CANVEY’s only Catholic church is set for a revamp after plans were agreed.

Planning officers at Castle Point Council gave the go-ahead for extensions at the side and front of Our Lady of Canvey and the English Martyrs Church, in Long Road.

A new entrance will be created and corridors will be built linking the main building with the church hall, presbytery and meeting rooms.

The extensions will include an office, robing room and disabled toilet.

New windows and doors will also be fitted.

Dave Blackwell, leader of the Canvey Island Independent Party and central ward councillor, welcomed the revamp.

He said: “It has always been an iconic building and is very popular as its the only Catholic church we’ve got. It’s always busy and is packed every Sunday, so they are certainly in need of an extension.

“I fully support this project. The people at the church are lovely, and I’m pleased they were able to get the funds together to move forward with the extension.

“There have been complaints about church-goers blocking the road because of a lack of parking spaces, but unfortunately there isn’t much which can be done about that at the moment.’’ The church was built in 1938, but has undergone a number of changes over the decades.

The adjacent presbytery was built in 1952 and the church hall added in the Seventies.

Our Lady of Canvey and the English Martyrs has a car park with 41 spaces, but planning officers admit there should be 60 for the size of the building.

The Echo revealed last year residents were calling for parking restrictions along Linden Way, off Long Road, because of parishoners said to be clogging up the street.

The long-running saga means it is difficult for drivers to safely turn in and out of the junction.