A NEW investigation into the loss of Southend’s foreshore will take place under the authority’s new council this year.

The new rainbow administration will have councillors on the policy scrutiny committee looking into why mudflats appear to be disappearing.

Campaigners claim it could leave the town more vulnerable to the sea, as well as threatening Southend Pier and the borough’s fishing industry.

The proposal for a year-long review was put forward by retired fisherman Peter Wexham, a Lib Dem councillor for Leigh.

Previous studies, including an 11-month probe by the Environment Agency, absolved dredging for the DP World superport of blame last year.

Mr Wexham said: “We’ve been told why some things aren’t causing the erosion, but we have never been told what is causing the issue.

“Southend used to be famous for being called Southend-on- Mud, not Southend-on-Sea, but it is disappearing. The cocklers and bait diggers who are out there on a regular basis keep reporting more changes.”

His proposal was backed by Labour’s Judith McMahon.