A leading businessman has warned if a £50m plan to overhaul Southend seafront is not approved, developers will believe Southend is closed for business.

In an email sent to councillors and seen by the Echo, former Conservative council leader and chair of the Southend Business Partnership, Murray Foster, explains that plans for the Lucy Road car park could be a “catalyst” for long-term investment in the town centre.

He warns that rejecting the plans would be a “negative signal” to future developers.

The council’s development control committee considered granting planning permission to the plans in January but instead deferred the decision because members were concerned about the impact it would have if parking spaces are cut from the current 661 to the planned 555.

Parking concerns have been shared by Southend’s seafront traders who fear the reduction in parking spaces will mean a significant shortfall during the busy summer season, putting businesses at risk.

But the council has said more spaces will be available at the newly created Gas Works Car Park to make up for the loss.

“There is a considerable silent majority within this town that are aghast that Development Control Committee chose to defer its decision,” Mr Foster wrote.

“This majority also includes the business community and indeed those involved with Southend Business Partnership and also the Southend BID.”

He continued: “We would be the first to commend the existing tourism and leisure provision by some central seafront businesses and we really tried to identify with their concerns but issues portrayed around parking have been in our view totally overstated especially with the new parking provision at Gas Works Car Park which were not originally part of seafront area capacity.

“In addition, we understand the number of spaces will be further increased in the near future on this site.”

He added: “In our view an extension involving a review of terms where appropriate should be accommodated and of course planning permission granted as this could prove to be a catalyst for other long overdue investment.

“Conversely any further delay or indeed termination would clearly send a negative signal to other potential developers that this is a town in which it is too difficult to do business.”

Developer Turnstone Estates has claimed that if the scheme is given the go-ahead, the construction phase will create 94 full time direct and indirect jobs and once it opens the will be an extra 323.

It is also estimated that the increase in expenditure across accommodation, leisure, food and beverage, cinema and family entertainment would boost the economy with an annual turnover of between £15.4million and £16.8million.