Southend Council’s plans to transform the town centre into a superfast wi-fi centre have been branded “a waste of money”.

Some residents say the council has made the wrong investments and should instead address the borough’s ongoing issues such as homelessness, crime and lack of sustainable shops.

Paul Harriman, 40, from Manners Way, claimed the improved wi-fi will make no impact on the town centre’s profile.

He said: “Wi-fi and apps will improve the town centre? No it won’t.”

Another resident, Alan Robert Cairey, 29, of North Avenue, added: “‘To bolster town centre business? How about getting rid of the various eating places, mobile phone accessory shops and fill up empty units with actual retail shops like QD and Morrisons?”

Another resident from Westcliff, who asked not to be named, suggested the council has misplaced its priorities when it comes to improving the borough.

She said“There’s no point wasting money on wi-fi.

“It’s the shopkeepers who need help and we need to get the gangs of pickpockets off the streets. I think the town is run down and it’s an eyesore.

“Southend is the worst I’ve seen. My elderly mother was robbed in Bonmarche, and I don’t feel safe going there on my own with my child.”

Others suggested on Facebook the free wi-fi makes residents easy targets for online hackers.

InTechnologyWiFi, the technology company which supplies the network, refuted that, saying customers’ data is protected.

A spokesman said: “The information we receive reaches us electronically, originating from the device. Where it is within our control we will put measures in place to ensure that ‘in-flight’ data is secure.

“However, we use appropriate procedures and technical security measures to safeguard information across all our computer networks.”

Trevor Byford, councillor for technology, said residents should embrace the digital evolution rather than criticise it as he believes the council is one of the country’s leaders in technological advancement.

He commented: "Southend, with our roll out of a ‘Smart City’ is heading towards the top ten of the most advanced Smart City authorities, along with London, Birmingham, Manchester and Glasgow."

He added: "I can guarantee that the WiFi system deployed in our town centre and along the seafront has cost the Council nothing because, Southend Borough Council is not providing the Wi-Fi, but enabling it through a concession licence of Council owned street furniture.

"This new service is great news for everyone and is being provided at no cost to the local taxpayer. It is not being provided to the detriment of any other important local public services such as tackling homelessness, protecting our most vulnerable people and educating the young people of our Borough, which the Council remain absolutely committed to and is investing millions into every year."