A £2.5M scheme for a rollercoaster over Southend's world-famous pier was today revealed by the man behind the Adventure Island theme park.

Entrepreneur Philip Miller is planning a 650-metre family rollercoaster, modelled on a scenic railway, over or around the Adventure Island site and on both sides of the pier.

Southend Council's cabinet will look at the proposal in September, when it will be asked to give its backing as the pier's landlord.

Mr Miller said today: "This is not going to be a white knuckle ride or anything like that, but the emphasis will be on the family, as is the whole of Adventure Island.

"I suppose you could describe the proposal as something like the old scenic railways which were so familiar in the past."

Mr Miller said if permission was granted, the new ride should be in use by the beginning of the summer season in 2004.

Published Wednesday August 14, 2002

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