THINK of Southend in 2050. What do you see?

Crossrail extended to Southend? A new outer relief road to Shoebury to ease congestion? A fourth Thames Crossing east of the current bridge and tunnels?

These – and much more – have been revealed in an ambitious new vision shaping the future of Southend and south Essex.

According to the strategy – which is being considered next week – people can look forward to rejuvenation, improvement and renaissance.

According to the council’s milestones document, by 2021 a new pavilion will open on the old AMF bowling platform on the pier, the Cliffs Pavilion will be upgraded, all schools will be good or outstanding and an extension to the Forum library will open.

By 2023, improvement and extension of Southend’s City Beach will be complete and cash will have been secured for a new Southend outer relief road.

By 2025, the huge Queensway housing scheme will be complete and Crossrail – linking south Essex to Heathrow will have been extended to Southend.

Just a vision or is it achievable?

John Lamb, Tory leader of the council, said: “Our ambition for the borough and our draft five-year plan has come directly from what local people, businesses and stakeholders have told us they want.

“I want to be clear that this isn’t about the year 2050, but it is about planning for the future while also dealing with the challenges and issues we face today, tomorrow and over the next five years.

“Planning ahead and having an ambition is an essential part of any successful business or place.”

Bearing in mind the council is likely to receive no direct Government grant by 2020, the council will have to look at alternative ways of generating cash. But it insists having a plan in place could pave the way for Government cash and other investment.

The draft documents have been recommended for approval by cabinet to then be scrutinised by committees before going to full council in December.

The council has stressed that the plans going before cabinet next week are draft versions and could be subject to change.

Mr Lamb added: “Our draft ambition and five-year road map has emerged from detailed engagement with a cross section of the community and helped us to identify what we want to achieve as a place, and how we deliver that collectively with our public sector partners, residents and businesses.

“The community engagement has told us clearly what is important to local people and it is already helping us to deal with the here and now too.

“The excellent and extensive engagement work we have done has helped us to clearly focus on what needs to be done now and into the future to ensure we achieve our outcomes for the community.

“Many will say we need things now, but without the forward planning, you never know what you need to work on tomorrow.

“Forward planning is essential.”

Mr Lamb said the vision would help businesses succeed and he underlined the importance of everyone having pride in Southend to drive the town forward.