PLANS for a new £50million leisure complex in Southend should be reviewed by the whole council, it is claimed.

Southend Council has been working with Turnstone Estates on the centre on the Seaway car park off Lucy Road for four years but independent councillor Brian Ayling wants the deal to be renegotiated.

He said: “The expiry date was December 10 so the contract has officially ended. Any professional contract manager would look at this and say to the developer you’ve not achieved what you set out to do therefore we are looking elsewhere.

“I am asking the council to resolve any issues and then the whole contract should be put out to tender. We need a development that is going to enhance the seafront and High Street. Whereas these proposals could decimate the top end of High Street.”

Southend BID chairman Dennis Baldry said: “The BID welcomes investment and development in the town but such projects should always complement and enhance the town.

“It is worth noting the original Seaway development proposal only gave parking provision for 480 cars, but this has now been increased to 555. However, this is still substantially less than the current 661 spaces currently in the car park.

Councillor James Courtenay, deputy leader of Southend Council, said: “I have given a commitment that cabinet will receive a report on the matter in January 2019 so that the matter can be considered in the context of the deal, the economic impacts and the timescales, especially now that the planning application has been received.”

Tim Deacon, director at Turnstone Estates, said: “From the outset we have been determined to listen to the community and deliver the best development possible that brings the biggest names to Southend.” Plans include 11 screen cinema, hotel, bowling alley, restaurants and a climbing wall.