A PERMANENT fence has been put up around a landslip on Southend seafront.

The £9,500 ornate fencing is replacing a temporary metal barrier along the stretch on Western Esplanade where tons of earth slipped across the pavement in 2003.

Plans for a £35million museum and art gallery on the cliffs would help to stabilise them, but though the Heritage Lottery Fund, the East of England Development Agency are likely to back the scheme, the council will still need to find a £5million contribution.

Andrew Lewis, Southend Council’s corporate director of enterprise, tourism and the environment, said: “The new fencing is being installed to improve the security and appearance of the site before the start of the busy summer season.

“Preparatory investigation works for the stabilisation of the cliffs are being undertaken, with the main works expected to begin during 2010.”