Calls to sort out flooded Canvey park

Under water - Smallgains Recreational Ground in Smallgains Avenue, Canvey Under water - Smallgains Recreational Ground in Smallgains Avenue, Canvey

COMPLAINTS have been made over foul smells emanating from a recreational ground which has been left to stagnate under water for months.

Frustrated residents have been kicking up a stink after being unable to use Smallgains Recreational Ground, in Smallgains Avenue, Canvey since last October as persistent heavy rainfall has left the land covered in water.

The water has been left so long on the site, which is popular with dog walkers, it has started to stagnate leaving a nasty pong in the air.

This comes after the Echo reported last Friday about concerns over high water levels at the RSPB West Canvey Marsh, in Canvey Road, said to be the highest the island’s ever seen.

Brenda Easton, 71, of Whernside Avenue, Canvey, said: “Something needs to be done because it’s been like it for months and no one can use it. It’s dangerous because a lot of children and dog walkers go over there, and any one of them could jump in not knowing how deep it is.

“It really is starting to smell. I certainly hope it will be sorted before the summer because otherwise it’s just going to become a mosquito haven.

“This area of Canvey was one of the worst hit during the 1953 flood. I know we have great flood defences but no one not even the experts can be certain it will never happen again, we’ve got to be careful.”

Aspiring footballers from the Island Boys and Girls Club, who have the usage rights for the land, have also been forced to find an alternative venue to practise since late last year.
Councillor Peter May, vice chairman of the club, said: “I would love for the Environment Agency to find a solution to this problem because it is a real shame that we cannot use it.”

Comments(31)

Rochford Rob says...
2:53pm Fri 15 Feb 13

Brenda Easton, 71, of Whernside Avenue, Canvey, said: “Something needs to be done because it’s been like it for months and no one can use it. It’s dangerous because a lot of children and dog walkers go over there, and any one of them could jump in not knowing how deep it is.

it looks about 6" deep - halfway up the bench legs.

Boyracer_1991 says...
3:00pm Fri 15 Feb 13

Rochford Rob wrote:
Brenda Easton, 71, of Whernside Avenue, Canvey, said: “Something needs to be done because it’s been like it for months and no one can use it. It’s dangerous because a lot of children and dog walkers go over there, and any one of them could jump in not knowing how deep it is.

it looks about 6" deep - halfway up the bench legs.
I agree there. Old people love to go the extreme. Bless em.

Russ13 says...
3:18pm Fri 15 Feb 13

Forgive my ignorance but isn't most of Caney at or below sea level?

It's not going to take a lot for localised flooding to occur.

Surely Ms Easton realises this, especially after acknowledging these areas were worst hit by the 1953 floods?

Asking for "someone" to do something about the forces of nature and local geology is a little much really lol

perini says...
3:39pm Fri 15 Feb 13

Russ13 wrote:
Forgive my ignorance but isn't most of Caney at or below sea level? It's not going to take a lot for localised flooding to occur. Surely Ms Easton realises this, especially after acknowledging these areas were worst hit by the 1953 floods? Asking for "someone" to do something about the forces of nature and local geology is a little much really lol
How about digging a hole so the water can drain out? Oh - Canvey's below sea-level!!!! Turn the pumps on?

BMNO6 says...
3:56pm Fri 15 Feb 13

King Canute might be able to help with the water, but the smell I am afraid that will always be............... Canvey.

Carnabackable says...
3:58pm Fri 15 Feb 13

You've got to laugh at this one, 6 inches deep, and the place is surrounded by tidal water, ummm oh so dangerous...

Cosmo Spring says...
4:07pm Fri 15 Feb 13

quick find someone to blame for the fact that it's been the wettest twelve months in a century....

Nebs says...
4:24pm Fri 15 Feb 13

dog walkers go over there
really is starting to smell
I wonder if there is a connection.

Cosmo Spring says...
5:44pm Fri 15 Feb 13

Nebs wrote:
dog walkers go over there
really is starting to smell
I wonder if there is a connection.
is it where Richard the Turd was buried?

Sean4u says...
6:04pm Fri 15 Feb 13

Why does that strip of land at Smallgains have a dyke all the way around it as though it's intended to retain water? Was the sea wall originally further in?

marshman says...
6:36pm Fri 15 Feb 13

Double the size of the lake there and hey presto! Problem solved. The cost will be more than made up for in unlost pitch fees. Currently the lake is a fraction of it's original size and with a little tlc could become another jewel in Canvey's crown.

marshman says...
6:42pm Fri 15 Feb 13

Sean4u wrote:
Why does that strip of land at Smallgains have a dyke all the way around it as though it's intended to retain water? Was the sea wall originally further in?
It was originally a tidal creek. The deep channel was on the Newlands side and Smallgains side was mostly creekweed. The small wall by the Rainbow Road roundabout was what it all joined up with. It was reclaimed after the 53 flood.

upset says...
6:43pm Fri 15 Feb 13

Sean4u wrote:
Why does that strip of land at Smallgains have a dyke all the way around it as though it's intended to retain water? Was the sea wall originally further in?
Yes

John T Pharro says...
6:54pm Fri 15 Feb 13

Rochford Rob wrote:
Brenda Easton, 71, of Whernside Avenue, Canvey, said: “Something needs to be done because it’s been like it for months and no one can use it. It’s dangerous because a lot of children and dog walkers go over there, and any one of them could jump in not knowing how deep it is.

it looks about 6" deep - halfway up the bench legs.
And about 6 foot deep about 6 foot in front. That is just the point you cannot see the lake now. That bench overlooks the lake. Can you see where the bank is?

John T Pharro says...
7:02pm Fri 15 Feb 13

This area never flooded like this for years after reclamation. It has been like this for at least the last 5 years. I think there was also an overflow pipe in the lake connecting to the main surface water drains in Smallgains Avenue. In fact there is a manhole inspection cover on the Smallgains Park side. Is this a case of the pipe being in need of maintainence and has anyone checked? Apparently that is Castle Point Councils responsibility to maintain this.

John T Pharro says...
7:05pm Fri 15 Feb 13

Carnabackable wrote:
You've got to laugh at this one, 6 inches deep, and the place is surrounded by tidal water, ummm oh so dangerous...
And 6 foot deep or more immediately in front. The benches face the lake can you see the bank? Try walking out immediately in front yourself if you think it is not deep.

Steve H says...
8:19pm Fri 15 Feb 13

John T Pharro wrote:
This area never flooded like this for years after reclamation. It has been like this for at least the last 5 years. I think there was also an overflow pipe in the lake connecting to the main surface water drains in Smallgains Avenue. In fact there is a manhole inspection cover on the Smallgains Park side. Is this a case of the pipe being in need of maintainence and has anyone checked? Apparently that is Castle Point Councils responsibility to maintain this.
How is a blocked pipe the cause of this? Do you understand Physics?

John T Pharro says...
8:27pm Fri 15 Feb 13

Steve H wrote:
John T Pharro wrote:
This area never flooded like this for years after reclamation. It has been like this for at least the last 5 years. I think there was also an overflow pipe in the lake connecting to the main surface water drains in Smallgains Avenue. In fact there is a manhole inspection cover on the Smallgains Park side. Is this a case of the pipe being in need of maintainence and has anyone checked? Apparently that is Castle Point Councils responsibility to maintain this.
How is a blocked pipe the cause of this? Do you understand Physics?
Because there is an overflow pipe in the bank of the lake (similar to what some garden ponds have, but obviously bigger). It it then goes across the field to join up with the main storm drain. There is a manhole inspection cover on the park side. No I don't understand physics, but I do understand that pipes are laid to take away surface water and blocked pipes cause floods. Do you understand that?

Steve H says...
8:39pm Fri 15 Feb 13

John T Pharro wrote:
Steve H wrote:
John T Pharro wrote:
This area never flooded like this for years after reclamation. It has been like this for at least the last 5 years. I think there was also an overflow pipe in the lake connecting to the main surface water drains in Smallgains Avenue. In fact there is a manhole inspection cover on the Smallgains Park side. Is this a case of the pipe being in need of maintainence and has anyone checked? Apparently that is Castle Point Councils responsibility to maintain this.
How is a blocked pipe the cause of this? Do you understand Physics?
Because there is an overflow pipe in the bank of the lake (similar to what some garden ponds have, but obviously bigger). It it then goes across the field to join up with the main storm drain. There is a manhole inspection cover on the park side. No I don't understand physics, but I do understand that pipes are laid to take away surface water and blocked pipes cause floods. Do you understand that?
No.

Water cannot flow uphill, that is physics. No matter how many pipes you lay they will not disperse water uphill.

John T Pharro says...
8:46pm Fri 15 Feb 13

Steve H wrote:
John T Pharro wrote:
Steve H wrote:
John T Pharro wrote:
This area never flooded like this for years after reclamation. It has been like this for at least the last 5 years. I think there was also an overflow pipe in the lake connecting to the main surface water drains in Smallgains Avenue. In fact there is a manhole inspection cover on the Smallgains Park side. Is this a case of the pipe being in need of maintainence and has anyone checked? Apparently that is Castle Point Councils responsibility to maintain this.
How is a blocked pipe the cause of this? Do you understand Physics?
Because there is an overflow pipe in the bank of the lake (similar to what some garden ponds have, but obviously bigger). It it then goes across the field to join up with the main storm drain. There is a manhole inspection cover on the park side. No I don't understand physics, but I do understand that pipes are laid to take away surface water and blocked pipes cause floods. Do you understand that?
No.

Water cannot flow uphill, that is physics. No matter how many pipes you lay they will not disperse water uphill.
That is why it was laid downhill. All of Canvey is flat so they allow for that. What they do I assume is put the pipe lower at the end it joins onto the storm pipes then where it is in the lake bank. They dig a trench sloping diwn from the lake.

Steve H says...
9:15pm Fri 15 Feb 13

Downhill to where? Try this at home, fill a bath 3/4 full, fill a bottle 3/4 of water and then turn it upside down in the bath. What happens?

I'll tell you what happens, the water in the bottle stays where it is.

Try it.

Steve H says...
9:16pm Fri 15 Feb 13

Downhill to where? Try this at home, fill a bath 3/4 full, fill a bottle 3/4 of water and then turn it upside down in the bath. What happens?

I'll tell you what happens, the water in the bottle stays where it is.

Try it.

Carnabackable says...
9:26pm Fri 15 Feb 13

John T Pharro wrote:
Carnabackable wrote:
You've got to laugh at this one, 6 inches deep, and the place is surrounded by tidal water, ummm oh so dangerous...
And 6 foot deep or more immediately in front. The benches face the lake can you see the bank? Try walking out immediately in front yourself if you think it is not deep.
Nature has a funny way of claiming back, what was taken, looks as though canvey might be getting a new marina, after all...

marshman says...
12:13pm Sat 16 Feb 13

It used to sluice into the creek. There was a manual handle that someone used to turn when the tide was out and field was flooded. !7th century technology I admin, but it worked.

Hope that helps the debate.

John T Pharro says...
3:26pm Sat 16 Feb 13

marshman wrote:
It used to sluice into the creek. There was a manual handle that someone used to turn when the tide was out and field was flooded. !7th century technology I admin, but it worked.

Hope that helps the debate.
You would have thought so as the piped and drained area plus the pumps were put in to replace them.

John T Pharro says...
3:32pm Sat 16 Feb 13

Steve H wrote:
Downhill to where? Try this at home, fill a bath 3/4 full, fill a bottle 3/4 of water and then turn it upside down in the bath. What happens?

I'll tell you what happens, the water in the bottle stays where it is.

Try it.
Try putting a straw size hole in your bottle anywhere below the water line (the lake), put a straw in the hole and ensure that the straw very slightly slopes down. Undo the bottle cap and see what happens.

John T Pharro says...
3:35pm Sat 16 Feb 13

John T Pharro wrote:
marshman wrote:
It used to sluice into the creek. There was a manual handle that someone used to turn when the tide was out and field was flooded. !7th century technology I admin, but it worked.

Hope that helps the debate.
You would have thought so as the piped and drained area plus the pumps were put in to replace them.
Ps of course take the bottle out of the bath and stand it on it's base on say a table.

marshman says...
4:01pm Sat 16 Feb 13

John T Pharro wrote:
John T Pharro wrote:
marshman wrote: It used to sluice into the creek. There was a manual handle that someone used to turn when the tide was out and field was flooded. !7th century technology I admin, but it worked. Hope that helps the debate.
You would have thought so as the piped and drained area plus the pumps were put in to replace them.
Ps of course take the bottle out of the bath and stand it on it's base on say a table.
Is that one of those secret masonic phrases I'm supposed to know the correct response to John? 'fraid that page was missing from my manual, nevertheless, on the square brother, on the square :)

John T Pharro says...
4:31pm Sat 16 Feb 13

marshman wrote:
John T Pharro wrote:
John T Pharro wrote:
marshman wrote: It used to sluice into the creek. There was a manual handle that someone used to turn when the tide was out and field was flooded. !7th century technology I admin, but it worked. Hope that helps the debate.
You would have thought so as the piped and drained area plus the pumps were put in to replace them.
Ps of course take the bottle out of the bath and stand it on it's base on say a table.
Is that one of those secret masonic phrases I'm supposed to know the correct response to John? 'fraid that page was missing from my manual, nevertheless, on the square brother, on the square :)
Sorry meant to put on post to Steve H. Masonic lodge please don't go there!! The posts on that could go on for ever.

Carnabackable says...
6:45pm Sat 16 Feb 13

John T Pharro wrote:
marshman wrote:
John T Pharro wrote:
John T Pharro wrote:
marshman wrote: It used to sluice into the creek. There was a manual handle that someone used to turn when the tide was out and field was flooded. !7th century technology I admin, but it worked. Hope that helps the debate.
You would have thought so as the piped and drained area plus the pumps were put in to replace them.
Ps of course take the bottle out of the bath and stand it on it's base on say a table.
Is that one of those secret masonic phrases I'm supposed to know the correct response to John? 'fraid that page was missing from my manual, nevertheless, on the square brother, on the square :)
Sorry meant to put on post to Steve H. Masonic lodge please don't go there!! The posts on that could go on for ever.
No it has nothing to do with the Masons, try the Buffs, as about as low as the land there.....

AndyBSG says...
8:53am Mon 18 Feb 13

Rochford Rob wrote:
Brenda Easton, 71, of Whernside Avenue, Canvey, said: “Something needs to be done because it’s been like it for months and no one can use it. It’s dangerous because a lot of children and dog walkers go over there, and any one of them could jump in not knowing how deep it is.

it looks about 6" deep - halfway up the bench legs.
It may look 6" deep but smack bang in the middle of that field is a pond used by anglers which is a lot deeper.

Given how flooded it is it's actually impossible to see where the pond starts.

One other thing to note is about the people saying it smells and they can't walk their dogs there... I'd rather the smell of standing water than the stench of dog mess they all leave everywhere and don't bother to tidy up on a field that is used by several football clubs!

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