Canvey Lake needs to be urgently cleaned or it faces becoming a danger to the children who play there.

Nobby Gubb, who is bailiff at the lake, off Denham Road, said he had arranged for Castle Point MP Bob Spink and Environment Agency officials to visit the site on Saturday.

Mr Gubb, who has worked at the lake for five years, said the site desperately needs a clean-up.

He said: "The water needs to have the silt removed, rubbish needs to be picked up and we have got to get rid of all the weeds.

"Lots of children enjoy playing by the lake alongside those that fish there and it will simply get to the point where it will not be a safe place to be."

The lake is owned by Castle Point Council and used by Canvey Island Coarse Anglers' Club whose members obtain licences to fish there.

Chris Moran, Castle Point's leisure services manager, said: "To totally remove the silt from the lake would be very expensive and the council does not have the funding for it.

"We are looking to progressively clean the lake and we are putting together a bid for funding from Cleanaway Canvey Marshes Trust."

Published Wednesday, May 21, 2003

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