HUNDREDS of man-made rock pools and a beach garden could be installed on Southend’s seafront to prevent flooding.

High winds and swirling tides often batter Southend’s shoreline, but new measures from Leigh to Shoebury could provide an answer.

“Vertipools” - rock pools which will help dissipate waves before they hit the sea wall - are being considered at Leigh Port, as well as a 45m stretch in Western Esplanade and a 100m stretch near Genting Casino.

The rock pools will be joined by a climate resilient garden on Chalkwell Beach which aims to prevent erosion.

The beach garden will feature a timber boardwalk for visitors, benches and “coastal grass” and plants.

Carole Mulroney, Lib Dem councillor in charge of the environment, said: “These are really important to help stop erosion and flooding as much as we can.

“The work won’t need major engineering works either, which is really good for the environment.

“It’s really sustainable too. There are measures for all the different areas that we need.”

The beach garden also feature proposals for matting at East Beach, which will “guide visitors” around the dunes and onto the beach below.

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The plans, which come as part of the sustainable and resilient coastal cities scheme, established by the EU, also feature a maximum of 600m of vegetated shingle.

Information boards will warn visitors not to trample over the planted vegetation.

These will form a “permanent feature” of the seafront.

The “vertipools” are concrete basins which can collect and remove sea water.

Ron Sverdloff, 78, of Old Leigh, added: “Our seafront must, and needs to be protected. It’s an asset to everybody. If everywhere is supported, then it has my backing.”

It’s hoped work can get underway in October.

Consultancy firm Mott MacDonald, who have submitted the plans in partnership with Southend Council, say the plans are “sustainable, nature-based” solutions to improve the resilience of Southend from coastal flooding and erosion.