 "Over the last few months, I've spent quite a lot of time visiting organisations whose functions and operations are extremely important to the Borough and our community in Castle Point.
Last week, I was invited by the Port of London Authority for a tour in one of their launches around Canvey. We were incredibly lucky with the weather after three days of torrential rain and high winds, including the Benfleet tornado. The sky was blue it was sunny and calm.
Starting from the PLA jetty next to Coast Watch at Holehaven Creek, we went right round the Island, up Benfleet Creek towards Pitsea where the barges were bringing landfill from the crossrail digging and back to Holehaven again. We took a short detour into Smallgains Creek where the fear is that silting up, especially as a result of Thames dredging elsewhere may become a major problem.
The tide was well up near Benfleet, and I wondered whether we were going to get under the road bridge at one point. My hosts mentioned the problems caused by uninsured jet skiers and the danger they can pose to other water users especially in the summer in places like Thorney Bay. Apparently, jet skiers who join an organised club are much more responsible.
I raised the concern about a new Thames Crossing idea that has been proposed for Canvey. The PLA could foresee problems from a barrier because of the importance of the shipping lane. We also touched on the current and possible future uses of the Calor and Oikos sites.
The PLA's authority extends right up the Estuary, and the waters among or near us in Castle Point are a small part of their responsibility. We should not underestimate the importance of
Commercial shipping along this busy waterway, and it significance the local, regional and national economy. It is an important body"
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