Southend seafront lagoon drained after smell complaints

Three Shells Lagoon was opened in 2016 and intended to offer a permanent swimming spot on Southend’s tidal seafront.

However the lagoon, which cost around £1.9million, has been beset by problems since its opening.The lagoon's stench caught some visitors off guard over the summer (Image: George Pizani)
In recent weeks, Southend Council officials took advantage of spring tides to carry out drainage work in the hopes of stemming the stench.

The process included draining the pool and leaving it empty for around a week, giving the bacteria and waste time to clear.

However, Philip Miller MBE, owner of a number of businesses along Southend seafront, including Adventure Island and Sealife Adventure, has claimed the smell is far from resolved.

The lagoon was branded branded “a stinking pool of green slime” 

He said “No change at all, nothing from the powers-that-be. Their silence is deafening. The lagoon obviously needs major surgery. Let’s hope someone up there cares.”

Mr Miller has been locked in a war of words with the council since the start of the summer, as hot weather appeared to intensify the growth of bacteria in the Three Shells Lagoon, making the smell considerably worse.

There were several reports of mysterious rashes, lingering odours on clothes and underwater hazards relating to the lagoon.

In August, Mr Miller claimed his restaurants, Three Shells Cafe and Sands by the Sea, had been negatively impacted by the odour - joking the situation had become so dire that he had even considered handing out gas masks to diners.

Matt Dent, Labour councillor for culture, tourism, and business, said: “The Lagoon was drained and left empty for a week during the recent spring tides at the end of September.

“Over the winter months, there will be several more draining, flushing, and filling operations to keep the water fresh and wash out some of the flotsam.”