Funfair park plans in for a rough ride

From the archive, first published Tuesday 3rd Apr 2007.

A CANVEY seafront amusement park may have its plans for expansion halted by Castle Point Council.

Scott Petty, owner of the Leisure Island Fun Park, has submitted an application to extend his enterprise on Western Esplanade by more than 1,000sq m and surround it with a fence.

However, it has been recommended for refusal by planning officers.

The park has been dogged with problems since it started up five years ago, but it finally took off last summer. It now boasts more han a dozen rides and a hot food bar.

Mr Petty hopes to extend the park by 30metres to include a children's swing area called Children's World.

The 500sq m area between the western boundary of Labworth Recreation Ground and the already enclosed area would have swings, a slide and climbing frame.

The proposal also incorporates a five feet high wrought-iron fence for an enclosed car park area, with entrance and exit gateways measuring about eight feet high.

In a report councillors will consider tonight, planning officers have recommended the proposals be rejected, saying they would amount to a loss of open space for residents.

They added: "The creation of a physical and visual barrier between the seafront and the adjoining open land destroys the integrity of the seafront area, and the flow of space through and along the seafront."

Mr Petty said he would be disappointed if the plans were turned down, as he wanted to regenerate the leisure park into a family attraction to draw more people to Canvey.

He said: "At the moment, the rides and arcades don't offer enough entertainment for a full day out. With Children's World, kids will be able to use one of our tokens for an hour or so on the swings.

"This extension will make us the same size as Southend's Adventure Island before it had its extension several years ago.

"But unlike Southend's park, which is mainly targeting teenagers, we want to continue providing a family attraction aimed at nine-year-olds."

The application will be debated at a planning committee meeting at the council offices in Kiln Road, Thundersley, at 7.30pm.