SHOPS operating in Southend’s Pier Arches may have to close for up to three months while work is carried out to stop water seeping into them.

Southend Council must carry out the work at the 11 businesses as part of a £400,000 project to stop water getting into the brickwork.

The move would help the council avoid further compensation payouts after a successful claim from the owner of the former Kelly’s Diner in the arches.

The council fears more claims will follow if the chronic dampness problems are not sorted out.

Problems started six years ago following the completion of the £6million Pier Hill revamp when officers found a waterproof membrane had not been laid beneath the paving, allowing rainwater to seep through. Repair work costing £400,000 is under way to replace damaged electrics and to dampproof the old units currently occupied by 11 businesses.

Now it has emerged some of the units will be “tanked”, a process where a waterproof membrane is used behind new internal walls. If successful all the units will undergo the same process, but businesses will have to move out for up to three months.

Rory Coase, 52, of Hartswood Road, Brentwood, the owner of the Southend Angling Centre, is afraid such a drastic remedy will have a detrimental impact on his business.

He said: “They will have to turf us all out and put in waterproof linings, but that would mean we would have to shut for months and I can’t see any businesses surviving that.”

Alan Richards, Southend Council’s group manager for asset management, confirmed business had been informed some of the work could start in December.

He said: “It is not yet clear how far the allocated budget for this work will stretch, but it is expected that at least some of the arches will be internally tanked over the next five to six months.”

Confirming the council had paid compensation to Kelly’s Diner, Mr Richards added: “The unit was so badly affected it was not possible for the tenant to trade from the premises. A small number of other tenants have been affected to a greater or lesser extent and confidential discussions are currently under way with those parties.”