A GLASS-covered, all-weather bistro area could be created in the heart of Southend as part of a £1.5m town centre overhaul.

Southend Business Improvement District is spearheading a new scheme – Project Sunrise – which would see a ban on cars between Sainsbury’s and Victoria Circus to breathe new life into the High Street.

Restaurants line both sides of the road with cars and taxis using the dead end as a convenient drop-off point. The move to create an all-weather bistro area would support plans to create a bright, lively “cafe culture quarter” in Southend.

Ron Woodley, deputy leader of Southend Council, said: “I have yet to see the final plan, but the proposal was to extend the pedestrian area and have a glass covered central area. I would hope that was what was suggested within the consultation. We would have more seating outside the restaurants. We want to brighten that area up. There also needs to be more trees.

“If we make it a covered area it will me more attractive for people to sit outside the restaurants but I’ve yet to see the final plans.”

Following a consultation, Bid will unveil the results of the council-funded scheme next month.

Mr Woodley confirmed £868,000 funding had already been earmarked for the scheme with another £632,000 being made available in April to encourage a High Street cafe culture quarter.

He added: “We want to make that area more attractive and to make the High Street brighter. Separately I want to look at better lighting down the High Street, especially in the evenings.

“The more we can brighten up the area the more people we will get in.”

The road currently has a busy taxi rank and a number of parking spaces and loading bays. It has also become a target for a number of rough sleepers.

Project Sunrise is part of the Southend Central Area Transport Scheme. The £7m project is funded by the Department for Transport’s Local Growth Fund through the South East Local Partnership.

Phase one of the project was completed in 2017, with £1million worth of junction improvements in Victoria Avenue.

Phase two of the project was completed in February with a £2m street scene improvement scheme along London Road between Queensway and College Way through to Elmer Avenue. Final details will be unveiled next month.