CONTROVERSIAL plans to flood a Canvey nature reserve have been shelved for the time being, the Echo can reveal.

Proposals to abandon sea defences and let the tide flood West Canvey Marshes will not go ahead for at least ten years.

Castle Point MP Bob Spink, who spearheaded a campaign against the plan, was thrilled after being told by the Environment Agency the scheme had been dropped.

This means the £2million freshwater nature reserve being created by the RSPB on the site, which runs alongside Canvey Road, will be safe, for now at least.

Dr Spink, who has opposed the plans since they were first announced in September 2008, said: “I am proud to announce another victory for people power.

“This proves by working together for our community, we can force politicians, councils and Government to change their policy when they are wrong.

“This is an important public asset and should be protected, not abandoned to the sea.”

The site was one of seven along the Thames Estuary which the Environment Agency was considering flooding, to replace shoreline habitats lost due to rising sea levels.

If the plan had gone ahead, it would have seen part of the sea-wall around the marshes knocked down and rebuilt alongside Canvey Road, allowing the tide to come in over 640 acres of freshwater marshes.

Dr Spink has been told the decision to shelve the plan, which was part of the agency’s Thames Estuary 2100 strategy, will be reviewed again during the next ten to 20 years, in the light of rising sea levels.

Canvey Tory councillor Ray Howard, a member of the West Canvey Marshes management committee, said: “I have been working hard to completely dismiss the site as one of the options.

“We will continue to fight it, if it is raised again in another ten years.”

The Environment Agency confirmed Canvey was not part of its present plans.

But the future of the other sites, including Vange Marsh and Bowers Marshes, in Pitsea, has yet to be decided.

Dave Blackwell, leader of the Canvey Island Independent Party, whose councillors also campaigned against the plans to flood the marshland, said: “I think common sense has prevailed.

“Canvey people will be relieved the plan is going to be shelved.

“We can be rest assured now the RSPB can get on and turn the area into a wonderful open park for the community, and a haven for birds and wildlife.

“Hopefully, when the Environment Agency come to review the decision, it will see what an asset the area is for Canvey people and realise it’s got to be another location.

TWO TREE PLAN IS REJECTED

A PROPOSAL to allow part of Two Tree Island in Leigh to be flooded has been rejected by the Environment Agency, Southend Council has revealed.

As part of its Thames Estuary 2100 strategy, the agency was originally looking at abandoning sea defences at Two Tree Island.

The move, opposed by Southend Council, would have created a new tidal marshland area for birds.

John Lamb, the council’s Tory deputy council leader, said the agency had ruled out the project because the island’s previous use for landfill meant flooding the area could release dangerous toxins.

This, of course, would be disastrous for the area’s wildlife habitat.

He said: “Two Tree Island couldn’t be flooded unless the toxins were removed first, which would be extremely costly.”

However, the Environment Agency is still considering proposals to flood Hadleigh marshes.

Concern was raised by Essex County Council last year that flooding Hadleigh marshes could mean the c2c rail line, between Fenchurch Street and Shoebury, being cut short at Benfleet, which also serves Canvey. However, Ray Howard, Castle Point Tory councillor responsible for the environment, said the seawall built between Leigh and Benfleet, in the early Eighties, contained household waste.

It means parts of the sea- wall would have to be rebuilt to make sure no chemicals leaked into the water.

Mystery still surrounds the future of other south Essex sites, which could be flooded to create new tidal habitats.

As well as West Canvey Marshes, four other marshes in south Essex were originally outlined as part of the Environment Agency’s plans to create inter-tidal habitats.

These were Vange, Fobbing and Shell Haven marshes, plus Bowers Marsh.

However, following the announcement, West Canvey Marshes will not be considered for at least ten years, and councillors have cast doubts on the county’s other potential sites.

Malcolm Buckley, cabinet member responsible for environment at Basildon Council, said there were major concerns about leaving Bowers Marsh, or Vange, Fobbing and Shell Haven marshes, to be flooded.

Issues include how close flooded areas would be to a closed toxic waste site, next door to Pitsea dump, the tip itself, the c2c railway line and the A13.

Mr Buckley said: “Whatever people’s views on global warming, there is no doubt sea levels are rising.

“But one of the key issues to consider is what things there are in an area.

“We have the Pitsea waste facility and there’s a closed toxic waste site, so you have to consider the damage done to any habitats if there was any breach.”