SOUTHEND’S town centre roads will be improved after the council was awarded a further £1.7million.

The cash - earmarked National Productivity Investment Funding from the Department of Transport - will be added to existing cash pot and used to carry out £2.5million of upgrades at key locations.

This will include improving right turn access to Warrior Square and Tylers Avenue car parks and providing better car parking signage around the town.

Tony Cox, councillor responsible for transport, waste and cleansing, said: “I am delighted that once again we have secured national funding to deliver local improvements and I would like to say well done to all the officers involved in putting the successful bid together.

“This project will help improve local access to the town centre by redirecting car parking traffic through better signage and making minor changes to roads that will deliver real tangible improvements.”

Mr Cox added: “The project will also utilise smart technology to help drivers navigate around the town centre, improve the public areas around the travel interchange at Southend Victoria station and improve connections between the bus and rail stations. We also believe this will help to reduce congestion.”

James Duddridge, MP for Rochford and Southend East, added: “This funding will help with important projects in Southend, such the planned improvement for local access to Southend town centre, its bus interchange and Southend Victoria and Southend Central stations.

“These projects will improve air-quality in Southend, as well as support the Southend Central Area Action Plan which will deliver 7,250 new jobs over the next five years.”