People on Canvey will have to wait for a council officer to be based on the island.

Former councillor Terry Norman claimed islanders had been promised an officer on the island to help with problems but chairman of the finance and policy committee, councillor Dennis Neyland (Labour, St Mary's ward) said the council did not know of any such promise.

Mr Norman, of Thameside Crescent, Canvey, said: "When the new council offices were completed and the Canvey offices were moved to Kiln Road, Thundersley, a promise was made to the people of Canvey that someone from the benefits and finance department would be left at the Canvey offices.

"Is it not about time the 37,250 residents of Canvey were honoured with this promise?"

Mr Neyland answered: "The centralisation of departments took place in 1995 when this administration took control of the council and we are not aware of any such promise."

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