A NEW cafe is set to open next to a Southend park – in a bid to make the most of the ever-growing popularity of the open space.

Plans have been agreed for the new business on the edge of Southchurch Park, on Shaftesbury Avenue, and work can now begin on building the cafe.

The cafe will sell tea, coffee, sandwiches, ice creams and other refreshments.

It comes as the council is revamping the car park and play area of the park.

Plans reveal: “The proposed building is a single storey flat roofed building which will incorporate a counter serving teas, coffees etc. It will have a disabled toilet and a storage area, along with associated bin storage and cycle storage.

“The nearest refreshment facilities, apart from the park cafe, would be along the seafront in Eastern Esplanade and we therefore feel that there is a place for a further light refreshment facility, particularly in view of its close proximity to Southchurch Park and Eastern Esplanade beach.

“We are advised that the Local Authorities plans to overhaul this existing car park are to also encourage visitors to use the car park whereby they can walk up to the seafront and possibly walk along to the town centre.

“New facilities like those proposed would be encouraging for visitors to obtain light refreshments; especially as those visiting the town may have come some distance”

The current car park, which is almost adjacent to the new cafe site, will be overhauled to provide 269 car parking spaces, ten disabled spaces and 11 coach spaces.

This will be an additional 20 spaces in the car park.

Martin Terry, Independent councillor for Thorpe, said: “The park is one of the best in the city and I use it regularly.

“It is very busy in the summer and anything that can be done to give the best facilities is a good thing.

“I see this as good for the park and the council does have plans to spend money on upgrading the play area too.

“The new coffee shop will be a well used facility as a lot of people visit the park. I am sure it will be very welcome.

“It’s a nice open space with lakes and wildlife and is close to the beach.”

The park currently had a small council-run cafe which is open daily from 10am to 4pm.