THE eyesore building site where a popular glass-fronted restaurant once stood remains a wasteland of overgrown weeds and rubbish despite promises it would be reopening this summer.

Fisherman’s Wharf, a former fish restaurant on Western Esplanade, was pulled down in 2018 amid promises of a new and improved restaurant on the site.

However, a series of financial problems and Covid delayed the redevelopment.

Owner Terry Tibble, 73, from Rayleigh, told the Echo in January that work was about to start and a new restaurant would be open “this summer”.

Where the former restaurant stood there is now a wasteland of overgrown weeds, construction materials and broken fence panels.

Matt Dent, councillor responsible for culture, tourism and business, slammed the delay in improving the prime site.

He said: “I don’t know what the situation is but it’s been an eyesore for a while and it’s long overdue to have something done to it but I would hope that it would be starting imminently. Given that we’ve been hearing that for while you have to question how likely that is.

“It’s not what we want to see down the seafront. It’s a prime location and you would have thought the owner would want to make best use of it.”

Mr Tibble got the go-ahead from the council to put up a two-storey replacement venue in 2015.

The new building was set to be a “stunning restaurant” offering views of Southend’s beach and the Thames Estuary.

Contractors from groundwork firm DDG Group started work on the site in 2018 for clearing it but five years later, it sits neglected and traders have said it is “not a good look”.

Paul Thompson, owner of Pebbles One cafe and a member of Southend Seafront Traders’ Association, said: “It can’t stay like that.

“Hopefully they will be able to get something done but I assume they can’t get the funding.

“I feel sorry for the owners but it’s down to the owners to see what they are going to do.”

Mr Tibble has been approached for a comment.