Dear Resident, I was just 2 years old when my family moved onto Canvey in 1970 and I grew up were remembering a happy childhood with fond memories of playing safely outside, the seawall being built and the carnival that seemed to go on forever! Living on an island is special and so very different from any other town.

Full statement

As an adult I have seen the Island that I loved as a child slowly being eroded away. I, like you are fed up with mainland councillors approving building on every scrap of land, not just houses but now blocks of flats, with no thought of the impact on our infrastructure. Part night street lighting putting our safety at risk and making it difficult for our emergency services. Even the recycling centre has been changed making many of us travel off the Island to dispose of household items.

Canvey is becoming a car park both morning and night as we struggle to go about our daily business and if there's a road traffic accident or roadwork's our Island become totally gridlocked. Yet the Mainland Councillors STILL continue to approve development.

The final straw for me was the Paddocks and like many of you I have many great memories there. The conservatives have neglected it, voted to demolish it. What will be in its place…..More Flats?

I stand alongside my colleagues of the Canvey Island Independent Party and if elected I will work hard to protect our Island and make our Island a better and safer place to live. Enough is enough. Please support me to support you

Kind Regards
Graham Withers