Maintaining Canvey’s sea defence must be a priority when redeveloping the seafront, the Environment Agency have stated.

Plans for a huge regeneration of Canvey’s seafront were unveiled last week and were met with a hugely positive reaction from residents.

But the Environment Agency have stated the proposals need to be reviewed, to ensure they can maintain the sea defence.

The government body took particular issue with the plans to build large concrete structures on the seawall, stating that in the future there may be a need to move the seawall.

But despite the setback, councillor Ray Howard, chairman of the Coastal Communities Seafront Team said he welcomed the Environment Agency’s feedback, which had been largely positive.

He said: “We need to put these ideas out there so people can see them, and so they can be improved as we go.

“Central Government want to see our idea and want to see what we are aiming for.

“It did put a slight dampener on the plans, because we did get a lot of very positive feedback.

“But the Environment Agency representative was very positive about the plans, which was good to hear but he has these bylaws he must stick to, and we cannot argue that.

“In the past, the bylaws have been relaxed to allow the murals, as well as the benches along the seafront. I am sure they will not put obstacles in our path deliberately and will work with us on the scheme.”

The new additions proposed a raised walkway across Thorney Bay, a pavilion with public toilets and a kiosk as well as several slides sloping down the seawall.

Castle Point Council secured £10,000 from the Department of Communities and Local Government to establish a Coastal Community Team for Canvey.

The focus of the team is to identify and develop feasibility plans for securing further funding for regeneration projects on Canvey Island from the Government’s Coastal Communities Fund, but no funding is likely to be secured until February.

A spokesman for the Environment Agency said: “The proposals need to be reviewed to ensure we are able to maintain the defences.”