SOUTHEND Council has defended a decision to spend £9million on a Southend seafront car park.

The council has come under fire from seafront traders who fear there will be a net loss of parking spaces once the Seaway development is complete.

The leisure and retail complex on the Seaway car park off Lucy Road will have a minimum of 478 places as agreed by a planning inspector but there is likely to be disruption while the site is being developed.

Southend Council leader John Lamb said the gasworks site on Eastern Esplanade will act as an “enabler” to Seaway, which the council is developing in conjunction with Turnstone Estates.

The site was sold to Turnstone for a nominal £1, in a deal which will see Turnstone foot the bill for the development while future rents will go to the council.

Seafront traders have said Turnstone should have paid the £2million it will cost to decontaminate the gasworks site and turn it into a car park as the company will profit from Seaway.

Ann Holland, councillor responsible for culture tourism and the economy, said: “The gasworks car park is for other developments as well, not just Seaway.

“There is Better Queensway and Short Street. We are not just helping Turnstone. There are all the other developments. We couldn’t ask Turnstone to pay for something which is not just for their benefit.”

The 250-space car park is likely to be in service by spring in readiness for the summer influx of visitors.

The council is currently working on a parking strategy to pinpoint future parking capacity.

It comes in response to heavy criticism from seafront traders who say their business suffers when visitors are unable to park.

The gasworks car park will occupy the front of the site. The council is yet to decide on the future of land to the rear of the site which needs more extensive decontamination.

The council says it views the site as a long-term investment.

It could be used to extend the car park further or for future housing needs, following further debate by councillors.