I read with amusement Dave Blackwell pleading ignorance while trying to pull the wool over residents' eyes (Mar 9).

When Dave Blackwell left the Labour Party to start the Independents, he wanted the old Canvey Urban District Council returned with a complete break from the mainland.

Now he would have us believe that he really meant to say town/parish council. He writes that the Government White Paper has changed the ruling of town/parish councils, but he didn't say this White Paper was introduced long before his party ever existed.

As for the Tories squandering money at Castle Point, I beg to differ.

The Conservatives took control of a failing council that Mr Blackwell had been deputy leader of and they have now turned it around to be a very successful and efficient council.

Shirley Coates
May Avenue
Canvey

...G Watson (Mar 9) asks what is my problem with Canvey having its own town council?

The problem is it's an unnecessary waste of time and money.

The setting up of the Canvey Town Council will not separate us from Castle Point. We will still continue to pay our rates to Castle Point for all the major services etc, but only we on Canvey will have to pay an additional rate to finance the town council.

G Watson says the island has deteriorated under our present borough council, but it's up to the residents to complain to one of the 17 councillors that present represent them if they have a problem.

Edna Bowden
Hawkesbury Road
Canvey