South East Essex College's £40 million relocation to Southend town centre could be under threat after councillors refused to back a key element of the proposal.

Developer Martin Dawn was sent back to the drawing board as council planning officials claimed the new campus could cause problems for High Street traders.

Under the plan, Luker Road - used as a delivery area for some traders - would effectively disappear, forcing shops to make their deliveries in the High Street.

However, the council's nine-member Tory cabinet agreed the scheme was "unacceptable" and "incompatible" as shoppers and vehicles should be kept apart.

Unless urgent action is taken to change the blueprint, there could be delays to the project and its "implementation could be in doubt," Mike Pregnall assistant director of technical services said.

He added: "It is understood two High Street businesses do not find the proposed servicing arrangements acceptable.

"The principal issue here is that if service and access problems are not resolved there are likely to be objections to the stopping-up orders for Luker Road. Potentially, objections to the highway closures could delay or frustrate the scheme."

In an attempt to overcome the problem it has been suggested the pedestrian square planned as part of the college relocation should become an "out of hours" service area.

However, Mr Pregnall said these arrangements would not be suitable as a long-term solution.

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