RIVERSIDE yurts, vintage bus tours and promotional videos are all being touted as ways to boost tourism across the district.

The ideas have been revealed as part of the evolving economic plans of the River Crouch and Maldon and Blackwater Estuary Coastal Community Teams, set up in January last year.

Both groups are helping to carry out projects and secure funding for schemes which will help draw more visitors.

In the last year the Blackwater team has been working with Maldon District Council to install visitor signs at Heybridge Basin while the River Crouch team has put together a visitor guide.

At the end of last year the team drew up a list of project ideas for the next 12 months and beyond.

They include looking at introducing a crossing on the River Crouch and creating a video to “explore the beauty of the Crouch coastline”.

The Blackwater proposals include restoring an old observation tower at St Peter’s Chapel in Bradwell to provide an estuary viewing point.

Other ideas include promoting the Heybridge gravel pits as a wildlife and visitor area; yurts, shepherd’s huts or alternative accommodation along the coastal footpath and a new coastal newsletter.

Vintage bus tours and plans to revitalise Tollesbury Harbour have also been mooted.

Paul Jeffries, chairman of the Maldon & Blackwater Estuary CCT, said: “I’ve been really impressed with the enthusiasm of businesses and local organisations to get involved with the work of the Maldon & Blackwater Estuary Coastal Community Team.

“Our energies are being put into getting the best from our maritime and coastal assets with a view to encouraging residents and visitors to enjoy everything the river and its associated businesses have to offer.

“We are also keen to address and support, where we can, to find solutions to ongoing skills shortages in the district’s maritime industry, particularly those connected with our older vessels.”

Doug MacEwen, vice-chairman of the River Crouch CCT, added: “We’ve certainly come a long way since our first meeting which was held in Burnham-on-Crouch in January this year.

“Since then, the River Crouch CCT has focussed on developing project ideas to boost the river’s tourism appeal, including reviewing access points to the river between South Woodham Ferrers and Burnham.

"Implementation of projects will of course depend on funding from both the public and private sectors.”