SUPERMARKET giant Tesco wants to open a store in part of Southend’s Kursaal entertainment complex.

Bosses at the Trehaven Group, which leases the half-empty Kursaal from Southend Council, says it is delighted the supermarket giant has designs on part of the centre.

Councillors and seafront traders are less pleased, arguing the site should remain for tourism and leisure.

Tesco has applied for planning permission to open in a ground-floor area which was previously a bar and restaurant.

Trehaven director Charles Alison said: “We are thrilled Tesco wants to come and have a store in the Kursaal.

“Having a first-class operator, which is also the most successful grocer in the United Kingdom, keen to open can only encourage other businesses to come to the building.

“At the moment, times are obviously very difficult for attracting companies to come to the Kursaal, but we are confident the Tesco commitment can only help us. We would look at the Kursaal as being somewhere you can come and enjoy the entertainment, but do your shopping at the same time.”

The Kursaal has never achieved its full potential after reopening in 1998, following years of neglect.

At the moment, the Kursaal houses a bowling alley, the Rendezvous casino and a small, first-floor function room.

The rest of the building, including a large area, earmarked for a banqueting suite, is empty.

Roger Fisher, former chairman of Southend Seafront Illumin-ations and Business Association, voiced concerns about the situation.

He said: “It’s certainly a different ball game to what’s been planned in the past.

“Personally, I’m disappointed, as I’d like to see a company which is linked more with the leisure and tourism we want to encourage on the seafront.

“My major concern is residential development and other businesses not linked with tourism and leisure are slowly moving in, to the detriment of the area.”

Southend councillor in charge of regeneration, John Lam, said: “On the face on it, this is not the sort of thing you would really expect at the Kursaal.

“However, it would be wrong of me to really comment about the situation until councillors have a chance to look at the plans in detail.”

Council leader Nigel Holdcroft was more optimistic.

He said: “From the point of view of Trehaven, it is probably good news.

“It will allow it to have an anchor store, which will encourage other companies to move in.”