DINERS at a plush Southend seafront restaurant could soon enjoy alfresco meals after plans were backed by planning officials.

Officers at Southend Council have recommended approval for a decked seating area outside steak and lobster restaurant Bourgee, in Eastern Esplanade.

Councillors will meet on Wednesday to consider the application.

Paul Thompson, chairman of Southend seafront traders’ association and owner of the Pebbles One cafe, welcomed the news.

He said: “I think this will be a good thing. While the sun is out people like to eat outside, they like to be in the sunshine and fresh air.

“Bourgee is a very nice restaurant and an outside seating area can only be a good thing.

“We were the first people to do it on the seafront. It makes for a nicer environment, so I hope more places are allowed by the council to do it – it can only be a good thing for the town.

“I don’t know what Bourgee’s policy will be on smoking, but I know they want to have fine dining outside and it’s nice to be able to sit outside by the seasideside.”

The proposal would see a raised, decked seating area, covering an area of 44 sq m to the west of the restaurant, where there is currently an open area outside the Kursaal and part of a conservation area.

A previous application to the council had been rejected because of its size and lack of a roof.

The new proposal would see the deck enclosed with a glazed structure that has a retractable roof. A report from planning officers said he proposed development would lead to “the creation of an enhanced seafront and the creation of amore active frontage at a prominent junction”.

A final decision on the decked area will be made by the council’s development control committee meeting at 2pm on Wednesday.