AN underground inspection is being carried out along a seafront parade which is prone to flooding.

The City Beach area of Marine Parade, Southend, has suffered severe floods during torrential downpours.

Businesses believe an insufficient number of drains were installed when the shared space area was created.

Now Southend Council aims to settle the matter with a 3D survey of everything beneath the ground.

Tony Cox, councillor responsible for transport, waste and cleansing, said: “The survey will help us better understand exactly where all underground utilities at City Beach are situated so that we can minimise the chances of them being struck during any future highways or utilities works or indeed future measures to improve resilience to flooding.

“Flood Incident Reports over the past three years have identified exceptional rainfall and tide-locking of drainage pipes – which the council is not responsible for - as being the primary cause of recent flood incidents.”

Martin Richardson, owner of the Happidrome Arcade, has spent thousands of pounds installing his own flood defences after his business was left underwater three times.

He said: “They don’t know what’s below the ground so they are mapping it out. Our understanding is they want to know what pipes are there, whether they are blocked or are big enough. They are doing a full 3D survey of the area.

“It’s been a long time coming. We’ve all said we should know what’s under there. When they built it five years ago there was a plan but if there was a gas main where a drain should go they would put it somewhere else so you don’t know exactly where everything is.”

Mr Richardson added: “With such a big project the left hand doesn’t know what the right hand is doing.

“If we have to have more drains put in then at least we will know where everything is and it will be less disruptive for businesses. Hats off to them though for getting on with it.”