THE lights are likely to go out on Southend seafront until 2010, it has been revealed.

Southend Council has contributed £30,000 towards the cost of disposing of the old illuminations and starting a study into the provision of a new, more modern display.

The Southend Seafront Illuminations and Business Association pulled the plug on the lights at the start of last year because of spiralling costs and increasing maintenance.

Originally, it was hoped the Golden Mile would shine once again by 2009, but indecision over a design for the lights has meant it will probably be put back another 12 months.

Business association chairman Roger Fisher said: "At this stage, most of the old illuminations have been taken down.

"All the set pieces and festoons have gone and it is beginning to look very sparse along the seafront.

"I am in the process of organising a meeting for seafront businesses to look at the way forward, and with the council over possible design issues."

Mr Fisher said he no longer thought the lights would be up and running in 2009.

He said: "To be realistic, I do not think it would be practical to even make a decision on the final form of the lights until the beginning of 2009, so the realistic date would be 2010.

"At the moment, it is all a little premature, as a lot of preliminary work needs to be carried out. We have to examine what members want and the council's view.

"As an organisation, the association has a certain amount of money available to prime the new illuminations, but cost will also be a factor."

Mr Fisher said he felt the new illuminations were likely to be a blend of the old and the new.

He said: "There will be some traditional features in the new display.

"But there will also be more new designs and means of illumination with lower-voltage bulbs, which will be more eco friendly and better for the environment.

"The old lights were a mains system, which was expensive to run and not cost effective."