PROBLEMS with flooding on Southend seafront are set to be addressed with a £2.25million flood prevention scheme.

Cash for the works, with half of this coming from external sources, will see new underground tanks, and increased gulley capacity created on the central seafront to deal with surface water flooding that runs from Queensway down to the central seafront in heavy rainfall.

A pumping station and tank storage will also be created to pump out trunk sewers around Hartington Road against high tides, reducing flood risk in the area.

The investment follows years of flooding caused when torrential downpours have proved too much for seafront drainage to cope with.

Seafront businesses have spent thousands providing their own flood defences to prevent damage during sudden downpours.

Many believe insufficient drainage was installed during work on the City Beach area of the seafront but the council is adamant this is not the case.

With the town sloping down to the seafront area, rain water naturally collects there.

The council says the work further into the town centre will prevent this from happening to such an extent.

Rainwater will drain into the underground tanks before it can deluge the seafront.

The council is also set to help other areas of the seafront to the east of the town.

It is to set aside £300,000 for improvements to Shoebury Common North, including the creation of a new children’s play area, new paths, new seating and outdoor fitness equipment.

This follows on from the Poppy Wave installation which saw thousands of visitor pour into this area of the seafront. The council believes the improvements will help encourage visitors to continue to make more use of this often underused area of the town’s seafront