LONG-AWAITED plans to revive Southend Pier have been drastically scaled down... due to a roost of small sea birds.

Southend Council wanted to build a £3million cultural centre and seating platform on the end of the Grade II-listed structure by this summer.

But, following the discovery of the wintering ruddy turnstones, the cultural centre will now be halved in size and built at the pier head, rather than next to it on a new structure. The seating terrace will also be reduced.

As a result of the delays, the development will not be ready until March next year at the earliest.

Deputy council leader John Lamb said the development would definitely go ahead as the council had already budgeted for the £3million.

He said: “I’m determined this is going to happen. It’s disappointing, but we are looking ahead.

“It’s not because we don’t have the money. The funding is there.”

The news was revealed in a planning document from planner Ben Borthwick of Turley Associates, submitted on behalf of the council and the architects, White Arkitekter.

In the letter, to the council’s planning department, Mr Borthwick states the centre will measure 360sqm, compared to the original plan of 730sqm.

It also states the size of the seating platform has been reduced from 140sqm to 120sqm.

The presence of the humble turnstones has been a thorn in the side of council chiefs’ pier plans for some time.

In February, the Echo revealed Government adviser Natural England raised concerns about the birds’ presence.

Natural England was worried the extra structure, requiring piling into the estuary, would disturb the 1,000 ruddy turnstone and called for a full environmental impact study.

In May, as a result of this requirement, it emerged the plans would have to be delayed by some time, missing the lucrative summer season.

Mr Lamb said a full planning application for the development would be going in shortly.

Lorraine Butler, the council’s project manager for the scheme, said there will be no reduction in the total cost.

She said the money saved on the piling would be re-invested in strengthening and maintaining the pier structure.

Ms Butler also said the new plans had been given the provisional nod by Natural England and, because it is not expected to disturb the turnstones, would not require a complex and lengthy survey.

A full planning application from White Arkitekter is expected to be submitted by the end of the summer.

An opposition councillor has questioned whether the pier will ever be successfully revamped by the council.

Speaking after the latest misfortune, Lib Dem leader Graham Longley said: “One does wonder if the Tory administration will even bother.

“If we can’t do it properly, then let’s get out of it and give to somebody who can. There are people locally who can do it. It looks like we will now be spending the same amount of money for something half the size. That can’t be good value for money.

“It’s another half-baked job by the Conservative administration.”