Canvey Island
| Canvey Island | |
|---|---|
Aerial view from the south east of Canvey Island | |
Canvey Island and the surrounding environment | |
Canvey Island Location within Essex | |
| Population | 38,170 (2011)[1] |
| • Density |
|
| OS grid reference | TQ7882 |
| Civil parish |
|
| District |
|
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | CANVEY ISLAND |
| Postcode district | SS8 |
| Dialling code | 01268 01374 |
| Police | Essex |
| Fire | Essex |
| Ambulance | East of England |
| UK Parliament |
|
| Website | www.canveyisland-tc.gov.uk |
Canvey Island is a town, civil parish and reclaimed island in the Thames Estuary, near Southend-on-Sea, in the Castle Point district, in the county of Essex, England. It has an area of 7.12 square miles (18.44 km2) and a population of 38,170.[1] It is separated from the mainland of south Essex by a network of creeks. Lying only just above sea level, it is prone to flooding at exceptional tides and has been inhabited since the Roman conquest of Britain.[3][4]
The island was mainly agricultural land until the 20th century, when it became the fastest-growing seaside resort in Britain between 1911 and 1951. The North Sea flood of 1953 devastated the island, killing 58 islanders and leading to the temporary evacuation of the 13,000 residents.[5] Canvey is consequently protected by modern sea defences comprising 2 miles (3.2 km) of concrete sea walls.[6]
Canvey Island is also notable for its relationship to the petrochemical industry. The island was the site of the first delivery in the world of liquefied natural gas by ship and later became the subject of an influential assessment on the risks to a population living within the vicinity of petrochemical shipping and storage facilities.
In 2019, the Conservative Party won 76.7% of the vote in the Castle Point constituency, the highest vote share of the Conservatives in the 2019 General Election tied with Boston and Skegness. Canvey Island has been dubbed the "most Tory place in Britain" by The Economist.[7] However, the Conservative Party experienced a steep decline in their support at the 2024 General Election with a 38.4% fall in their vote share. They held the seat but with a fall of over 23,000 in their majority to a majority of only 3,251.[8]
- ^ a b Office for National Statistics. (2013). Statistics: Canvey Island.
- ^ "Reference Tables". ONS. 7 January 2016.
- ^ Environment Agency. Flood risks on Canvey Island. Retrieved 7 March 2025.
- ^ Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (19 April 2023). "Canvey Island Policy Unit: Thames Estuary 2100".
- ^ Canvey Island's 13,000 refugees. (2 February 1953). The Guardian, p. 1. Retrieved 2008-07-29.
- ^ "Canvey Island Drainage scheme 2006". Environment agency. (May Avenue Pumping Station information board).
- ^ "The most Tory place in Britain". The Economist. ISSN 0013-0613. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
- ^ bbc.co.uk