A freedom of information request to Southend Council revealed a 199-year lease was signed with the Rowallan Group in April 1998. The current lease to property investment company AEW was extended to 250 years in March 2018.
At the time, the Conservative administration was led by former councillor John Lamb but the council says the matter “did not go to cabinet or any other council committee” and was signed off by council officers under “delegated authority per the constitution”. It is unclear whether councillors were aware of the extension.
The domed Grade II listed Kursaal, which opened in 1901, was once home to thriving leisure businesses, including a popular bowling alley, but has lain empty and forlorn in recent years with many fearing the structure could be damaged.
Southend councillors and Southend East and Rochford MP, Bayo Alaba, have recently held meetings with AEW over the Kursaal’s future but there is currently no news of the building being put to use.
Lee Clark from Southend’s Confelicity Party submitted the request. He said: “Southend residents need to know why a 250-year lease was given in the first place because it’s disgusting to see such an iconic building crumbling before our eyes and just becoming another eyesore rather than the building it once was.
“I have faith we will have the Kursaal back but it should have been given to someone who cares, who understands what Southend and the Kursaal means to so many people.”
Mr Clark added: “There should be consequences for those involved and they should never have the opportunity to make such a monstrous error in the future.
“They should apologise to the residents of Southend and do everything possible to rectify it by making sure the Kursaal has a future for decades to come so we can see the dome in all its glory instead of being a home for the pigeons.”
Mr Lamb and the Conservative Group have been approached to comment.