3:30pm Wednesday 17th March 2010
By Max Orbach
MORE than 100 youngsters and their parents have made their feelings known about plans to close Canvey’s much-loved tidal pool.
The kids, who ranged from babies to teenagers, were at Castle Point Council’s offices, in Kiln Road, Thundersley, when a children’s petition containing 700 signatures was handed in.
They are furious with the council, which plans to demolish Canvey’s seafront paddling pool, located near Concord Cafe, because it would be too expensive to refurbish and maintain.
Daniel Payne, 14, of Waarden Road, Canvey, who is a Castle Point youth councillor, handed the petition over to the authority.
He said: “I used the pool when I was younger and I still go down there in the summer holidays.
“It will be a real shame if the council closes the pool, for the people who use it and all the businesses on the seafront, which rely on people coming to the beach.
“I’ve spoken to my mates about it and none of them want to see it closed either.”
Christine Goodwin, 60, of Handel Road, Canvey, attended with her grandchildren Tyler, eight, and Alfie, seven.
She said the pair were devastated when they heard the pool would be demolished.
She added: “They play down there in the summer and they absolutely love it.
“My sons played there when they were young too.
“It’s a real asset because without it they’d be swimming in the estuary, where it’s much more dangerous.”
The petition, which has been running for the past fortnight, was organised by the Echo-backed Protect Our Pool campaign.
Lea Swann, the group’s leader, said “It’s amazing how many children have signed it, not just from Canvey, but from Benfleet, Hadleigh and even Westcliff.
“It’s not just kids getting involved. We’ve had elderly people in their seventies and eighties telling us how angry they are about the council’s decision.”
Castle Point Council originally claimed it would be too expensive to bring the pool up to health and safety standards, claiming it would cost £58,000 to refurbish, plus and a further expense each year to maintain it.
The council’s chief executive David Marchant confirmed last month he had taken notice of the huge public support to save the pool.
Councillors are set to meet Canvey Town Council representatives at 6pm tomorrow, at the Paddocks community centre, in Long Road, on the island, to discuss whether the town council could cover the costs.
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