Southend is bidding for cash from a £50million Government pot but it will have to be quick.

Councillors at Tuesday's cabinet meeting will be told the cash, from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, would have to be largely spent by March 2005 and applications would have to be submitted by September 10.

Technical services director David Watts said a number of possible ideas had been developed.

They included further enhancement of the council's promotional materials, information technology and key sector research, establishing an industrial estate enhancement and refurbishment programme and developing new premises for Prospects College to establish a regional centre of vocational skills.

Published Thursday September 2, 2004

Brought to you by the Evening Echo