AN intensive archaeological inspection is underway where Southend United football club is planning its new stadium.

A team of experts have been drafted in to begin an archaeological survey of the proposed site at Fossetts Farm off Eastern Avenue, Southend.

The work is expected to take up a month after which Southend Council will consider any finds.

Club chairman Ron Martin said: “The club following agreement with the council and head of Archaeology at Essex County Council commenced a detailed site investigation by way of trial trenching this week.

“These works are expected to take three to four weeks. Previously Southend Council has agreed for the archaeology to be a condition of any planning approval with any findings to be monitored through the construction phase. However, this time around the council wished to understand what, if any, archaeological remains exist in advance of considering the club’s planning application.

“The club has already carried out trial trenching in relation to its training ground under the original application and no items of archaeological significance were found.”

Mr Martin added: “Whilst the club would have preferred not to have to meet this expenditure in advance of its new stadium plans being considered, and hopefully approved, we do equally understand the benefit of knowing precisely what is under the ground to avoid potential delays during construction.

“The county archaeologist will inspect all the trenching over the next month when we will have answers to the questions.”

A council spokesman said: "The current application at Fossetts Farm covers a significantly larger area than the previously approved scheme.

"Essex County Council acting as archaeological advisors have advised that, due to the impact on the scheduled monument and the potential for highly significant archaeology to be found within the surrounding area, the applicant should provide the results of an archaeological evaluation as part of their application.”