LONG-AWAITED beach front cafes with sweeping estuary views have suffered another delay, it has emerged.

Two East Beach cafes were due to be completed sufficiently for new tenants to move in by the autumn but with scaffolding still up and builders still on site, that has been set back to November.

Southend Council has blamed delays in getting utilities installed to the new buildings.

The tenants have yet to be announced and it is unclear if any deal has been secured.

Derek Jarvis, Southend Conservative councillor responsible for arts, culture, heritage and leisure, said: “It is good to see them coming along.

“Fortunately it’s the time of year when not too many people are out and about in very large numbers, but I’d like to see them completed as soon as possible because they are an asset to the area.

“We’ve needed something like that for quite a long time - it’s going to happen but it’s been delayed.

“I wish them well and hope they can get on with the project as quickly as possible.”

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

Planning permission was granted for a full-scale restaurant on the site but when work failed to start on the council-owned land, the council revoked the tenancy and set about making other plans.

It was originally planned to have three cafes on the site.

The cafes will have little competition, the nearest being the Cart and Wagon Shed cafe and heritage centre on the garrison estate.

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

A toilet block on the Shoebury beach, which includes a large greensward, has been renovated, and improvements have been made to a large car park area.

The cafes are in a staggered row and are designed with pitched green roofs, similar to nearby beach huts.

A council spokesperson said: “There were some delays getting power installed by UK Power.

“Work continues to progress on the East Beach cafés, and we are looking forward to bringing new leisure operators to East Beach in due course subject to contract.”