CONTROVERSIAL plans to demolish a seaside paddling pool sparked a furious debate as £225,000 was “wasted” trying to make it safe just two years ago.

Castle Point Council planning officers recommended demolition of the pool, next to the Concord Cafe on Canvey’s seafront, in a report considered by the Community Policy Development Group.

Mark Evershed, Castle Point’s regeneration delivery manager, admitted £225,000 of public money was spent on engineering works supposed to make it safe in 2008.

This included installation of a concrete base and reinforcing walls around the edge, which have since become covered in slime causing bathers to slip and injure themselves.

Mr Evershed admitted the pool was “not fit for purpose”, but blamed the East of England Development Agency, an unelected Government agency, which funded and employed contractors to do the work.

He said: “The original purpose of the work was just to make the pool water tight. These plans were drawn up by the agency before I started working for the council.

“After I got involved I negotiated for them to do more work, such as improving access, and was able to drive through around £75,000 of additional funding, but in the event, I accept it did not give us a paddling pool that was fit for purpose.”

The facility, known as the New Pool, is one of two tidal paddling pools at Concord Beach, off Eastern Esplanade.

The council’s Tory leaders originally planned to demolish the other tidal pool, known as the Old Pool, but changed their minds following a public backlash.

Neville Watson, from Canvey Independent Party, would not accept Castle Point Council is blameless over problems with the New Pool.

He said: “Who signed the work off? Someone must be responsible for this?”

Dave Blackwell, leader of Canvey Independent Party, said: “We can shout as much as we like, and blame the East of England Development Agency, but Castle Point Council has to take some responsibility.”

Tory cabinet member for the environment Ray Howard admitted he and Mr Blackwell were members of Castle Point’s Regeneration Partnership, which was supposed to ensure the agency did the work properly.

He said: “I raised concerns about the work that was being done many times while it was going on. We’re talking about an unelected agency which just signs off checks without accountability.”