Leigh on Sea: We dwell in one among UK’s finest seaside city | UK | News | EUROtoday

A “wonderful” seaside city in Essex which has stored its “charming” character has a “can-do” spirit {that a} fashionable resort just a few miles down the highway desperately wants, locals have stated.

Leigh-on-Sea is a 15 minute drive from Southend-on-Sea however a world away from the resort’s hustle and bustle, in keeping with individuals who dwell within the coastal city.

Vicky Tabiner, 49, has lived in Leigh for seven years and moved to the city to get out of London. She hailed Leigh’s colleges, how protected it’s and its proximity to the capital, which is lower than an hour away by practice.

Much of the city’s inhabitants work in London and spend their cash in Leigh, in contrast to close by Southend-on-Sea, which takes barely longer to achieve the capital by practice and has a workforce which is especially based mostly regionally.

Leigh boasts a variety of colleges, together with non-public faculty, St Michael’s, impartial Saint Pierre and West Leigh Junior School, rated “outstanding” by Ofsted.

The common home value in Leigh was £454,228 over the past yr, in keeping with Rightmove, which stated most properties offered over the past yr had been semis, promoting for a median value of £479,145.

Locals within the city had been stuffed with enthusiasm for Leigh on a cold November afternoon, hailing its cultural scene, tranquility and bustling High Street.

Russell Campbell, 55, used to dwell in Basildon, however has been in Leigh for eight years and loves the place. He stated: “I like the people here. I like the art here, the music, and I like that it’s by the sea. I just like the whole feel about it. It’s quite arty. The people here are creative.”

Mr Campbell hailed the city’s vast alternative of eateries as properly, recommending The Sandbar, The Greedy Breakfast, The Boatyard, Stop the World Cafe and the Crooked Billet pub.

Tom Darwood, 78, was visiting Leigh from his house in Thorpe Bay. He stated: “Leigh has a cultural life which other towns like Southend don’t. It’s a wonderful place. Some talented people have emerged from here.”

This consists of Dame Helen Mirren, who was introduced up in Leigh-on-Sea, and the writer, John Fowles, who wrote The French Lieutenant’s Woman and was born within the city.

Husband and spouse, Linda and Leslie Catling, hailed Leigh’s pleasant and sociable locals. Celebrated because the “Banksy of Leigh” for her knitted postbox toppers, Linda, 78, stated: “We absolutely love it. It’s one of the nicest places we’ve lived in.”

Leslie, additionally 78, stated the city can get congested at instances and feels extra intense the nearer you get to Southend-on-Sea, Leigh’s bigger neighbour to the east.

Paul Craig, 74, from the Wirral, visits household in Leigh. He described it as a quiet place, including: “It’s a break from home. I’m a Wirral squirrel. It’s countryfied here. We’re minutes away from the countryside.”

Consultant, William Bouverie, 81, stated Leigh has managed to retain its allure, whereas different locations have not. He stated: “It’s always been a nice place. It still has a nice, friendly atmosphere. I’ve nothing bad to say about it.”

Mr Bouverie was talking in Broadway, Leigh’s essential procuring thoroughfare, which in contrast to plenty of UK excessive streets is essentially free of massive retail chains.

The route is lined with eateries, cafes and impartial outlets, together with Crave Bakery, butcher’s T. Harrison, The Fancy Fox Patisserie, Fives file store and florist’s, Pom Pom, to call just a few.

Lisa Spencer, Pom Pom’s proprietor, stated: “We love our independent High Street. It’s vibrant, friendly and creative. There’s a strong sense of community.”

Leigh’s retail provide seems to pale as compared with Southend’s, which locals and enterprise house owners have stated is a shadow of its former self.

Anna Firth, the previous Conservative MP for Southend West and Leigh, stated “bustling” Leigh has stored its character, arguing its instance may benefit Southend.

She stated: “It’s a wonderful catalyst for independent shops, which is all part of its charm… There’s a real pride in Leigh. People stay here and invest in their properties.

“There’s a giant neighborhood spirit right here. There are two thriving yacht golf equipment inside 300 yards of one another. What actually helps is Leigh’s can-do spirit.

“That same can-do, ‘let’s make the most of what we’ve got’, spirit is desperately needed just down the road in Southend.”