Latest news with #CastlePointCouncil
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Campaigners stepping up fight for action to protect beloved south Essex Lake
CAMPAIGNERS concerned about the future of the beloved Canvey Lake have met with a Castle Point MP and called for more to be done to ensure its long-term health. The meeting comes as the Friends of Canvey Lake group relaunch their 'save Canvey Lake' poster campaign in an effort to raise awareness about what they see as the neglect and mismanagement of the treasured community asset. Castle Point Council has said it remains committed to protecting the lake and that there is potential for investment if residents desire it. We're now on WhatsApp! Join our new channel at to get all the latest breaking news and exclusive stories delivered straight to your phone. Alan Tibbit is the chairman of Save Canvey Lake and was one of those to meet with Castle Point's Conservative MP Dame Rebecca Harris earlier this week. 'It is refreshing to see that our MP agrees with us about dredging the lake and our aim is for a complete reset to 2010 levels,' he said – the group would like to see the condition of the lake restored to the quality it was at 15 years ago. Campaign - Members of Friends of Canvey Lake met with Dame Rebecca earlier this week (Image: Martin England) 'This is now a risk to public health with botulism and algae, and with the recent hot weather, and shallow depths of water, the botulism and algae will only get worse over the coming months. 'Canvey Lake should be for Canvey people, and our councillors need to do something about the issues or let those that care about it take over the running of the lake.' Determined - The campaigners have launched new posters as part of their mission (Image: Martin England) The residents' concerns around Canvey Lake stretch back years and have seen numerous campaigns launched to address its 'mismanagement'. As part of their latest project, the group has distributed posters to businesses across the island in the hopes of raising awareness of the issues facing the lake. After meeting the residents, Dame Rebecca said she understands the council to be working on the issue but believes it still needs dredging. Beloved - Canvey Lake is a point of pride for residents (Image: Google Maps) Ian Butt, director of place and communities at Castle Point Council said: 'Canvey Lake is an important community asset managed by Canvey Island Town Council. 'The Borough Council will continue to work with the Town Council, residents and other stakeholders regarding the ongoing management and maintenance of the lake. "Canvey Island has received a £20 million investment through the Government's Long-Term Plan for Towns Programme. If the community and residents choose to prioritise it, part of this funding could be allocated to improvements to the lake."
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
In pictures: New £1.5million south Essex seafront pavilion taking shape
WORK is progressing well on a new beach pavilion at Canvey's Thorney Bay ahead of a scheduled spring opening. The seafront pavilion and café was initially set to be completed this month, but images show steady progress on the major addition to Canvey's seafront. Bold - The pavilion will offer new facilities to beach users on Canvey (Image: Richard Windell) Designed to house a new café the £1.5 million Thorney Bay pavilion is also set to feature public toilets, a foot wash for beach users, and a car park extension. We're now on WhatsApp! Join our new channel at to get all the latest breaking news and exclusive stories delivered straight to your phone. A spokesperson for Castle Point Council has previously said that while they cannot disclose details on the future operator of the café, they have seen 'a good level of interest'. Progress - The building is clad in wood with large sea-facing windows (Image: Richard Windell) The new pavilion and its associated facilities were funded through a grant from the national government's Coastal Communities Fund. This project is part of the wider regeneration plans for Canvey seafront and, alongside improvements to the sea defences, should offer an impressive visitor experience for both residents and tourists. Impressive - The pavilion incorporates a modern and eye-catching design (Image: Richard Windell) The construction project has been hit by a number of delays and false-starts since it was first announced in 2016 but finally got underway in March of last year. Photos of the pavilion show a wood-clad structure with large sea-facing windows and plenty of outdoor space. Works - The major new addition to the seafront will surely be welcomed by residents (Image: Richard Windell) The project is being led by top Colchester-based property and construction consultancy Ingleton Wood who is providing full planning, design, project management, and contract administration.
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New £1.5m south Essex seafront pavilion set to open as hunt for cafe firm continues
AN Essex council is spending £1.5million on a seafront pavilion but bosses do not have 'a suitable tenant' or opening date, despite external works progressing. Construction for the new pavilion just off Thorney Bay Beach on Canvey is expected to be completed in May, but the council is still looking for a cafe operator, with signs at the site about the vacancy. The new business is already delayed, as last September Canvey Independent, council leader Dave Blackwell, said it was due to open to the public in the spring, with construction works set to finish by January. The council says it does not have any exact date yet for opening. Barry Palmer, Canvey Independent councillor for economic growth and climate action said: 'Construction works are expected to be completed in May. This development is an important investment for the area, providing much-needed public facilities, including toilets, for those visiting Thorney Bay and the surrounding seafront. 'It will improve local amenities and create a more accessible and enjoyable environment for residents and visitors alike. Subject to a suitable tenant, it is expected to house a café, further enhancing the seafront experience and supporting local business. We look forward to unveiling the Pavilion in the coming months and will continue to share updates as progress continues.' Plans to regenerate the seafront have been on the table for at least six years. In 2019 plans included a new pavilion with a viewing area, a new retail kiosk, increased car parking and an improved walkway to connect Thorney Bay with Canvey's central seafront. Castle Point Council has been awarded the money from the government's Coastal Communities Fund which meets the majority of the project's £1.72 million price tag. The seafront is also benefiting from investment with Fantasy Island funfair expanding and almost £10million being spent on improved sea defences.
Yahoo
23-02-2025
- Yahoo
Quad bike yobs ripping up pitches at south Essex park hit with police warning
QUAD bike yobs wreaking havoc in a Benfleet park have been hit by a stern warning from police - we will catch you and seize your vehicles. Yobs on motor vehicles, including quad bikes, have been reported accessing Woodside Park, in Benfleet, putting residents at risk and ripping up football pitches. Essex Police has now issued a warning to those involved, insisting if they catch people on quad bikes they will be seized and will not be returned. We're now on WhatsApp! Join our new channel at to get all the latest breaking news and exclusive stories delivered straight to your phone. Castle Point MP, Dame Rebecca Harris, has also slammed those involved and revealed Woodside Park is one of the locations being considered for new CCTV. The council is currently considering where up to 100 extra cameras could be rolled out across the borough to cut crime and boost safety. Dame Rebecca said: 'This antisocial behaviour needs to be clamped down on. It causes damage to the park, is dangerous to families and dog walkers who use it every day, and disturbs not just local residents, but also those visiting their loved ones in the cemetery next-door. 'I went with our Essex Police Fire and Crime Commissioner, Roger Hirst, on a tour of some of the places around the borough that will benefit from the £1.04 million grant he has given the Castle Point Council to improve CCTV in public spaces, including Woodside Park. 'I wrote to the council suggesting they applied for this grant and I am very pleased they are actively looking to upgrade the CCTV around the borough as soon as possible.' Essex Police revealed the quad bikes are also being ridden on roads in the area and causing antisocial behaviour. A spokesman said: 'We are aware of ASB involving motor vehicles in the area of Woodside Park, Rushbottom Lane and Manor Road in Benfleet. 'We've received several reports of quad bikes entering the public park and causing damage to the pitches, as well as being ridden on the public highway when these are not registered for use on the road. 'When we stop these vehicles we will be seizing them under Section of the Police Reform Act 2002 and as they are not for road use, the owners will not be able to claim them back. 'We are working with our partners and specialist teams to identify and stop the nuisance behaviour, we have already received intelligence that we are working on. 'If you see them or have any video or Dash cam footage please contact us by clicking on the link in the first comment, quoting incident number 1114-13/02.'
