Half the cash to fund vital repair work to Southend's seafront illuminations is to come from the town's council.

Traders on the promenades had asked the authority to pay 80 per-cent of the cost of overhauling the lights to meet new health and safety requirements.

However, the town clerk and chief executive George Krawiec declared he would only match contributions from the businessmen on a pound for pound basis.

Speaking at last night's Southend Council cabinet meeting Mr Krawiec said: "There is no doubt that the responsibility for this work lies with the seafront traders but there is a real possibility that the illuminations next year will not take place unless the necessary financing is in place.

"I believe the position is no different to that of the town centre Christmas lights to which the council contributed last year on a pound for pound basis."

The cost of the works is £98,000 and the traders had asked the council to pay £80,000. Mr Krawiec ruled that the authority would matchfund any sum put forward by the traders, up to £50,000.

He added: "There are a significant number of business people on the seafront who put in more than they should, but there is also a significant number who do not put in as much as they should, and it is usually those who moan when things are not happening."

Executive councillor Nigel Baker (Lib Dem, Prittlewell) added: "We must make it clear to them that this is a one-off payment and we cannot continually drip money into this as we have other priorities for our budget.

Executive councillor Chris Dandridge (Lab, Victoria) said: "We do not want to return to the situation we had with the seafront traders ten to 15 years ago.

"But when we have a deficit in our social services budget we cannot afford to spend a lot on things like illuminations."

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