WORK has officially started on creating two new beachfront cafes which will offer diners far-reaching estuary views.

Diggers are on site at Shoebury’s East Beach, preparing the ground for the long-awaited cafes.

Original plans included three new businesses on East Beach; however they have been scaled back to include just two cafes.

Peter Lovett, chairman of Shoebury Residents Association, welcomed the cafes which he believes will be a huge boost for the area.

He said: “We need something over there to provide some sort of refreshments. The original plan, to build three cafes all with identical kitchens, seemed a bit stupid - they’ve changed the plans now to be without a kitchen, just toilets so that people can decide how to fit it out.

“They are only doing two now which again seems a bit daft because it probably wouldn’t have been much more expensive to build three.”

Southend Council is in talks with prospective tenants but is remaining tight-lipped about what sort of outlets they will be.

Mr Lovett added: “It’s really needed on East Beach. Whatever they are doing it’s in the right direction and I’m pleased to see it.

“I’ve asked the councillors if they knew what sort of thing it would be, but they said they were still dealing with it so it probably wasn’t the right time to share that information.”

The cafes are being built on the site of a former cafe which burnt down more than 20 years ago.

Work is expected to be completed by the autumn when the new tenants will move in to fit out their cafes.

A council spokesman said: “Groundwork has started on the site. Completion is expected by September. Lease discussions with prospective tenants are currently underway.”

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The council took back the site which it owns, after a previous tenant failed to proceed with plans for a restaurant, leaving it idle for many years.

The council originally proposed three cafes on the site depending on how much interest was shown by prospective tenants.

This was now scaled down to two “based on commerciality and price”.

The cafes form part of a £2 million regeneration scheme and will feature sail-like canopies for outdoor dining, and could even be licensed to sell alcohol.