Big plans for Sealife Adventure (From Echo)

Big plans for Sealife Adventure

3:18pm Wednesday 6th June 2007 in

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SEALIFE Adventure could be extended to take in a children's centre, snack bar, restaurant and ecological fish farm, under new plans just unveiled.

The large-scale expansion of the Southend seafront attraction would replace the crazy golf course on the site.

The expansion is linked to the centre's plans to create a breeding programme for Dover sole at the site, to help restock the Estuary.

The new children's attraction, it is hoped, would help offset the £250,000 cost of the fish project.

Philip Miller, owner of both Sealife Adventure and Adventure Island is behind the plans. He believes the development will add a new vibrancy to Eastern Esplanade.

The new children's centre would be a separate two-storey building and include a drinks and snacks area and a restaurant. There would also be inside and outside play areas.

Mr Miller said: "This is an important proposal for the improvement of Sealife Adventure and will also bring a new facility to the seafront.

"The planned new building has been designed to a high standard by our architects.

"They have worked hard to avoid conflict with the listed fishermen's cottages on the other side of the esplanade."

However, residents living in the cottages are worried about the impact of the plans on the area.

Joyce Trotter, 90, who has lived there for 46 years, said: "It will ruin our view and will wreck the last pretty area which is left between the pier and the gasworks jetty.

"It will just be a concrete view in front of us, rather than just the putting green."

Mrs Trotter said she had opposed other schemes on the seafront in the past, but felt she was now too old to start petitions among residents.

But she added: "We are a little community down here and I know I am not the only one who is opposed to it."

- Work has now started to clear the site for the base of Mr Miller's venture into the world of radio.

Southend Radio, which aims to pull in the over 35s, will operate in a building just west of the pier. The station should begin broadcasting early next year.