Residents object to removal of landmark barge

One of Canvey’s most famous landmarks remains a subject of intense debate -more than two weeks after it was removed.

The concrete barge, which has sat motionless off the east Canvey coast for more than 50 years, was removed amid safety fears on May 22. Island Yacht Club paid £1 for the wreck back in the 1970s. The club said it decided to act to protect youngsters from harming themselves.

A spokesman said the crumbling vessel had become a health hazard. He added: “It was just proving too dangerous with so many children around. It’s a shame, but we had to think of their safety.”

But some locals continue to object to the boat’s removal, claiming it was a piece of the island’s her­itage.