THE only way to pay for new Paddocks is to build houses on part of the site and use these to fund it, it is claimed.

Council leader Norman Smith has refused to speculate on where Castle Point Council is planning to get the estimated £4.3million to demolish and rebuild the Canvey centre but campaigners have their own ideas.

Sheridan Sayes, of the Save the Paddocks campaign, said: “The council said originally that they would listen to the people of Canvey. They haven’t.

“The only way they could get money for this is by putting up houses there and we think that is what they are going to do but he is not being up front about it.

“If they do build more houses there then that is more cars coming on and off the island and we can’t get off now.

“I don’t see why they can’t just refurbish it to a high standard.”

The council will hold a public consultation that will start sometime in November and is expected to continue until January. The results will contribute to a comprehensive design document.

Mr Smith said: “Until we know exactly what the costs will be I can’t say how it will be funded. First, we need to undertake a consultation and that will involve current users, residents of Castle Point and residents of Canvey Island. I am determined to deliver a first class facility.

“We are confident we can go ahead with it but we won’t say how as we don’t know what the finance figure is.”

A spokesman for Castle Point Labour speculated the funds could come from the council turning the centre into a Private Finance Initiative, which would see it being managed by a private company.

He said: “The cabinet voted for a £4.3 million rebuild of the Paddocks but were unable to state where the money for this venture will come from.

“In our opinion, it looks like, as with the Paddocks Health Care Centre, they will turn to a PFI and we will see public funds going into private pockets in interest payments or shareholder dividends.” Labour also questioned how the council decided a refurbishment would cost £4.1million - a figure labelled as “nonsense” by Dave Blackwell, of the Canvey Island Independent Party.