March 13, 2003
Southend Council's cabinet members will be asked to agree the proposals as the sole trustee of the charity originally set up by local benefactor R A Jones which administers the park.
In a report to the cabinet, town clerk George Krawiec said: "The council has a legal duty to decide upon the proposals in good faith, acting exclusively in the best interests of the charity and park users with regard to Priory Park."
Independent legal opinion has said the park would benefit from investment if the scheme went ahead amounting to £100,000 which would not be possible otherwise.
The overall opinion was the interests of the charity had been sufficiently addressed despite the short term disruption which would be caused.
This would come from the laying out of a new footpath in the park and the construction of a new entrance on the site of two houses which were demolished by the council last year.
Mr Krawiec said 612 copies of a letter apparently prepared by the Parklife pressure group had been received.
Of these, 202 were from addresses outside the borough boundary. In addition, there were four other letters of objection.
A final decision on whether the council should allow the work will be made at the end of April.