Why didn’t Canvey light its beacon for jubilee?

7:40am Monday 11th June 2012 in Local News

No flame – Canvey’s beacon on Waterside Farm roundabout was not lit for the jubilee celebrations No flame – Canvey’s beacon on Waterside Farm roundabout was not lit for the jubilee celebrations

Canvey residents were angered after the island was left out of the national beacon lighting celebrations.

Although thousands of beacons across the UK were lit up, as part of the nationwide Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebration on Bank Holiday Monday, Canvey was left in the dark when it came to the festivities.

While Basildon and Southend boroughs ignited several beacons, the only torch lit in Castle Point was in Daws Heath, despite Canvey having a perfectly good beacon on the Waterside Farm roundabout.

Vanessa Mileman, 43, from Florence Road, Canvey, said: “The beacon on Waterside Farm roundabout has been sitting there all this time. Everyone seemed to be lighting their town beacons except us.

“I didn’t really want to go to Daws Heath, as it’s not our community.

“It’s like going to someone else’s street party.”

The Waterside Farm beacon was installed in 2003.

It commemorated the 50th anniversary of the Canvey floods and was lit at the time for 48 hours.

John Payne, from the Canvey Island Independent Party, thought the same thing should have happened on Monday.

He said: “Canvey is a community.

“If Castle Point Council had the beacon at Daws Heath, knowing there’s already one on Canvey, you’d think they could have found out if it could have been included in the celebrations as well.

“It just seems we have to fight for everything.

“Canvey just seems to be forgotten.”

Nicola Field, 36, of Long Road, Canvey, added: “It’s a shame it wasn’t lit. It would have been a nice thing for the island.”

Tory councillor and island stalwart, Ray Howard, said he regretted not pursuing the option of lighting the Canvey beacon.

He said: “On reflection, I wish I could have given it more thought.

“I’m man enough to admit I’m wrong when I’m wrong.

“Canvey 2000 did a fantastic job in providing a lot of improvements for Canvey and the beacon was one of them.”

Mr Howard also stressed the shrubbery which shields the Waterside Farm beacon from view, should be cleared in time for the 60th anniversary of the Canvey floods.

A host of jubilee celebrations were held across Castle Point over the extended weekend to mark the Queen’s 60 years on the throne.

These included 22 street parties, a big lunch at Labworth Park, on Canvey, and celebrations at the Canvey Royal British Legion hall.

Comments (15)

8:41am Mon 11 Jun 12

Barry Bas says...

It might just be the perspective of the photo but the beacon looks very close to the trees and bushes around it. If they are as close as it seems it may have been deemed a risk to light it unless some of the trees were cut down. Then you would have people moaning about trees being cut down just so they could light the beacon.
It might just be the perspective of the photo but the beacon looks very close to the trees and bushes around it. If they are as close as it seems it may have been deemed a risk to light it unless some of the trees were cut down. Then you would have people moaning about trees being cut down just so they could light the beacon. Barry Bas

8:55am Mon 11 Jun 12

r6keith says...

Maybe also the fact its in the middle of the bussiest roundabout on the island it might have seemed unsafe to light it.
Maybe also the fact its in the middle of the bussiest roundabout on the island it might have seemed unsafe to light it. r6keith

9:19am Mon 11 Jun 12

Sim0n says...

I did not even know they had any beacons in Castle Point.

Surely as we are an Olympic Borough we should have been promoting our selves during the Queen's Jubilee.
I did not even know they had any beacons in Castle Point. Surely as we are an Olympic Borough we should have been promoting our selves during the Queen's Jubilee. Sim0n

10:21am Mon 11 Jun 12

GentleGiant says...

Canvey Town Council / independents keep shouting about how important the island is to them, yet they cannot even organise this.

Shows how little they really care.....
Canvey Town Council / independents keep shouting about how important the island is to them, yet they cannot even organise this. Shows how little they really care..... GentleGiant

11:57am Mon 11 Jun 12

upset says...

I thought CIIP via the Town council where responsible for this type of thing on their Island, so why blame only the Borough?
I thought CIIP via the Town council where responsible for this type of thing on their Island, so why blame only the Borough? upset

1:27pm Mon 11 Jun 12

HadleighBoy says...

Believe the one in Daws Heath was arranged by Little Havens not Castle Point Council. CIIP if you wanted a beacon you should have sorted it out yourself.
Believe the one in Daws Heath was arranged by Little Havens not Castle Point Council. CIIP if you wanted a beacon you should have sorted it out yourself. HadleighBoy

2:44pm Mon 11 Jun 12

quiksilver100 says...

Should have been lit but perhaps it wasn't due to the ridiculous location in the middle of a roundabout. Where else would they hold events in the middle of a junction?
Should have been lit but perhaps it wasn't due to the ridiculous location in the middle of a roundabout. Where else would they hold events in the middle of a junction? quiksilver100

7:14pm Mon 11 Jun 12

marshman says...

Didn't the Kings have a beacon on the Downs a few years ago? I seem to remember it lit the whole of the Castle Point night sky up. People have no imagination these days and just seem to bicker about nothing.

Anyway, shift the thing off the roundabout into a field where everyone can see it.
Didn't the Kings have a beacon on the Downs a few years ago? I seem to remember it lit the whole of the Castle Point night sky up. People have no imagination these days and just seem to bicker about nothing. Anyway, shift the thing off the roundabout into a field where everyone can see it. marshman

8:09pm Mon 11 Jun 12

soul man says...

jubilee's over, why worry, echo's grasping at straws for a story
jubilee's over, why worry, echo's grasping at straws for a story soul man

6:30am Tue 12 Jun 12

SARFENDMAN says...

Look like converted Gallows. In that case the perfect location from a historical perspective.
Look like converted Gallows. In that case the perfect location from a historical perspective. SARFENDMAN

1:40pm Tue 12 Jun 12

Eric the Red says...

Canvey usually has plenty of beacons burning at night - usually the stolen cars that are torched by yobs.
Canvey usually has plenty of beacons burning at night - usually the stolen cars that are torched by yobs. Eric the Red

6:22pm Tue 12 Jun 12

upset says...

marshman wrote:
Didn't the Kings have a beacon on the Downs a few years ago? I seem to remember it lit the whole of the Castle Point night sky up. People have no imagination these days and just seem to bicker about nothing.

Anyway, shift the thing off the roundabout into a field where everyone can see it.
What about the bats though!!!
[quote][p][bold]marshman[/bold] wrote: Didn't the Kings have a beacon on the Downs a few years ago? I seem to remember it lit the whole of the Castle Point night sky up. People have no imagination these days and just seem to bicker about nothing. Anyway, shift the thing off the roundabout into a field where everyone can see it.[/p][/quote]What about the bats though!!! upset

6:24pm Tue 12 Jun 12

upset says...

SARFENDMAN wrote:
Look like converted Gallows. In that case the perfect location from a historical perspective.
Well the gipsy mayor last lit it!!!
[quote][p][bold]SARFENDMAN[/bold] wrote: Look like converted Gallows. In that case the perfect location from a historical perspective.[/p][/quote]Well the gipsy mayor last lit it!!! upset

2:20pm Wed 13 Jun 12

Monkster says...

Eric the Red wrote:
Canvey usually has plenty of beacons burning at night - usually the stolen cars that are torched by yobs.
Lived on the Island for nearly 30 years and never once seen a car alight or any other unsavoury behaviour other than the usual teenage issues - amazing how people are quick to insult at town they probably don't even live in.
[quote][p][bold]Eric the Red[/bold] wrote: Canvey usually has plenty of beacons burning at night - usually the stolen cars that are torched by yobs.[/p][/quote]Lived on the Island for nearly 30 years and never once seen a car alight or any other unsavoury behaviour other than the usual teenage issues - amazing how people are quick to insult at town they probably don't even live in. Monkster

9:40pm Sat 16 Jun 12

spleeshmeister says...

Eric the Red wrote:
Canvey usually has plenty of beacons burning at night - usually the stolen cars that are torched by yobs.
Either that or the burning caravans at Thorney Bay.
[quote][p][bold]Eric the Red[/bold] wrote: Canvey usually has plenty of beacons burning at night - usually the stolen cars that are torched by yobs.[/p][/quote]Either that or the burning caravans at Thorney Bay. spleeshmeister

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