Southend's cliffs could collapse onto the seafront closing a section of Western Esplanade, council leader Howard Briggs has warned.

A localised "disaster" is predicted by consultants because Southend Council cannot raise the £35million urgently needed to shore up the cliffs, he told councillors last night.

A cash contribution from the proposed £130million Westcliff supercasino project is the most promising source of cash to repair the landslip, he added.

Mr Briggs said: "Given the information in our possession, this council in reality is faced with a choice between accepting the localised disaster scenario and that one of the most loved areas of the town will look like a permanent bombsite or of looking at different ways to address the funding issue for the restoration of the cliffs.

"If and when negotiations commence with Westcliff Casino it is our intention to seek a substantial premium which we could use for this purpose."

He spoke at last night's economic scrutiny committee which agreed the full council - which meets next Thursday - should decide whether the authority was willing to give further consideration to the proposals.

The scheme includes expanding Westcliff Casino to include a 150-bedroom luxury hotel, a 1,250 delegate conference centre and three blocks totalling 171 flats.

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Published Friday December 10, 2004

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