MILLIONS of pounds will be spent on preventing flooding in Southend and improving the quality of water off its beaches.

Anglian Water has announced a nationwide £444million investment programme for 2016/2017, with millions earmarked for improvements in the town.

A total of £7million has been earmarked for the surveying and refurbishment of hundreds of kilometres of sewers in towns such as Southend, Lowestoft, Ipswich, Great Yarmouth and Beccles.

Southend seafront flooded in September 2014 due to heavy rainfall.

Experts said an event of its kind would only take place once every 293 years.

The Happidrome arcade, in Marine Parade, was damaged by the flood, and again 13 months later.

Owner Martin Richardson said: “Anything that will go to investigating problems we have in Southend is good.

“The whole country has been caught with its pants down as nobody has been maintaining drains and rivers.

“We just need to see the money spent wisely, it’s all well and good doing a survey as long as something comes of it at the end.”

More than £2.7million will also be spent on investigations and projects to improve the quality of bathing water in Southend.

Arial survery will be carried out to identify misconnected private drains and prevent them polluting water courses.

Martin Terry, councillor responsible for public protection, waste and transport, has previously been critical of Anglian Water.

He said it is unacceptable that every time there is heavy rainfall, people in low level areas worry about flooding.

Speaking at a council meeting last month, Mr Terry said the issue of tidal locking, which means drains are locked at high tide, needed addressing.

In response to Anglian Water’s investment, he said: “I am delighted that they are now starting to respond to my continual complaints about the sewer network in the town.

“I have not seen the fine details of their plans but I hope it will get to protecting low-lying properties and areas from tide lock.

“That is the primary issue we have got to make sure we address, so if that’s part of the plan then overall I am pleased to hear of the investment.”

Where else will Anglian Water spend some of its cash?

• £2.4million to maintain and develop the Rayleigh Water Recycling Centre

• £370,000 to refurbish the rising sewer main at Runwell

• £240,000 to match fund flood projects in collaboration with Essex’s partner agencies such as local authorities also responsible for the drainage system

• £25,000 to find creative ways to encourage people to change their behaviour and reduce the amount of wipes and fats being put down the drains, when it should go in the bin. Money will be used to focus on visitors, residents and businesses in coastal towns like Southend.