Canvey's regeneration shop may be kept open

12:00pm Friday 31st August 2012 in News

A SHOP set up by a council to get feedback from residents about regeneration plans could stay open for another two years despite the plans already being approved.

Critics of Canvey ’s regeneration shop say the notion of keeping it open longer is a waste of time and money.

The shop, in the Knightswick Shopping Centre, in Furtherwick Road was opened in 2009 revealing details of the £100million masterplan and asking residents to have their say.

After two years of public consultations, council meetings and discussions with traders, the ambitious plans were finally adopted by Castle Point Council’s ruling Tory cabinet in April.

However, the council’s planning department wants the shop to continue to be used in connection with the regeneration for another two years.

Dave Blackwell, leader of the Canvey Independent Party, said: “Everybody complains about it because it is a total waste of time keeping it open. No one goes in there anymore and it is very frustrating that we are continuing to spend public money on this.

“Everyone is waiting for news now the masterplan’s been passed, but all the meetings are happening behind closed doors, so there’s no point going in there because even the staff don’t know what’s going on.”

The Echo reported in February, Castle Point Council had set aside £60,000 to keep open both the Canvey shop and the one in High Road, Hadleigh . The masterplan includes proposals to revive run-down shops, create tree-lined public pathways, add better links between the town centre and Canvey Lake, youth facilities and introduce two-way traffic and on-street parking in the town centre.

Council officers are in negotiations with investors to realise the plans.

A council spokesman said: “This is just a technical application to renew the permission to use the regeneration shop on Canvey. No decision has been made as to the future use of the regeneration shops beyond this financial year.”

Comments (7)

12:21pm Fri 31 Aug 12

Ian P says...

It is going to create a poor visual image if the Regeneration Shop is closed, or worse still if it is boarded up, before the regeneration even starts.
It is going to create a poor visual image if the Regeneration Shop is closed, or worse still if it is boarded up, before the regeneration even starts. Ian P

2:04pm Fri 31 Aug 12

John T Pharro says...

What an absolute total waste of money.
At the moment there are no staff available in planning in Castle Point Council due to holidays and illness until the 5th September despite a revised plan being presented to the Council for Canvey Supply at Point Road so unable to ask questions uand residents have only until the 14th September to respond. Yet they want to keep this place open?
I would like some straight answers from Castle Point already asked and still not replied to. Not a waste of money place staffed with people who haven't got a clue about Borough Plans, flood risks implications etc. etc.
However, anyone who has ever asked for answers from some Officers of Castle Point Council will know how uncooperative and or unknowledgable they can be.
What an absolute total waste of money. At the moment there are no staff available in planning in Castle Point Council due to holidays and illness until the 5th September despite a revised plan being presented to the Council for Canvey Supply at Point Road so unable to ask questions uand residents have only until the 14th September to respond. Yet they want to keep this place open? I would like some straight answers from Castle Point already asked and still not replied to. Not a waste of money place staffed with people who haven't got a clue about Borough Plans, flood risks implications etc. etc. However, anyone who has ever asked for answers from some Officers of Castle Point Council will know how uncooperative and or unknowledgable they can be. John T Pharro

2:05pm Fri 31 Aug 12

nicknows says...

Shut the **** thing it only has limited opening hours and is a total waste of the rate payers money!
Shut the **** thing it only has limited opening hours and is a total waste of the rate payers money! nicknows

3:44pm Fri 31 Aug 12

TseTse says...

But it does make it look like another shop unit is occupied......
But it does make it look like another shop unit is occupied...... TseTse

6:35pm Fri 31 Aug 12

John T Pharro says...

TseTse wrote:
But it does make it look like another shop unit is occupied......
And do you make worth the cost?
[quote][p][bold]TseTse[/bold] wrote: But it does make it look like another shop unit is occupied......[/p][/quote]And do you make worth the cost? John T Pharro

4:46pm Sat 1 Sep 12

Eric Whim says...

sounds like it needs regenerating rather than being kept open
sounds like it needs regenerating rather than being kept open Eric Whim

5:37pm Sun 2 Sep 12

Sean4u says...

"on-street parking"
Having recently visited Canvey, the developments there look like yet
more good money after bad. The Castle View education development looks great, though I read elsewhere that the Island is running out of
families so they need to build more houses (cart, horse). "On street
parking" as a development goal makes me shudder - it's from the Gospel
according to Mary Portas and just won't work. Besides, the pavement
outside Raspberry Ripples looks like it amply provides on-street
parking for Canvey's residents.

On the other hand, I was delighted (the kids loved it too) to visit
Canvey Heights. Having grown up on Canvey and being able to stand on a *hill* on the Island and see rooftops was a revelation! It'd be great
to see some more decent quality-of-life investment instead of the
braindead build-and-decay cycle. Canvey Island needs to get its
domestic tourism income back: on-street parking and re-painting lines
on the road is not going to deliver that.
"on-street parking" Having recently visited Canvey, the developments there look like yet more good money after bad. The Castle View education development looks great, though I read elsewhere that the Island is running out of families so they need to build more houses (cart, horse). "On street parking" as a development goal makes me shudder - it's from the Gospel according to Mary Portas and just won't work. Besides, the pavement outside Raspberry Ripples looks like it amply provides on-street parking for Canvey's residents. On the other hand, I was delighted (the kids loved it too) to visit Canvey Heights. Having grown up on Canvey and being able to stand on a *hill* on the Island and see rooftops was a revelation! It'd be great to see some more decent quality-of-life investment instead of the braindead build-and-decay cycle. Canvey Island needs to get its domestic tourism income back: on-street parking and re-painting lines on the road is not going to deliver that. Sean4u

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