I was dismayed by the proposal to close the older and more historic of Canvey’s tidal pools.  We have already lost too much of our heritage and local character.  I would deeply regret losing any more even if this wasn’t such a well used resource.  Nor does the fact that we have a newer pool which the Borough Council say they will improve with a crabbing area, lead me to think “oh that’s alright then”. 

I also have a gut reaction against the words “Health and Safety”. (Although as a mother, I don’t want to put my toddler at genuine risk however bloody-minded I might feel about the Nanny State).

My personal view is that we should do everything we can to keep the pool operating as a part of Canvey's history, somewhere young families can have a cheap day out, and a much-loved aspect of our sea-side.

I have spoken to the councillors involved in the decision to try to understand what they were thinking.  They all clearly came to the decision with real reluctance; several even became nostalgic about their own childhood memories of using the pool or having taken their children or grandchildren.

I think they were motivated by two factors, risk and future maintenance costs.  I can understand that once councillors, or anyone else put in the same position, are told they may be responsible for serious risk to life – and in this case children’s lives – they  feel very reluctant to second guess expert findings and want to move fast to eliminate the danger.  I can understand that.  

Due to the state of the public finances councils are anticipating as much as a 10% funding cut from the current government. So they’re looking to make some tough decisions. Having decided the priority was refurbishing the Paddocks and Waterside and keeping them to a safe standard in future years, they thought they couldn’t afford two tidal pools too, with all the supposed legal risks attached.  However, I still think this decision was short-sighted and rushed.

They failed to make an assessment of the views of local residents and traders or look into all the possible options.  The electorate are no less capable of grasping the issues and deciding if this something they care about enough to justify the costs to them, the taxpayer.

Most of Britain’s old tidal pools have closed already over Health and Safety fears, which makes this 80 year old example, even more special and valuable an asset for the Island.  And anyone familiar with the pools will know that the older one is in fact by far the better of the two.  If we could only have one, that would actually be the one to defend!

I only got in to the Special Town Council Meeting on the pool late (there was a space problem), but I was glad I made it. I was put forward to speak by campaign leader Liz Swann, who knew I was against the closure. I’d emailed the Chairman earlier but clearly too late for the message to reach the meeting that I'd obtained and assurance from Castle Point Council that they wouldn't decommission the pool before allowing time for everyone to explore the options.

This gives everyone a decent window of opportunity to get a “Second Opinion”. The facts can be fully reviewed.  We need a proper understanding of the relative costs of maintaining the pool to what’s considered a modern safe standard, to check the quoted costs are accurate, and weigh them against the needs of Canvey as a tourist venue and the finances of our councils.

Crucially, we can also look at other avenues for money such as Heritage Lottery Funding, which has helped some of Britain’s 1930’s lidos. There might be other ways to reduce the annual insurance costs in these litigious times too.

The Borough Council have committed themselves to spending £50,000 to remove the pool and improve the beach. On their reckoning it would be only another eight thousand more to put it in good order in the first year, so it’s clearly not an immediate worry about money. But these works would be one-off capital expenditure; the concern is surely how they can find new money each year from a shrinking government grant, to prove to insurers that the pool is “safe”.

Part of the original plans for the regeneration of Canvey were for the CoastWatch hut to be moved around from its current position near the Port of London Authority jetty to somewhere that they can also observe the beaches.  As government cash has dried up this plan is stuck on hold.

But what if we could get grant money to make this happen again?  With volunteers able to view the pool in daylight hours all year round, perhaps even walking round to check for debris in each morning, the ongoing insurance costs for both pools would be certain to fall dramatically.

There would still be some annual physical maintenance costs to cope with sea damage etc. But it could make the burden on council tax-payers much more manageable for either Council. There is even an old lifeguard lookout on top of the Concord Cafe which might be used in the short-term if Coastwatch agreed.  

This would make the whole of Canvey seafront safer too.

It still won’t spare local council tax-payers the risk of some drunken idiot breaking his neck there one night and suing us for £3 million, but insurance is about levels of risk and it might make that insurance risk more manageable.

Maybe Ray Howard can do his usual conjuring trick of finding a pool of capital grant money from somewhere for Coastwatch? 

I mightn’t solve the problem, but it could be worth a try.

Haiti and UNICEF

The magnitude of the destruction that has hit Haiti is almost indescribable. The catastrophic earthquake has claimed many thousands of lives and left many more without homes, shelter or security. 

The whole international community is pulling together to ensure a swift and effective response and to provide the support and aid necessary at this critical time. The UK will play a significant part in this effort and the Conservative Party will continue to engage with the Government to help ensure that a careful and co-ordinated response is provided to the humanitarian effort.

The British people are deeply concerned by this terrible disaster. Like in past crises, they will do all they can to provide support and aid in the weeks and months ahead. The Disasters Emergency Committee, made up of 13 of Britain’s leading NGOs, has launched an appeal. The money raised will support the efforts of the DEC’s members to carry out their vital emergency aid work in Haiti.

If you wish to donate to the appeal, call 0370 60 60 900 or visit www.dec.org.uk.

Furthermore, Castle Point has Britain's only two UNICEF shops (in Benfleet & Hadleigh). The children's charity has had a strong presence in Haiti for many years since almost half of the Country's 10 million population are under 18. Despite heavy damage to its own offices in Port-au-Prince, the charity are geared up for the relief effort and have already dispatched a plane load of emergency supplies to Haiti. So as well as supporting the Disasters Emergency Committee, local residents may like to give extra support to these local charity shops at this time.

"The run-up to Christmas is already getting very busy and its not yet December. On Saturday morning, I was out canvassing as normal.  I was on Canvey with local businessman James Parkin.  We were both pleased with the response we were getting - lots of support for the Conservatives.

I am keen that my family and I support as many local events as the day can fit in.  It is great to get out and meet people, whether they know who I am or not, and we've picked up a huge amount of books and other goodies from various charity Christmas fundraisers.   

On Friday night, we went to the St Peter's Church Christmas market and on Saturday I popped into the Christmas bazar at the beautiful St James the Less Church near my home in Hadleigh.  After a short visit to a Nursing Home in Benfleet, I was off to the Christmas lights event on Canvey, where my family and I enjoyed the excellent music and dancing.

In the evening, we popped into the Canvey Conservative Club for a friends birthday party, then on to Gala Night at the Hadleigh Conservative Club, which was packed.  There was a great atmosphere at both events, with first-rate music and everyone seemed to be enjoying a dance.

On Sunday, we took our son to the Canvey Conservative Club children's Christmas Party.  I'm ashamed to say that my son was probably the worst-behaved child at the event, but we had a great time none the less"
 

“Last night some of our young members and I joined members of Benfleet Rotary by accompanying the popular Santa’s sleigh on a Christmas tour of the Town collecting money for charities.