TENS of thousands of pounds are being spent to give Felixstowe seafront a summer makeover.

By Richard Cornwell

TENS of thousands of pounds are being spent to give Felixstowe seafront a summer makeover.

After being declared a dangerous building many years ago, the Long Shelter in the Spa Gardens is at long last to be demolished - and a new outdoor performance area created.

The Edwardian shelter off Bath Hill has suffered structural problems for some time.

Council officials were so concerned they boarded it up with high metal mesh fencing because of the danger.

Suffolk Coastal cabinet member Doreen Savage said: “We have been waiting to take action on the Long Shelter for some time and now we have the money available and can make a start.

“It is going to be demolished and the gardens reshaped, and an outdoor performance area created there in the long-term.

“It will be an asset to Felixstowe once again rather than a building boarded up and not used.”

Mrs Savage said the project was only part of the work taking place on the seafront.

The decorative lights on the prom were also being improved with more than two dozen new central sparkling motifs on the lighting columns.

“The coloured light fountains on the columns have not been working very well for a couple of seasons now,” she said.

“Last year we got the new low-energy bulb strings in place and the new motifs will also be low energy and be part of the same system

“The lights are an important feature of the seafront and give a warm glow all year round for people visiting to enjoy the Spa Pavilion shows, restaurants or even to just walk along the prom.”

A new ramp over the sea wall has this week been completed at the end of Sea Road to allow access onto the prom all year round - even when the floodgates are closed.

The Felixstowe Futures Group is looking at ways to regenerate and improve the resort, and looking at a number of potential projects, for which it would be seeking grant aid from various sources.

Mrs Savage said she had asked for refurbishment of the pier to be assessed in this programme.

How do you think Felixstowe seafront could be improved? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail EveningStarLetters@eveningstar.co.uk