Restaurant owner Philip Miller claims the situation at Three Shells Beach has become so dire that at times they feel compelled to offer “gas masks” to diners. This comes as a £1.9 million lagoon on Southend seafront was branded a “stinking pool of green slime” after becoming covered in algae.
Martin Terry, councillor for community safety, previously said the algae in the lagoon is a “natural occurrence”, but did admit it does “smell”. Philip Miller MBE is the owner of a number of businesses along Southend seafront, including Adventure Island, Sealife Adventure, Three Shells restaurant and Sands. He says the stink is having a detrimental effect on Sands, and has “virtually killed” the Three Shells restaurant.
Mr Miller added: “Despite years of polite nagging to various members and officers of Southend Council, nothing has been done to alleviate the problem. “The stink and general look of it has virtually killed the Three Shells restaurant and takeaway to the point where we once opened 12 months a year reduced to part time only nowadays. “It has also had a detrimental effect on Sands, our family fish and chip restaurant.
There are times when we need to offer our customers gas masks. “We would not have minded but we have offered the solution year in and year out but have been given lip service only. “To coin a phrase, they have buried their heads in the sand.
” Fellow trader Martin Richardson, owner of the Happidrome Arcade, has also complained ab.