SOUTHEND’S 1.3-mile pleasure pier has seen a host of plans in the past with private companies pledging investment – not least the £50million Swine rollercoaster.

Eyebrows were raised back in the 1990s when Thorpe Bay businessman Tony Garner revealed a plan for the world’s biggest rollercoaster over water – at the end of the pier.

A shore-end pavilion, cinema, museum, new railway station, viewing tower and an enthralling rollercoaster were all planned as part of the ambitious scheme, which would have come at a cost of £50million.

Years of negotiations took place between the council and Mr Garner and eventually, the plans were confined to the dustbin.

Seafront tycoon Philip Miller, boss of Adventure Island and SeaLife Adventure also put forward a plan for the landmark.

Mr Miller was the private investor interested in splashing out £20million on revamping Southend Pier before negotiations broke down in 2016.

The businessman said his failed attempts to negotiate a deal to extend Sealife Adventure was the main reason he withdrew from the pier scheme, in addition to the ongoing issue of car parking.

Other plans in the past include a pier pavilion at the pierhead built by businessman Fran McGinty who owned the pub at the end of the pier before it was destroyed in the last blaze. The pavilion hosted concerts, plays and other events.

In the recent past, businesses also spearheaded plans for a “crystal pavilion” on the old AMF bowling alley in 1995.