SOUTHEND’S world-famous pier could get its own London Dungeon-style attraction as part of an ambitious new vision revealed today.

Ron Woodley, Southend Council’s deputy leader, wants the iconic landmark to become the town’s Golden Mile capable of attracting 1million people per year.

He spoke as plans for a new pier train platform was approved by Southend Council.

The new platform is part of wider improvement works to the pier that will include spending £3.25million on introducing entirely new ecofriendly trains which will run the length of the 1.3-mile pier.

There are also plans for a new pavilion on the site of a former bowling alley which was destroyed by a huge fire in 1995.

Mr Woodley said: “This new platform will bring passengers on inward bound journeys out through the new pavilion, which I would like to see the pier museum move into.

“The museum’s old site could be turned into a London Dungeon type attraction which could also highlight the history of being on a ship moored off the pier in past.”

The new train platform will built at the land end of the pier for passengers to disembark before they reach the main station.

After stepping off, there will be access to an existing pedestrian ramp leading to the upper deck, which planning documents note will “ensure passengers pass by the pier shop and main exit”.

The documents continue: “The train halt is designed to allow passengers to exit the train carriages only.

“Passengers will access the train via the land end platform, taking the mile-long journey to the pier head.

“On the return journey the train will halt at the newly-proposed platform allowing passengers to disembark before the train continues on into the land end station empty.

“The proposed platform is designed to be installed as the previously installed sea end train platform with steel work sub structure and timber deck set at the same levels to allow passengers to safely exit the carriages.”

A new £480,000 entrance was opened in June last year, welcoming record numbers of visitors.