CANVEY has missed out on more than £1million funding to regenerate the seafront.

More than 16 “ready to go” projects shared £6million but Canvey was not among them, despite previous optimism.

Castle Point’s coastal communities team had remained confident of securing funding for the major redevelopment, with the news yesterday coming as a huge blow.

In this batch of funding, the Government prioritised “fast track” projects which could get started immediately, as well as plans that created jobs - with 11,000 expected to be created from the 16 projects.

Although the scheme has missed out on this round of funding, it will still be eligible when the main round of funding becomes available in April next year.

Dave Blackwell, Canvey Island Independent Party councillor, said: “In all honesty, it is a huge shame, but I am not surprised at all.

“They have been telling us since March that the bid is in, and that we are expecting to earn some funding, but we have not.

“I do think it comes down to the jobs, if you look at the Government release it is all about creating jobs, 11,000 it seems, and I do not think our plan would have created many new jobs, it was all in the criteria originally.

“Also, it is clearly about work that can be done quickly, and our plan would have taken years to complete, it was a total revamp of the whole seafront.”

The huge plans would have seen a significant revamp of Canvey’s seafront, but Ray Howard, chairman of coastal communities team, still plans to pressure the council for new toilets and a retail kiosk at Thorney Bay, as well as resurfacing of the sea wall and an extension to the car park at Thorney Bay.

Following consultations earlier this year, it was decided to prioritise proposals for the Thorney Bay area.

The bid consisted of funding for a grand scheme which included the construction of a pavilion at Thorney Bay, public toilets and a retail kiosk, resurfacing and lighting of the footpath on the land-side of the sea wall from Thorney Bay to Labworth, and an extension of the Thorney Bay car park.

The proposals also include visitor information, and refurbishment of toilets at the Labworth and Lubbins car parks.