SOUTHEND’s millennium clock will finally be removed.

The landmark, which is outside the Victoria shopping centre, in Southend High Street, was installed to mark the year 2000.

However, it has not worked properly for several years and a year ago senior Tory councillors decided it was time for it to go. It will now be placed into storage at the cost of £5,000.

Ian Robertson, the Tory councillor responsible for regeneration and tourism, believes he knows the reason the timepiece has been a failure. He said: “It’s never worked properly because of the sea air.

“We need to take it down, to find out what, if anything, can be done to make it work. I’ve told officers to carefully put it into storage. It can be repaired to work inside, but never in the open air.

“I would love to see it in the big new museum on the seafront.

“I’m very open to any ideas anyone has.”

Mr Robertson said he was not sure when it would be taken down, but it would be “sooner rather than later”.

The clock was designed by four Southend schoolgirls in 2000 following a council-run competition in the town’s schools.

Lib Dem leader Graham Longley, who was mayor at the millennium, was outraged when the plans were revealed and accused the Tory leadership of “incompetence”.

He said: “It’s one of the few things we have left in the town to celebrate and recognise the millennium.

“It’s quite unacceptable to remove it rather than repair it.

“Why can’t we put a cover over the top so it can work and people can still see it?”

A Southend Council spokes-man said the clock cost £50,000 to build and install in 2000 and has cost more than £7,500 to maintain since then.

He added: “For the past year, the council has been unsuccessfully trying to find a home for the clock, but has decided to put it into storage until one is found.

“Officers looked at putting a cover over the clock to protect it from the elements, but decided it would not look attractive.”

The council has previously discussed finding a replacement clock as part of redevelop plans.