Six Southend councillors have launched a bid to halt major plans to transform the town centre.

Four Independent and two Lib Dem councillors have asked the council’s independent auditors Deloitte to seek an urgent injunction.

This would prevent the £50million Seaway car park plan and the £300million Queensway development from being rubber stamped before the May elections. They believe the Seaway site has been vastly undervalued and represents a poor return for the tax-paying public and claim car parking provision in the Queensway development has been reduced.

Councillors say they are also concerned social housing will be replaced with affordable housing not accessible to the very poorest residents in Queensway, which is being developed in partnership with Swan Housing.

Independents Ron Woodley, Martin Terry, Paul Van Looy and Trevor Harp along with Lib Dems Peter Wexham and Carole Mulroney sent a statement to Deloittes ahead of tonight’s full council meeting where the schemes will be discussed. They said the plans were being rushed through when “numerous councillors have expressed deep concerns about two of the biggest projects our town will experience”.

Brian Ayling, chairman of the policy and resources committee which referred the Seaway scheme back to full council, said: “We are trying to give the council some breathing space to ensure questions on Seaway are not rushed through.

“There is also debate about whether they are removing all social housing from the town centre.”

Mr Ayling added: “They are saying the proposals are subject to change and not firm, fixed plans. We are being asked to agree the deal with Swan Housing when they are only indicative of what is planned.

“The administration could change after May and the council could be left with a pie-in-the sky development to deal with.”

The external auditor has rejected the call claiming no further audit action or investigation is needed.