Charleets and Manor estates could benefit from cash

The council wants the money to spend on Charfleets Industrial Estate, in Northwick Road, Canvey, and Manor Trading Estate in Church Road, Benfleet.

Norman Smith, councillor responsible for regeneration, said: “The money will go towards new entrances, gateways and new signs to improve the appearance of the estates.”

The council is bidding for Government funding totalling £2.9million, with the balance split between revamps for Canvey and Hadleigh town centres.

It hopes to invest £950,000 in Canvey town centre and £550,000 in Hadleigh, work which will be set out by consultants preparing masterplan documents for the two schemes.

The council will find out on Friday if the Communities and Local Government Department has agreed to give it the money..

News of the possible cash boost comes as officials revealed work to smarten up Canvey seafront is still on hold, due to the economic climate.

The East of England Develop-ment Agency has promised the council £1million to improve the seafront.

The first phase was completed last summer. It included a new toilet block and bandstand, as well as a clean-up of the seawall and work on the paddling pool near the Labworth car park.

In August, the Echo revealed an ambitious £3million proposal to brighten up Canvey seafront had foundered because Thames Gateway funding had dried up.

Now it appears the development agency money will only be handed over if the council can prove it will be used to help create jobs.

To do this, the council needs to work with a businesses partner with cash to invest in the seafront.

Mr Smith, added he feared such a deal would be a long way off.

He said: “The economic climate is dictating the speed of things happening.

“The agency is offering us £1million at a future date, but it would have to be tied in with development to creates jobs.

“In the current climate, we can’t get a partner to come on board with us.”