of first aid patrols. “Southend is a bustling vibrant city and I think it’s important to celebrate our Purple Flag status as acknowledgement of the hard work going on between all relevant agencies to make Southend-on-Sea a welcoming place to visit. “This award is credit to the work going on behind the scenes between the police, venue owners, charities, the council and others, to make sure people feel safe and want to visit the town at any time, day or night.”
