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Ex-cons ‘advised to set up home at Thorney Bay’

11:00am Monday 22nd March 2010 in


FORMER prisoners and homeless people from outside Castle Point are being advised to set up home on Thorney Bay caravan park, a councillor claims.

At a heated public meeting, island councillor Anne Wood, who also works for the probation service, revealed how the park’s telephone number was given to ex-cons looking for accommodation.

Residents have long feared the park in Thorney Bay Road, which has expanded rapidly in recent years, is providing homes for convicted offenders and asylum seekers.

Mrs Wood told the latest council’s Canvey East Neighbourhood Meeting: “I work for the probation service and I know for a fact probation housing officers give the number out to ex-prisoners.”

One man, who did not want to be named, said: “It’s no surprise. I’m sure most of the crime on Canvey comes from Thorney Bay.”

Caravan park boss Jeff King said he had no knowledge of whether the probation service was recommending people approach the park.

It was also claimed at the meeting, held in Leigh Beck School, how other councils were trying to house homeless people on the site.

Craig Watts, Castle Point Council’s assistant chief executive, said: “We have asked other councils not to do so. Basildon Council for example has been asked not to.”

Mr Watts also said the council could not control where former prisoners lived once they had served their time.

He added: “Ex-prisoners could be located anywhere in the borough.”

Concerns first arose people on parole or on bail were living on the site when it was revealed brother of site owner Jeff King – Graham – runs Clearsprings, a company which has a Government contract to provide a number of bail hostels.

Yet Jeff King denies any deal has been done to house people from outside the borough on the park.

Basildon Council also denied it had housed anyone on the site.

Comments(17)

geezer, innit says...
11:37am Mon 22 Mar 10

if they wait a while there'll be a load of 'extra' dwellings built at Beechwood Village (a.k.a. Craylands) for them to move into, might raise the tone of the area!- sorted!

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geezer, innit says...
12:48pm Mon 22 Mar 10

as an alternative to the proposed prison on the grounds of the old Runwell hospital, why not build them a 'nice' housing estate there?

Would the Wickfordians prefer that to a secure nick?

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likelysauce says...
12:49pm Mon 22 Mar 10

And they now want to extend the hours of the onsite bar to 2am?? Like to see King's business plan....is it called "Profit from Probation"? Isn't about time someone took these guys to task...is this not a case for Super Spinky?? I thought he felt strongly about this kindof stuff.

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beth kelly says...
1:11pm Mon 22 Mar 10

Why is it no one ever talks about the good things that they do? (Such as helping the NHS, the charity fundraisers they hold at Thorney Bay etc.) People are always quick to comment if they are slagging someone off but I don't see how it is their fault, it is quite clearly the fault of the useless council and government we have! The Kings do a wonderful job on the island and people should leave them alone - they are just jealous!!!!

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ouzy says...
1:36pm Mon 22 Mar 10

beth kelly wrote:
Why is it no one ever talks about the good things that they do? (Such as helping the NHS, the charity fundraisers they hold at Thorney Bay etc.) People are always quick to comment if they are slagging someone off but I don't see how it is their fault, it is quite clearly the fault of the useless council and government we have! The Kings do a wonderful job on the island and people should leave them alone - they are just jealous!!!!
oh my god, is there a party everynight and bubbles in the sky in your world....?

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Neil Davidson says...
1:43pm Mon 22 Mar 10

Its good to see that confidentiality is of paramount importance in Cllr Woods job. lets hope her bosses dont read the echo or she might be moving over there.

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Lollipop69 says...
3:15pm Mon 22 Mar 10

Well I live in the newish houses near the camp and I for 1 can't believe how the area has declined. I've worked hard to buy my house in a nice area and they have just ruined it. Our road alone has had about 8 houses broken into, cars stole without the petty crime, and unless you live in that area you wouldn't even know the road was there! Some days its like 'the day of the living death' all these jukies monged out of their heads roaming the streets especially when there's infant and junior schools within a short walk. Crime on the island has increased loads.
What is the most annoying of all is that they don't even pay council tax!!!!
They are quick enough to penalise pensioners that have worked all their lives gone through the war and they are expected to find money to pay council tax, yet these wasters that can work but don't don't cost them a penny because 'WE' are paying for them.
We should all stick together and as a community that work and support ourselves stand up and fight back and stop paying our C.T... what they gonna do, put the whole of Essex in prison??? I'm in one already thanks to all this.
They've got away with it for far too long back pockets are being greased. You want to make easy money, build these places where we can't see them or have to deal with goings on.
Thorney Bay is supposed to be a HOLIDAY camp..... !
If I ever come to sell and can't I'll be suing Kings and the Council for allowing this!....

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likelysauce says...
3:17pm Mon 22 Mar 10

HA HA HA !!Jealous of what Beth? You have been "royally" suckered!...Which King had the front to deny that the development of several hundred units on the "camp"...had anything to do with the number units that his "sheltered housing" company needed to provide....and now what's happening (is that pure coincidence?).
As for wonderful job on the island...I'm sorry but the track record speaks for itself...but please tell us more...I do like a good laugh!!!

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shortybells says...
3:56pm Mon 22 Mar 10

"stop paying our C.T... what they gonna do, put the whole of Essex in prison?".

What makes you think the "Whole of Essex" supports you?
.
It's probable the whole of Essex is grateful these people are being dumped on the Bog away from the civilised world.

Canvey the Alcatraz of the East.

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tracer says...
4:02pm Mon 22 Mar 10

Cllr Anne Wood should really be reported to the probation service for reportedly stating what she said. But as she is not a tory in general or Bill Sharp in particular she will probably get away with it.

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evilc says...
5:53pm Mon 22 Mar 10

IF they have done their time then they have to go somewhere.

The problem is these days under this 'Tough on Crime' Government THEY DO NOT DO THEIR TIME they only do half and early release.

Anyway perhaps 3 members of the Government and a few MP's might find properties there after they do time for false expenses claims and corruption thro lobbying.

Now that would be nice to see

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upset says...
6:52pm Mon 22 Mar 10

likelysauce wrote:
And they now want to extend the hours of the onsite bar to 2am?? Like to see King's business plan....is it called "Profit from Probation"? Isn't about time someone took these guys to task...is this not a case for Super Spinky?? I thought he felt strongly about this kindof stuff.
Not sure if Spinky get support now from Kings but he did for the time he was a Tory. Allegedly the garden parties were heavily funded.

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upset says...
7:03pm Mon 22 Mar 10

Has anyone considered this? If what is said about the residents on the park is true, then it is a fair bet that for one reason or another they would be eligible for council tax rebates, would that mean CPDC would have to pay?

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soul man says...
7:48pm Mon 22 Mar 10

has anyone thought of this, now that this is all out in the
open, have a thought for all those who live closest to the kings halfway house, the drop in even more value of their property, it would be better if it were a prison, at least they dont wander around at will, laughing at being free to raise the crime higher. now we know why the cop shop is REALLY there eh

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BRING BACK HANGING says...
11:01pm Mon 22 Mar 10

To Lollipop69 & Kelly

How I sympathise with your comments Lollipop69, what a total disaster this fiasco is turning into.Have friends in Craven Road and they are sick to the back teeth of this scum creating havoc.
I am not surprised about the eight house break-in's as you see nobody gives a **** anymore so long as it it not in their back yard, I am fully aware the Kings are nowhere near any of this bedlam in terms of where they live

Clearsprings + Government Contracts = ££££££££££
££££'s and incredibly a Clear Conscious !!!
You see the Kings couldn't care about your problems or anyone elses nor the scum they have allowed in the back door
I strongly beleive in that what goes around comes around, these sort's of people deserve a dose of something unpleasant like a break in or a something similair!

As for the daft commet about their charity work and alll the good they have done etc etc from Kelly perhaps she should look back at past and recent history i.e Robert Maxwell gave to Charity to paper over the cracks as to what he was really doing - the whole thing stinks and unless someone can cataogrically tell me otherwise as far as I am concerned the Kings and their whole corrupt operation et al scam can go to hell in a handcart!!!!!!!!!!

Despite what anyone will tell you Canvey used to be a very pleasant and peacefull place to live............

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likelysauce says...
6:49am Tue 23 Mar 10

Well said bring back. I hope that Karma is alive and well and will dish out "royally" (hopefully soon!).
Cannot believe that that these guys have been allowed to negatively impact the lives of so many for their own profit.... I've nothing against success...but not when the price is an impact to the quality of lives of decent folk near to the camp.
People need to get real...the only thing these guys are interested in is money, not you, not canvey...they will suck up as much £££ where they can, and bear no thought to the cost of others. We need an elected authority that stands up,represents the people, and protects our society from this kind of behaviour....

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likelysauce says...
9:05am Tue 23 Mar 10

BBC article in Nov 09 about G Kings firm... QUOTE>ClearSprings, which was paid £5.8m in 2008/9 to manage bail accommodation, was accused earlier this year of failing to inform local residents before properties were converted to bail centres.

There have also been complaints from members of the public that people at some of the premises have been rude, aggressive and violent.

ClearSprings has refused to comment and referred media inquiries to the Ministry of Justice. <<<UNQUOTE
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