NEWS of Canvey getting its first Starbucks has been warmly welcomed.

The Echo revealed on Friday there were plans to open a Starbucks drive-through beside Morrisons, in Northwick Road, Canvey - with an application for planning permission already submitted to the council.

It is thought the opening will create 30 new jobs and some residents have been very supportive of the opening.

Marion Brocklebank, 62, felt the new plan could see the creation of a lot of opportunities for people on the island.

She said: “We definitely need more jobs to be created here on the island and this could do just that.

“I do think it is nice that we are seeing such big names coming to the island too.

“It is lovely.”

There are also plans for a new retail park nearby, with M&S, B&M and Sports Direct eyeing up the new units, as well as a business park which would feature a hotel, car showroom and industrial units.

Sheridan Sayer, 60, of Link Road, was also encouraged by the news.

She said: “We need some more shops on the island.

“If the jobs are for the people who live on the island that would be great, but that is never guaranteed.

“A lot of people like Starbucks as a brand.

“I did think this was going to be a Costa, but I suppose it being a Starbucks makes sense as we already have a Costa in the town centre.

“We need that sort of thing here, we really do.”

Barry Palmer, councillor for Canvey South, described the proposal and the potential of other large brands coming to the island as a “Godsend”.

He said: “Anything that is going to bring employment can only be a really good thing here on Canvey.

“There is also talk of Marks and Spencer taking a large unit in the business park too, and that’d be great.

“Lots of other big businesses are coming over by the garden centre.

“I think that is going be an absolute Godsend.

“It will bring much-needed jobs, because the town centre is dying to a certain extent.

“The only problem is it depends what time of day people decide to go there because the town is gridlocked morning and night.

“Because of the work the council has been doing and these new plans for the business park, Canvey is looking like a much more attractive prospect for these big names.”