SOUTHEND United wants to hang advertising banners from Southend Pier.

The football club has now submitted an application to the council. The idea is hoped to boost engagement in the ongoing public consultation about the club’s planned ground move to Fossetts Farm.

Club chairman Ron Martin said: “I think it’s important that the people of Southend recognise the significance of what this is all about.

“The stadium will transform the club and the banners will raise the profile of the development which will be of a huge economic and employment benefit to the town. The banners will enable people to find out more about it and take part in the consultation.

“It’s about boosting the community’s engagement with the planning process.”

Both banners, which if approved will hang on either side of the pier, will measure 100 metres in length and six metres in height.

They will be in the club’s colours of white and blue and ask people to “be part of it” by getting involved in the public consultation on the council’s online planning portal.

The pier, the longest leisure pier in the world, is a listed structure, but planning company PowerHaus has said the temporary nature of the advertisement would mitigate any impact it might have.

The statement reads: “The banners would alter the appearance and character of the pier as viewed from its surroundings, but would be temporary in nature and would therefore not detrimentally impact the continued appreciation of this historic landmark.”

The plans for the club’s new stadium development at Fossetts Farm has been years in the making and is set to include flats, shops, a hotel and a multi-screen cinema in addition to the brand new stadium.

The ground has been designed by Populous - the company which is currently working on Tottenham Hotspur’s new stadium.

Speaking about the progress of the development, Mr Martin added: “Everything is still on track.

“There is a lot of dialogue going on with the local authority and we’re looking forward to bringing the plans before the committee in the summer.”

If you would like to take part in the consultation, you can find the plans using the reference 17/00733/FULM on Southend Council’s website.