THE owner of a seafront cafe who is not allowed to expand on to the beach will fight the decision.

Southend Council has refused the new extension for behind the Hundreds Cafe, Eastern Esplanade.

Councillors liked neither its size nor its appearance, which they described as “obtrusive”.

It would have replaced the current see-through extension, which was built two years ago without planning permission, and for which two retrospective applications have been turned down.

Owner Graham Sage, 50, who has been running the cafe for 13 years, has been told to take it down by the end of October.

Yet he is going to appeal the decision and battle on.

He said: “Without it, I won’t be able to open the cafe in the winter or at night. One would have thought in the worst recession for 79 years, the council would support a business trying to spend money, employ people and grow.

“I’ve given up trying to work out how the council works.

“Enclosing the decking area would double the rent paid to them.”

At a planning meeting members unanimously rejected the plan.

Ron Woodley (Ind, Thorpe), who is not on the committee, said: “This cafe is currently a bit tatty. The materials are totally out of context.”

Dr Vel (Ind, Westborough) said: “Anything encroaching on to the sand or waterfront is very sad.”

Four letters of objection were received from residents. The cafe employs between two and six staff depending on the season.