Minister delighted by island’s revamp plans (From Echo)
Get involved: send your pictures, video, news and views by texting ECHONEWS to 80360, or email us »
Minister delighted by island’s revamp plans
3:00pm Tuesday 9th February 2010 in
A GOVERNMENT minister has thrown her support behind plans to transform Canvey town centre following a visit to the island.
Barbara Follett, minister for the East of England, visited the island’s regeneration shop, in the Knightswick Centre, where the redevelopment proposals are on display.
She was full of praise for the shop, run by Castle Point Council, which has allowed residents to view the town centre plans and offer their own views.
Mrs Follett said: “I wanted to visit Canvey and see for myself the plans to regenerate the area.
“It’s fantastic the council is engaging with the local community so everyone gets an input into the future of the town centre.”
More than 4,000 people have visited the shop since it opened last summer to view the redevelopment proposals.
These include continental-style plans to expand the town square to include outdoor eating, to get rid of the town’s one-way system and to expand the Knightswick Centre.
The council intends to release updated plans, taking into account the views of residents, in the next fortnight. The council has so far secured £500,000 for the scheme and hopes to start building work within two years.
Mrs Follett also heard about other redevelopment plans on the island, including plans for a £7.5million vocational training centre on the site of Castle View School and RSPB’s plans to turn Canvey Marshes into a wildlife sanctuary.
Pam Challis, leader of Castle Point Council, said: “I was delighted to welcome the minister to Canvey. It was a great opportunity to show her the tremendous work being carried out here.
“I hope the local community will begin to reap the benefits of our hard work and begin to use these outstanding facilities.”
l The visit came at the end of a difficult week for Mrs Follett. She was ordered to repay £42,458 to the public purse following the Sir Thomas Legg inquiry into MPs’ expenses. Mrs Follett, MP for Stevenage, Herts, spent more than £34,000 on security patrols around her second home.
Comments(17)
Miss D Meaner
says...
5:10pm Tue 9 Feb 10
upset
says...
5:12pm Tue 9 Feb 10
lifelongislander wrote:What do you mean! looks like the unofficial leader (Spinkie) of the CIIP is in the background looking at the T shirt.
Shame Pam Challis didnt think fit to inform any Canvey Independent Councillors of the Minister's visit, I sure they would have been able to balance the view she received from Pam Challis.
evilc
says...
5:54pm Tue 9 Feb 10
A few weeks to go and that lot will be out of the picture, then nothing will happen as per normal.
BMNO6
says...
7:26pm Tue 9 Feb 10
Spazzy McGee
says...
8:58am Wed 10 Feb 10
Also, how about updating and maintaining the pool that everyone is talking about first, get the Islanders onside - should then help with any support with and future ideas and plans!
Maybe I should be in Politics!
shortybells
says...
10:34am Wed 10 Feb 10
lifelongislander wrote:Vote Rebecca Harris in the General Election. Dump the Tories in the local.
Shame Pam Challis didnt think fit to inform any Canvey Independent Councillors of the Minister's visit, I sure they would have been able to balance the view she received from Pam Challis.
BMNO6
says...
10:53am Wed 10 Feb 10
shortybells
says...
11:48am Wed 10 Feb 10
BMNO6 wrote:Ever thought of taking English lessons??
What one of Daves babes flown in at the fiFth time of trying for a safe seat! no thanks just another Torie tow the party line or else, never had a job, a career politician, will never be for the good of CP, or any of the other five areas she could not get selected for, dump her on CP they will come up for it, that' a safe seat, wake up people of CP before its to late.
BMNO6
says...
12:15pm Wed 10 Feb 10
lifelongislander
says...
12:59pm Wed 10 Feb 10
John T Pharro
says...
4:17pm Wed 10 Feb 10
VocalVoice
says...
4:19pm Wed 10 Feb 10
Spazzy McGee wrote:First comment I completely agree with, it does seem very backwards.
Why would you want to expand the Knightswick Centre, Most of the shops are empty in there, maybe fill them up first?
Also, how about updating and maintaining the pool that everyone is talking about first, get the Islanders onside - should then help with any support with and future ideas and plans!
Maybe I should be in Politics!
They are spending £1.3m on updating waterside plus another large amount on the paddocks so I am sure the loss of a small paddling pool will not be such a loss. Even more so when there is another just down the beach. Seems the majority of people on Canvey will never be happy whatever is done!
VocalVoice
says...
4:24pm Wed 10 Feb 10
VocalVoice wrote:I actually meant minority of people on Canvey as there was only a couple of hundred that are protesting. Apologies.
Spazzy McGee wrote:First comment I completely agree with, it does seem very backwards.
Why would you want to expand the Knightswick Centre, Most of the shops are empty in there, maybe fill them up first?
Also, how about updating and maintaining the pool that everyone is talking about first, get the Islanders onside - should then help with any support with and future ideas and plans!
Maybe I should be in Politics!
They are spending £1.3m on updating waterside plus another large amount on the paddocks so I am sure the loss of a small paddling pool will not be such a loss. Even more so when there is another just down the beach. Seems the majority of people on Canvey will never be happy whatever is done!
John T Pharro
says...
5:13pm Wed 10 Feb 10
VocalVoice wrote:They may be a minority of people on Canvey that turned out to a meeting, but no one turned out against did they? You could have come it was an open meeting then you could have expressed publically how you feel.
VocalVoice wrote:I actually meant minority of people on Canvey as there was only a couple of hundred that are protesting. Apologies.Spazzy McGee wrote: Why would you want to expand the Knightswick Centre, Most of the shops are empty in there, maybe fill them up first? Also, how about updating and maintaining the pool that everyone is talking about first, get the Islanders onside - should then help with any support with and future ideas and plans! Maybe I should be in Politics!First comment I completely agree with, it does seem very backwards. They are spending £1.3m on updating waterside plus another large amount on the paddocks so I am sure the loss of a small paddling pool will not be such a loss. Even more so when there is another just down the beach. Seems the majority of people on Canvey will never be happy whatever is done!
Tell you what put your name and face where your views are, organise a meeting to air your views and see how many turn up.
shortybells
says...
3:22pm Thu 11 Feb 10
What a stupid thing to say. You are the ones who are against the closure of the pool. The majority on the Island couldn't give a toss.
lifelongislander
says...
5:10pm Thu 11 Feb 10
More News stories
- Fake banknotes crop up in Leigh
- Burglar flees empty-handed
- Man disturbs burglars in his home
- Street cleaner strikes gold by finding £21,000 Rolex watch
- My uni art project has become big business
- Southend Council set to oppose Boris's Thames Estuary airport
- Fast and Furious film could be shot on Southend seafront
- Today's Echo: Joe Ball's mum speaks of her anguish
- Essex Police step up patrols after spate of car crime in Wickford
- Police probe two arsons in Grays
Point of interest - Barbara Follett MP, looks at a model detailing the plans with Castle Point MP Bob Spink and council leader Pam Challis
Most popular
Local Information
Enter your postcode, town or place name
lifelongislander says...
4:27pm Tue 9 Feb 10