SOUTHEND’S Tories are urging the council to ditch the developer behind the £50million Seaway project.

The party has put a motion to full council after Turnstone Developments failed to gain planning permission before contracts expired on January 17.

It follows the decision days earlier to defer voting on the planning application over parking concerns.

The developer insisted after the deferral it is keen to push on with its bid to “turbo charge” Southend’s seafront.

Tony Cox, Southend Conservatives leader, said: “Last year, the council decided to give Turnstone another extension, many Conservatives voted for this in good faith that Turnstone would deliver the project in time.

“However, we must call an end to the extension-failure cycle that Seaway has suffered from over the last six years.

“To do this we must not renew Turnstone contract and put the development back out to tender.

“This is why, the Conservatives have put forward a motion to reject any extension to the contract, so we can focus more of our efforts on the priorities of residents and unleashing Southend’s potential.”

Turnstone Estates has spent six years planning to redevelop the Seaway Car Park on Lucy Road into a leisure attraction with an IMAX cinema, bowling alley, hotel and multi-storey car park.

During that time they have already been granted two extensions.

Last week director Tim Deacon told the Echo “although disappointed” the firm was determined to push on.

Mr Cox added: “On any future development proposal, our aims are clear. “We want a year round facility on the Seaway car park.

“However, any future proposal must have a significant increase in the parking facility currently available on the site, and must take into consideration the concerns of the local residents that surround Seaway.”