Ministers have been visiting Southend to praise councillors' pioneering vision for the future.

A Government delegation arrived at the Cliffs Pavilion in Station Road, Westcliff, to speak about a £99 million Euro cash handout for the East of England.

Trade minister Richard Caborn was expected to compliment Southend Council on its ambitious £10 million bid for Southend seafront, High Street and pier enhancement - known as SSHAPE.

The pioneering package of improvements for Southend - including a pier cyber cafe, hovercraft terminal and new-look High Street - hinges on a large slice of Objective Two funding from Brussels.

Five of Southend's 13 wards are eligible for the European funding - Victoria, St Lukes, Milton, Thorpe and Shoebury - but the results of the bid are still not yet known.

Mr Caborn was due to congratulate council leaders during today's (Monday's) high-profile visit and draw attention to how an improved link between the town centre and seafront would benefit residents.

David Garston, Southend's executive councillor for regeneration and economic development, said: "I think it has got to be a good sign, the fact they have chosen Southend as a venue and we are quite honoured they chose the Cliffs Pavilion. "When Southend was a district council, we would never have got this sort of treatment but now we are a unitary authority, we are beginning to be noticed."

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