IT is a frequently forgotten fact that south Essex has two seafronts. One of them boasts historic architecture, a park, fairground attractions and a long and colourful history as a seaside holiday resort that goes back to the 19th century. The other is Southend.

In practice, though, it is Canvey that languishes. It has the assets to be a success story, yet it remains the Cinderella of the Thames Gateway.

Southend seafront facelifts in the previous five years include the new pier entrance, the redevelopment of Pier Hill and the viewing tower.

In June it launched stage two, which included plans for a new skating rink.

During that period, Canvey seafront's facelift amounted to some land drainage clearance by community service workers.

"Not enough people know we've even got a seafront," admits David Marchant, who speaks as an island resident as well as chief executive of Castle Point Council.

But it wasn't always that way.

Photographs from the heyday of the seaside between 1918 and 1953 show Canvey's beaches were every bit as popular as Southend's. It all changed overnight. Standing in the car park below the Labworth cafe, Mr Marchant points to the problem.

He said: "In Southend you see the sea, here you see the seawall."

The 25ft-high embankment behind the wall has protected the island from any repeat of the 1953 flood disaster.

But the unintended side-effect was to terminate Canvey's role as a seaside resort. Mr Marchant said: "It give us a fantastic level of defence, but also a problem."

It was a sunny, if breezy weekday. On the same morning, parking spaces on the Southend esplanade were hard to come by. Visitors walked along Chalkwell seafront, or simply sat in their cars looking out at the sea.

By contrast, the Canvey seafront, around the Labworth, was occupied by four fishermen and the occasional dog-walker.

Yet, David Marchant believes this stretch of Thameside has a cheerful future.

He said: "South Essex is in development mode and Canvey seafront is the key to making a lot of other things happen.

"First, the community needs to celebrate its sea heritage. Then it all starts to come together, it all begins to fit into the regeneration framework"

Mr Marchant views the neglect of the seafront, until now, as a reflection of a wider Canvey problem.

While regeneration money has poured into London and Southend, Canvey has seen none.

He said: "Poor old Castle Point, stuck in the middle, has been ignored. This neglect is recognised in the Thames Gateway prospectus."

Canvey's regeneration strategy focuses on persuading more people to stay on the island to work.

The planned Northwick industrial park, specialising in green industries such as solar panel makers, is planned to boost local employment opportunities.

Mr Marchant said: "But a key to encouraging people to live and work on the island is the sense of breathing space.

"The seafront can fulfil that role, and is a huge element in regeneration in other places. Yet, many outsiders don't even identify Canvey as a seaside location any more."

The practical solutions look straightforward and uncontroversial. First, Mr Marchant wants to see the southern tip of Furtherwick Road continue as a pedestrian avenue to the sea.

He explained: "We need a clear visual indicator, a shaft that draws people to the seafront. Southend has got that in the line from the High Street to Pier Hill."

The other package is even simpler. He continued: "We need signs that will draw bikers and walkers up on to the seawall and encourage them to set out along it. We need to reconnect people with the sea."

Along the seawall, there would also be regular viewing stations.

All of this could be achievable for less than Southend has spent on seafront restoration.

It needs regeneration money, however, and as David Marchant accepts: "There is always competition for funds. Canvey seafront isn't a short-term proposition."

While it fights its corner for Thames Gateway cash to improve the seafront, Canvey has already got one thing right.

While Southend closes and demolishes its seafront loos, the Labworth toilet block is under reconstruction.

And the funding comes from council resources, not outside regeneration money.

"More people will come here if the facilities are right," says Mr Marchant delicately.

Canvey seafront has at least one lesson that it can teach Southend.