A FUND is being set up by residents to pay for health and safety repairs needed to keep a seafront paddling pool open.

Residents have been campaigning, with support from the Echo, since January to keep the Canvey pool open.

Now they are launching the fund in the hope of convincing Castle Point Council to reverse its decision to close and demolish the much-loved pool by the Concord Cafe.

Colin Letchford, 62, of Maurice Road, Canvey, said: “I’ve written to all the senior councillors involved to tell them we’re setting up the fund.

“Hopefully once we’ve done this, the council won’t be able to claim it has to shut the pool because it can’t afford the repairs any more. They won’t be able to use that as an excuse.”

He said the campaigners were looking to get someone above reproach, like Castle Point Tory MP Rebecca Harris, to be the final person to sign off any money that gets paid out from the fund.

Mr Letchford said: “The council report which recommended closing the pool said it would cost £50,000 to demolish it and £58,000 to carry out the health and safety work needed to make it safe.

“The council obviously plans to spend £50,000 whatever happens and we will hopefully raise enough to cover the rest.”

Mr Letchford added if Castle Point Council and Canvey Town Council eventually decide to fund the health and safety repairs between them, meaning the residents’ fund is not needed, everyone who made contributions will be given three options.

They could either take back the money, transfer it to Little Havens Children’s Hospice, or pass it to a second fund campaigners are setting up called, Friends of Concord Beach.

Fellow campaigner Lea Swann, who runs the Concord Cafe, said: “We hope the Friends of Concord Beach fund will help cover ongoing costs of maintaining the pool and the beach next to it for years to come.

“This will be a chance for the whole community to support our island’s seafront heritage.”