PLANS for a new tourist attraction have been delayed indefinitely until talks resume with a town council.

The Dengie Gateway Project was launched in 2015 and aimed to be a way of boosting visitor numbers by up to 50,000 and bringing in £1.8million of revenue.

But despite receiving more than £290,000 in funding, a planned Burnham woodland and sculpture trail has not seen any development.

A Freedom of Information request has now revealed the plans have stalled.

Maldon District Council said in response to the FOI request: “The total budget for the Dengie Gateway Project was £291,900, with £10,000 secured from the Magnox Socio-Economic Fund and the rest from the Coastal Community Fund.

“The remaining budget will be spent on the expansion of the Burnham Pontoon and the creation of a visitor attraction in Riverside Park, Burnham.

“In July 2017, the council community service committee considered ideas for the ‘attraction’, sourced from local people and chose the creation of a young woodland and sculpture trail.

“There has been considerable delay in delivering this owing to the correct time to undertake such planting and other operational commitments.

“Additionally, the committee also asked that the view of Burnham Town Council also be taken in to account.

“Regrettably, to date Burnham Town Council have not provided their views and so the council will be deciding whether to proceed with its chosen idea or provide Burnham Town Council with more time to provide its views.

“Funding remains available for the creation of a visitor attraction in Riverside Park, Burnham.”

In response, a town council spokesman said: “The town council is in discussions with Maldon District Council regarding this.”

As part of the early stages of the project, several creative ideas were suggested for attractions and installations, which resulted in the Saltmarsh Coast Visitor Hubs.