Southend seafront lagoon pool sparks fresh concerns

The pool, which opened in 2016 at a cost of £1.9m was designed to offer permanent swimming water on Southend’s tidal seafront. However, build ups of algae, seaweed and litter have contributed to what has been described by some residents as “a stinking pool of green slime”.

After a summer of hot weather that has seemingly intensified the growth of bacteria in the Three Shells Lagoon, Southenders are raising fresh concerns about the impact of the putrid pool.

Residents are concerned about the ongoing stench (Image: George Pizani)

Lifelong sea swimmerTerry Brown is no stranger to the hazards that come with taking a dip on Southend seafront but claims that in recent months the quality of the water surrounding the lagoon pool have got noticeably worse.

“I went the other day and when I got home, I took my shorts off, put them in the washing machine and showered. When I opened the washing machine, the smell was unbelievable” he said.

Terry claims that not only was the stench near impossible to remove from his swimwear, but that on several occasions he has also emerged from a sea swim with a mysterious rash –something he claims is a new phenomenon that has also affected some of his friends.

“It’s been beset with problems ever since opening - Reform councillor, Tony Cox (Image: George Pizani)

For Southend residents, the lagoon pool’s odour is hard to ignore but for day-trippers to the city, the stink can be an unwelcome surprise.

Kim Connor and Cindy Peters, had journeyed from Basildon to enjoy a lunch on the seafront.

The pair were horrified to notice the stench as they approached the seafront, with Cindy saying, “I thought it was my boiled eggs!”.

“It’s a bit ripe isn’t it?” she added.

Friend Kim described the smell as “stagnant”, and said that as she rounded the entrance to Southend Pier, she was hit by the smell of “pondlife”.

Southend City Council announced in a recent statement that they “will be looking to drain the lagoon again after the summer season”.

Tony Cox, Reform councillor and leader of the Southend Independent Group, has put the issue to the council leader.

“I would say to the leader, would he allow his kids to swim in there, because I wouldn’t,” he said.