CANVEY LAKE looks set to be the main topic for residents this week as the Echo finally decided to write a piece criticising the Canvey Island Independent Party (CIIP) led Canvey Island Town Council over its management of the community’s costly asset.
The Town Council will have spent £180,000 on the venture by the end of the year and plan to spend some £800,000, in total, on the lake that just happens to be contained within Dave Blackwell’s and John Anderson’s Canvey Island Central Ward. (Both individuals represent that parish ward at Borough and Town Council levels).
It is understood that the two politicians see Canvey Lake as potential jewels in their otherwise dubious crowns. A revived community asset that they could both point-to in the years ahead to ensure their continued re-election. But the Canvey Lake project has all but bankrupted the Town Council, which spends over half its precept on costly offices; staff; and other associated costs before having anything left-over for the community.
John Anderson (this year’s Town Council Chairman) is on the record as saying that the Canvey Lake project will take up to five years to complete (but that the TC expects to finish it in three). But, because the Council is forced to undertake the task piecemeal through lack of funds, no sooner has part of the lake been cleared than nature and disaffected islanders return it to its previous condition.
The WWC video, inset above, might have been taken yesterday.
Last year it was Canvey Island’s Concord pool that the CIIP leapt upon as the local issue they could use to defend their seats from the Tories. This year, the party has presented a solid gold gift to the Conservatives, which might easily see the former sent packing at the polls in May…
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