Southend's most famous landmark is in line for as much as £20million of private investment the Echo can reveal.

Southend Council says it is close to an agreement with the un-named investor, with a deal likely to be signed by the end of the year.

Council leader Ron Woodley says the council is still in talks with the company, with the council setting out several things it would not accept as part of any deal.

He has, however, confirmed the pier would still be owned by the council under any such deal.

The council has been looking for years for an investor to help revive the fortunes of 1.3 milelong pier and this is said to be the closest it has come to landing such a deal.

Mr Woodley said the investment would be spread over five years and that he was confident the deal would be done.

However, he also promised if it were to fall through, the council would now step in and invest in the pier itself.

He explained: “Residents have been waiting too long for an investment in the pier.

“If it doesn’t happen, we, as a council, will take that forward, because it is an icon to the town.

“We are close to agreeing the heads of terms with a potential investor and our officers are in discussions and going through the legal side now, as we have red lines that we don’t want to be crossed.”

In January, Independent councillor Mr Woodley confirmed a handful of companies had expressed interest in the pier.

At the time he said he would like to see a restaurant built on it.

Attempts by the previous Tory administration, which lost power in 2014, fell by the wayside for the want of an investor willing to plough money into the pier but not put off by its hefty maintenance bills.

Last year alone, it cost £1.4million to maintain, while earning just £617,000 for the council, despite racking up its best visitor numbers since the 2005 fire.

Pier campaigner Trevor Bell, of Holland Road, Westcliff, welcomed the news.

He said: “I’m excited about this, as long as the pier is going to stay in the public’s hands.

Congratulations to the council.

“I would like some sort of audio-visual display on the pier, that explores Southend’s heritage.

“The pier played a major part in the war and is so important to the estuary. I’d like to see something that excites and educates children.

“I’d also like a cafe and restaurant on the end of it.”

Echo:

Trevor Bell


Traders have given an unanimous thumbs up to news of investment in the pier – but are angry it hasn't happened sooner.

Southend Council’s previous Tory administration failed to attract private investment, as had the present one until now.

Martin Richardson, who runs the Happidrome Arcade, in Marine Parade, said: “They can’t do any worse than what the council has already done, which is nothing. They are bringing thousands into Southend with the airport.

People go down the pier and find nothing at the end “I think a private investor would be good for Southend.

“It’s the longest pleasure pier in the world and such an iconic place, it’s such a shame no investment has come forward yet. If they could do something at the end of the pier, I would take my hat off to them.”

Chris Petris, owner of the Rose Restaurant, in Marine Parade, said: “I think it’s a brilliant idea.

“Someone needs to run it to make a profit. I would like to think it would be an improvement.

“It’s our biggest attraction, something needs to be done.”

Echo: Loop-the-loopy? This artist's impression shows how the rollercoaster would look at the end of Southend Pier

CGI of the planned rollercoaster

A rollercoaster running alongside Southend Pier was possibly the grandest idea to fall by the wayside.

Back in the late Nineties, Thorpe Bay businessman Tony Garner was given planning permission to build a rollercoaster at the end of the pier called the Swine. It would have been the biggest rollercoaster over water in the world.

The £50million plans also included a pavilion at the shore end, a cinema, museum, and a tower, pictured.. After a decade of inactivity, the council pulled the plug on the deal.

In recent years, the council has funded improvements, not least the £3million Royal Pavilion, which was hoisted on to the Pier Head in 2013.

It has a cafe and a function room for weddings, events, and conferences.

The council has also invested £500,000 in new sprinklers in an effort to prevent another catastrophic pier fire.

It also offered to lend its expertise to the council in Eastbourne, after the pier at the Sussex seaside resort caught fire last year.