SOUTHEND may have lost out on its bid for Government cash to refurbish the pier because of political considerations, accor- ding to council leader Nigel Holdcroft.

In the Labour heartland in the north of England, £2million from the Sea Change scheme, went to North Tyne- side for the restoration of Tynemouth railway station, and Roker in Sunderland was awarded £1million for a heritage trail and illuminated exhibition space.

Barrow-in-Furness in Cum- bria and Fleetwood in Lancashire also gained cash from the scheme.

In the south of England, the only awards were £3.7million to regenerate the Dreamland amusement park in Kent and money for St Ives and Plymouth in Devon.

Mr Holdcroft, leader of the Southend’s Conservative-controlled council, said: “I am not surprised the cash has largely gone to Labour and marginal areas in the current economic climate.

“The amount of money available is less than originally proposed and it was always likely Conservative councils would suffer under the present economic situation.”

He added the pier was the most historic and best-known landmark of those which had put forward bids for funding.

“The pier is an icon like no other and it is frustrating to lose out when you have virtually been told the cash was there for the pier.”

Lib Dem group leader Graham Longley said he found the decision “very disappointing”.

“I think it shows how fragile the financing of regeneration in Southend actually is. Now the pier has just been left floating again as so many times in the past.”

The Sea Change grants were announced to help seaside towns. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport hands out the cash and declined to comment on the reasons for rejection.