A CONSERVATIVE cabinet councillor has broken ranks to voice his opposition to plans to demolish Canvey’s seafront paddling pool.

Ray Howard, Castle Point councillor responsible for waste, flood and water management, said he wanted a public consultation before the authority took the decision to get rid of the historic seafront pool.

The council plans to demolish the beachfront paddling pool, located near the Concord Cafe, in Eastern Esplanade, because it would be too expensive to bring it up to health and safety standards.

So many people turned up for a public meeting at the Paddocks, in Long Road, Canvey, on Tuesday that around 50 people were left standing outside.

At the meeting, Canvey town councillors pledged to try to save the condemned pool.

Mr Howard was among eight cabinet members who voted to scrap the pool in January.

However, he urged his colleagues to hold a public consultation before making the decision because local people would be against it.

He said: “I believe there should have been some form of consultation because a lot of people on the island are very fond of it.

“But when you’re being told about how the council could get sued if something happened to someone, it’s hard to vote against it.”

Mr Howard now believes the council took the wrong decision and has urged the leadership to reconsider.