Latest news with #CastlePointBoroughCouncil
BBC News
8 hours ago
- Business
- BBC News
Canvey Island shopping centre to have £2m refurbishment
A 1970s-built shopping centre will undergo a £2m refurbishment after a council agreed to fund the Shopping Centre in Canvey Island, Essex, was bought by Castle Point Borough Council as a "regeneration project" in 2019, when it had not been modernised for many years. Its cabinet agreed to spend £2.1m - plus a further £810,000 on fixtures and fittings - with work to be carried out between February and June 2026."It's been a long journey on this, so it will be good now we can see the works going, I think the Knightswick Centre will look absolutely superb," said council leader David Blackwell. Lack of modernisation meant some of the centre's 28 shop units had remained vacant, the cabinet was improvements aimed to attract customers and tenants, a report to councillors said, and involved upgrading lighting, flooring, ceiling and infrastructure "to enhance the overall experience"."Creating a brighter, safer and appealing centre will make the space more inviting and competitive while diversifying the retail mix to appeal to a broader demographic with new shops, dining or entertainment options," it had called for the centre to be updated, according to the Local Democracy Reporting said it was "very run-down" and often just used as a "cut-through" to Sainsbury's rather than for shopping. Others described it as "old, ugly, and boring", LDRS said. Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
13-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Abbeyfield House in Hadleigh to be reopened as homeless hostel
A former care home is to be reopened as a homeless hostel after plans were showed 19 rooms would be made available for the temporary accommodation at Abbeyfield House in Hadleigh, came despite concerns brought to Castle Point Borough Council about overcrowding and security at the site in Chapel officer Sarah Williamson said it was a "cost-effective" method of meeting housing demands. Independent councillor Kate Knott said the authority had to act before it lost the property, but admitted there had been "mixed views" about the building was constructed in 1983 for sheltered housing, a report served to the development management committee people would have access to a kitchen, shower and a bed in their rooms once it was converted. 'Too little care' But a resident, who only gave her name as Ms Johnson, said the design was "flawed" and unsafe."Crucially, we still don't know how many people are intended to live here," she said, as she called for 24-hour security on-site."The plan tries to do too much, too fast, with too little care."Ms Williamson said there would be staff present at the building and insisted CCTV would be "regularly monitored".She said the council was unable to meet its housing targets for homeless people as things stood."The proposal, if permitted, would meet this housing need in a more supported, sustainable and cost-effective way," Ms Williamson told the meeting."Potential residents would be assessed for numerous risk factors, and those with a chequered past or additional needs would be placed in specialised units and not at this location." Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
09-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Canvey Island funfair to expand into derelict neighbour
The owners of a seafront funfair complex are hoping to expand after buying up a derelict neighbouring Island, on the Eastern Esplanade of Canvey Island, Essex, closed its gates after two decades and a devastating fire last owners of nearby Fantasy Island, Derek and Suzanne Gray, are said to have "big plans" for the venture, with new attractions expected to be built. According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Barry Palmer, Independent Councillor at Castle Point Borough Council, said: "They want a chance to get open for the summer. I know they have some ideas and have been talking about it." The announcement follows the recent update on the government's promise to build Europe's first Universal theme park in the Universal attraction is planned for the site of a former brickworks near Bedford and could create an estimated 28,000 jobs before opening in 2031. At its height, Leisure Island Fun Park had more than 20 rides and attractions on the Eastern broke out at the site in September, causing damage to its toilet block, first aid room, baby changing area and compactor area. In a statement on Facebook in February, Leisure Island thanked everyone who had supported the business and the "nearly 3,000 members of staff" who had worked at the park over the years."It's so sad we have had to close the park but hopefully we have created loads of memories for the families that visited us," the statement Mr Gray, of Fantasy Island, owned by Monico Leisure, insisted Canvey seafront was still "moving forward" when speaking to the BBC in February. He added: "We are getting more and more support of people coming down here and enjoying live facilities."According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the local council has offered them a two-year lease, with a reasonable rate to help them get started. Mr Palmer said: "They are great people and did have some big plans but didn't have the room at their existing site."Now with this new additional plot it will be a chance for them to do some wonderful things. "It will be interesting to see what they do there." Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
