NEWS that plans for an £850,000 artificial lagoon may have hit the rocks are a blow to Southend.

The town has had a number of new, prestigious developments lately.

The tree-lined lagoon was being funded with £750,000 Government cash secured by Southend Council from the Coastal Communities Fund and the Stockvale Group, owners of Adventure Island which pledged £100,000.

Those behind the scheme had the vision to make Southend more beautiful and to attract more visitors. It was broadly welcomed by businesses and residents.

The size of a football pitch, the lagoon would have been contained with rocks and boulders and decked with palm trees.

However, the future of this major seafront project now hangs in the balance because of an objection by Alexandra Yacht Club.

Getting such a project through the rigorous planning procedures was probably never going to be without its problems. Planners will continue to work with all those involved to get the project moving once more, but the fact construction won’t start this year as planned is disappointing.

Hopefully, there will be an opportunity for compromise to push this major asset to the town through for next summer – and to continue its upward trend.