A scheme to develop a marina village at the site of Shoebury barracks has been welcomed as "exciting and interesting" by MP Sir Teddy Taylor.

The scheme, which has been put forward by one of five bidders, aims to create a new marina village on the site of the former barracks bringing development totalling £50 million.

Sir Teddy, Conservative MP for Southend East and Rochford, has said that the shortlisted scheme by the Lewis Harris Partnership is interesting, but, more than ever, requires the building of a Southend bypass road.

Ward councillor Verina Wilson has also welcomed the plan, on the condition that development is sympathetic and considerate to the wishes of Shoebury residents.

Sir Teddy said: "My hope is that if this plan goes through, the council will take the need for a bypass road more seriously My fear is it would simply make the roads more congested.

"If it was to be used purely as housing, I would deplore it. But it is exciting and interesting.

"There are going to be five schemes and all will involve more people and more transport.

"If it does go ahead, I hope the council will ask for a new bypass road."

Tory Verina Wilson said Shoebury residents would be guarded about any development that involved housing and had strong convictions regarding alterations to open park space. She added: "My own view is that a marina would be excellent news.

"It is something that all three of the Shoebury councillors wanted to see included in the brief. I think it is an ideal site for it. And it would bring people to Shoebury who would use the facilities that are already in the area.

"So it would revitalise the shops - and a lot of the things that have died a death since the garrison moved out would also be revitalised.

"If it is a balanced development, I think it is something we would welcome."

Final bids to develop the site, owned by the Ministry of Defence, will be submitted tomorrow.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.