NEW plans to develop Southend Pier have been submitted by Thorpe Bay businessman Tony Garner, despite the council pushing ahead with its own proposals for the landmark.

Mr Garner’s company, Epic World Leisure Group, based in Weston Road, Southend, has spent tens of thousands of pounds on plans for the iconic structure in the past.

He has just submitted his latest proposals, which include the Swine rollercoaster at the pierhead.

But Southend Council has said it will stump up the money for the refurbishment through its own reserves as well as Government grants.

The council has also run a design competition for architects to come up with proposals for the pier and will announce the winner on Tuesday.

But this has not stopped Mr Garner pushing ahead with his long-running ambition.

He was out of the country and not available for comment when the Echo tried to contact him yesterday, but his agent Leigh-based architect Bernard Gooding said he believed previous concerns had been addressed.

Mr Gooding said: “Although plans by Epic World Leisure have been rejected by the council, we hope we have overcome the previous objections now and the council will one day realise our plans are viable.

“We have looked closely at the previous reasons for refusal and have worked hard to try to resolve the issues which have been raised by the council in the past.”

The latest proposals by Epic World Leisure include the Swine rollercoaster, which was originally given permission from the council under the previous Lib Dem and Labour administration.

The scheme was rejected when the Tories took control of the council nine years ago, largely because of financial questions raised by the then town clerk George Krawiec.

Lib Dem group leader Graham Longley added: “I don’t think anything is likely to change the attitude of the Tories to the design competition for the pier and I can’t really see the point of this.”