A new restaurant is coming to Old Leigh - after councillors gave it the go-ahead.

Plans for a 45-seater venue on the site of the scout hut, next to the Crooked Billet, were approved by Southend Council.

Conservative councillor Steve Buckley, for St Laurence Ward, backed the  proposals saying it would safeguard the wooden building.

He said: “What is proposed would enhance the historic character of the building.”

The proposal was controversial with some Leigh councillors though, who feared too many restaurants could change the old town’s character.

Lib Dem councillor Carole Mulroney told the meeting there were already ten eating establishments nearby.

“The old town is designated as a marine working village,” she said. “This could jeopardise that.”

Other councillors questioned whether the building should have been marketed instead for community use, but planning officers rejected the suggestion, and pointed to claims by scouts that the hut was ‘no longer viable’.

A report to the meeting confirmed the plan would help maintain the old wooden hut, which was once a fishermen’s chapel. 

The report read: “As part of the conversion it is proposed to reinstate a number of historic features which have been lost including the roof materials, dormer windows and railings.

“This would be of significant benefit to the conservation area and the details of these reinstatement works and other alterations are discussed in more detail below.

“It is also noted that these works will also help secure the future of the building.”

Leigh councillor Peter Wexham criticised the plan before last Wednesday’s meeting.

“We’ve got enough food places in Old Leigh.” he said. “It should be kept as a community facility, but no one has asked the community.”

Southend West Scouts said the hall was running at a loss.

District commissioner, Dan Parsons, said: “This is right for us to do what’s right for our young members and grow scouting locally.”

Councillors agreed to back the change of use, on condition that the site could not operate as a takeaway and there would be no tables and chairs at ground level.