Work on a new £500,000 lifeboat station for Southend could start this autumn, the RNLI revealed today.

Later this month plans for the new base at the far end of the pier will go before the town's councillors.

If given the go-ahead, the new two-storey station which will have a 'strong maritime feel', could be open in the year 2000.

It has been almost three years since plans for a new station were originally conceived.

An initial scheme was rejected by the council amidst concerns about its impact on the historic pier sundeck which formed the roof of the current station.

The deck is in a poor state of repair and has been closed off to the public for many months due to safety reasons.

The state of the sundeck is also a major impetus for the RNLI to build a new station.

Howard Ritchings, the RNLI's senior works manager, said: "We have compiled another design which has been submitted to the council. If they and English Heritage agree to the plan, we can start work in the autumn, with a view to it being finished in mid 2000.

"The design has got to be right for the pier. It will be a two-storey structure with a strong maritime feel, and although it will be modern, the exterior will be in keeping with the historic nature of the pier."

The building will house two of the pier's three lifeboats, and will have a crew room, changing area, and a souvenir shop.

Mr Ritchings added: "It will be quite an interesting job as we will be restricted by having to transport all materials a mile and a half down the pier.

"Southend is unique in having its lifeboat station in this position.

"It is also one of our busiest stations and these two facts mean a crew is stationed down there almost all the time during the summer so the new station will have better facilities for our volunteers."

In the meantime, a temporary station is being erected where the lifeboat will be stored while work takes place.

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