A HUGE embankment could be built through the middle of Shoebury Common to stop 500 homes being flooded every year.

The Echo can reveal Southend Council is drawing up £2million plans to build a concrete and mud wall across the public green after environment experts warned the risk posed by rising sea levels was “dangerously high”.

Leaked documents show the authority has sprung into action after learning severe floods in the area were now considered likely to happen once every five years – and guaranteed to occur annually by 2060.

However, the proposals have dismayed the boss of Uncle Tom’s Cabin, a cafe in the centre of the common, and promenade beach hut owners, whose views could be reduced to little more than a mound of earth.

Peter Grubb, the owner of Uncle Tom’s, said: “There does not appear to have been any clear thought on exactly how this will affect people.

“The fact this has not been made public is also suspicious. It seems like they just want to push it through without anyone noticing.”

James Henderson, 56, who leases a beach hut, said: “I think this is a debate that needs to be opened up to the public as soon as possible.

“It will change the whole look of the common.”

The frequency of severe floods is regularly assessed by the Environment Agency, as part of its job of keeping Britain’s coastlines protected from the threat of climate change.

Experts previously estimated a flood large enough to wash 2km inland and swamp 500 homes was only likely to happen once every 100 years.

However, following a proper survey of the landscape, the agency has now changed its mind and predicted a catastrophic flood once every five years.

With estuary sea levels predicted to rise by up to 90cm by 2060, they also believe such an event would be an annual certainty within 50 years.

Council chiefs had previously planned to upgrade the defences at Shoebury Common in 2019.

But the dire warnings from the agency have forced them to act sooner, and they now hope to complete most of the project by March, using Government cash to bankroll it.

Andrew Meddle, Southend Council’s head of planning and transport, said it had decided to seek the views of affected businesses and beach hut owners before consulting the public on its ideas.

He added: “We will look at all the responses received and then prepare an environmental impact assessment of the options, which will be part of a project appraisal report.

“This report will form the basis of a wider public consultation, as well as informing a funding submission to the Environment Agency.”