A COUNCILLOR has demanded an overhaul of Southend’s drainage system before any more major new developments are approved.

Southend seafront has been transformed in recent years with the installation of the City Beach, but new developments are set to continue that transformation.

A hotel is being built on the former gas works site in Eastern Esplanade and another is planned nearby, together with a block of flats. The Seaway car park is also set to be transformed with new shops, a multiplex cinema and restaurants.

But Martin Terry, councillor responsible for public protection, waste and transport said these developments will add to an increasing flooding problem on the seafront, and an overhaul of the drainage system by Anglian Water is needed.

Speaking after a torrential downpour last week, which devastated businesses for the second time in 13 months, Mr Terry said the council refers applications for new developments to Anglian Water for its opinion before granting planning permission but rarely receives a negative response.

Mr Terry said: “One thing that particularly galls me is that anyone can legally apply to build anything anywhere in the town.

We contact the water authority and say can we plug 200 new homes into the pipes and they say yes.

“We have got a new hotel going up and another block of flats on the gas works site. They have got to admit their infrastructure doesn’t have the capacity.”

But Emma Staples, from AnglianWater, said the company does make suggestions before responding to applications. She said: “Very rarely do we just say yes without any conditions or recommendations being lodged.

It is not in our interest to say yes without careful consideration as it is Anglian Water who have to adopt the systems once the development has finished, and we have to pick up the tab of future maintenance.

“We therefore have a strict policy that any development must not cause a deterioration of services and it must ensure existing customers are protected.

“More often than not, we will stipulate conditions on developers to ensure a robust plan is in place to protect existing customers against flooding. No construction or occupation of the properties is allowed until this plan is put in place. We also make recommendations as required.

We ask developers to complete pre-planning applications to ensure they can safely connect into our system to protect existing customers.”