A COMMUNITY group wants a specialised shower installed at Canvey’s most popular beach.

Volunteers from the Friends of Concord Beach hope to raise £10,000 to buy the facility so bathers can wash off sea salt, sand and mud.

The group was set up over the summer to improve and maintain the beach, near the Concord Cafe, Canvey.

Its members have already weeded and swept a path, which runs alongside the stretch of sand.

They believe installing a shower will help bring it up to the standard of neighbouring Southend’s beaches.

Colin Letchford, chairman of the Friends of Concord Beach, said: “They already have showers at Three Shells Beach in Southend, Shoebury East Beach and Bell Wharf Beach, in Leigh.

“It’s what you have on modern beaches.

“Parents like to wash their children off before they take them home.

“We are confident we’ll be able to raise the money.

“It’s likely to cost around £10,000 because as well as buying the actual shower, we’ll also have to get it connected to the water supply and build a suitable concrete base.”

Lea Swann, who runs the Concord Cafe, added: “I think it would be an absolutely excellent idea.

“People get covered in mud and sand when they play on the beach and it would be great if we had a nice shower to wash it all off.”

The Friends of Concord Beach was set up by residents involved in the successful campaign to stop Castle Point Council demolishing a popular tidal paddling pool by the beach.

Canvey Town Council now plans to take over responsibility for the pool from the borough council.

However, Castle Point Council will continue to manage the beach, so the shower could only be installed with its permission.

Andrew Roby-Smith, strategic director of Castle Point Council, said: “The friends have not directly approached the council and this is the first indication which has been received that residents want a beach shower.

“This request will now be considered with the Town Council as part of the ongoing discussions taking place regarding the pool and beach area.”