Canvey’S roads will not cope if 2,500 more homes are built on the island, campaigners have warned.

Members of the Canvey Green Belt Campaign and opposition councillors rubbished Castle Point Council’s claims that in future, significantly more residents would walk, cycle or use public transport.

The council’s sustainable transport policy was discussed during the last day of a two-week hearing into the council’s Core Strategy, a document setting out a blueprint for the future development of the borough up to 2026.

Canvey Island Independent Party councillors told Government inspector Paul Crysell about the existing congestion problems at Waterside roundabout and elsewhere on the island.

Steve Sawkins, of the Canvey Green Belt Campaign, said: “The idea of more people walking and cycling to the station is totally pie in the sky.”

Canvey has been earmarked for 2,000 new jobs and 2,500 new homes by 2026, to meet a target of 5,000 homes across the borough.

The Government has promised to scrap housing targets, but it is likely the council will still have to build some new homes.

Earlier in the hearing, county council highways expert Mark Lawrence defended Castle Point’s transport policy.

He said: “Canvey is flat by nature and there are lots of opportunities for walking and cycling.”

The hearing was adjourned until later in the year to await more guidance from the Government on housing policy.

In the meantime, the council will make minor alterations to the document based on the inspector’s guidance so far.