A £15 million vision for the future of Southend Pier has been unveiled by council leaders.

Ambitious long-term plans were revealed, which include forging links with a private company to breathe new life into the landmark.

The announcement follows years of campaigning by the Echo. Proposals include:

Replacing the pier railway with a new rail system or using cable cars as transport to the pier head

Extending the Pier Museum to the North Station to provide better access and more space for exhibits.

An escalator link with the High Street

Providing more car parking and better access to the seafront from the existing Seaway car park

Widening the walkway to provide room for street entertainment children's play areas retail space and a land train

Looking at significant development on the pier head.

A developer has yet to be chosen but the council plans to begin work on finding one in the new year.

It has identified a number of short-term proposals in its scrutiny committee report on the future of the pier which will need to take place before the long term aims can be realised.

They include re-decking the fire-damaged pier head and refurbishing its toilets, demolishing the old pier and foreshore office on Pier Hill, knocking down the loading jetty and looking at changing the road layout on the seafront.

The proposals will complement projects unveiled earlier this week under the Objective Two initiative.

Schemes could eventually include:

A new pavilion with a restaurant on the platform area at the shore end of the pier for conferences and banquet events. A covered walkway at the entrance would be included;

A cyber cafe and entertainment space following repair of the damaged pier head. This would encourage private investment;

The building south of the RNLI boathouse could be renovated into a Pier Second World War experience, including a recreated anti-aircraft post.

Council leader Charles Latham said: "The pier is the most important aspect of the town and although the council is spending a substantial amount of money this year in maintaining and improving the infrastructure of the pier for too long it has been neglected and has lacked a positive plan for future development."

Work being carried out on the pier this year includes building a replacement lifeboat station and improving the sewage treatment system.

The council carried out a consultation exercise earlier this year with businesses, residents and schools giving evidence to a special committee of councillors which has drawn up the new report. The Echo gauged the views of readers before editor Martin McNeill presented the findings to the committee.

New era for pier - Southend councillors Tony North, Howard Briggs and Charles Latham launch new plans for the landmark

Picture: ROBIN WOOSEY

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