Southend seafront lagoon faces removal after years of problems

Summarised from Echo (Basildon)'s report · Updated 9 Oct, 07:07 · Archive

Southend's Three Shells Lagoon, a £1.9 million seafront attraction opened in 2016, could be removed after persistent drainage issues and safety concerns.

Southend's Three Shells Lagoon could be removed after years of problems since its opening in 2016. The £1.9 million seafront attraction was intended to boost tourism but has faced drainage failures and foul smells. More recently, the site became unsafe when people became trapped in wet sand, prompting the council to fence it off and close it to the public.

Matt Dent, the council's cabinet member for business, culture, music and tourism, told a full council meeting that the lagoon was 'flawed from the very start' and described it as 'a blight on the seafront'. He said his preference was to 'tear it out completely', though he acknowledged the need to consider the cost of all options. The council will produce a report examining the feasibility and cost of keeping the lagoon, improving safety or removing it entirely.

Read the report

• Three Shells Lagoon could be removed after years of problemsA £1.9 million seafront lagoon branded a "disaster" and "blight" could finally be ripped out after years of problems.Echo (Basildon) · 9 Oct, 04:00

In this story: Three Shells Lagoon · Southend · Matt Dent

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