A new viewing terrace, offering panoramic views across the Blackwater Estuary, is to be built at St Lawrence Bay this summer.

The £15,000 terrace, which is the first of its kind along the river, will be funded by the Essex Environment Trust, Maldon District and Colchester Borough councils.

The terrace has been chosen by St Lawrence Parish Council as its Millennium project.

Sited by the sea wall next to the Stone public house, the steel and fibre glass terrace will incorporate a bus shelter and give views across river and saltings habitats including Osea Island, Bradwell,Tollesbury and Mersea Island. The structure will include disabled access, seating and a tourist information point.

Work is expected to start at the end of June. It is expected to be completed by the August Bank Holiday weekend so that its opening can coincide with the regatta to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Stone Sailing Club.

Chairman, John Browne, said this week that villagers hoped the terrace would raise the profile of the village to allow plans for the community's first village hall, at an estimated cost of up to £200,000, to go ahead.

Although St Lawrence has a population of only 670 this swells to over 2,500 in the summer months, he explained.

Community events now have to take place in either the village's church centre or at the sailing club.

Land at the centre of the village has already been earmarked for a purpose built hall and planning permission has been secured.

"We are hoping that this viewing terrace will really put St Lawrence on the map," he said. "The Blackwater is now used extensively as a leisure facility and St Lawrence is a centre for that.

"We really need to use the millennium celebrations as an opportunity to get stuck into the future of our village.

''The terrace will be a base for St Lawrence to set out its stall for the future, at the same time reflecting the community's long maritime heritage."

An artist's impression of the St Lawrence Bay viewing terrace.

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