Council losing control of lake after toxic sample
On 2 July, the Environment Agency (EA) took a sample at Canvey Lake in Essex and found the cell count of blue-green algae was 2.5 million per millilitre.
The EA's "warning threshold" for the algae is 20,000 cells per millilitre.
Canvey Island Town Council said it had been doing "all it can to stop the environmental stress to the wildlife" but that it was surrendering its lease to the local borough council.
Castle Point Borough Council said it would write up a plan to restore the lake to "sound ecological health" and would maintain it going forward.
The high bacterial readings were revealed after a Freedom of Information Act request submitted by the Friends of Canvey Lake group.
Campaigner Martin England, 61, said the town council had "neglected" the lake and the situation was heading towards an "environmental disaster".
He said the council failed to dredge the lake frequently enough, and the hot weather had led to the outbreak of blue-green algae.
"The birds and the fish have been dying, it's that simple," he said.
Dead fish have been seen floating on the lake's surface in the past, and fish were moved from the lake in 2023 because of the lack of oxygen in the water.
Hayley Cockayne, 49, said: "I think it's unacceptable and it shouldn't have been allowed to continue for such a long time."
She recalls taking sick wildlife to the local hospital, adding: "[In 2022] I stepped out my door to be confronted by dead fish floating, a horrendous stench, wildfowl staggering - drowning."
She said she feeds and provides fresh water to wildlife, such as ducks, each day near the lake.
In a detailed statement, Canvey Island Town Council said it had carried out various steps to manage the area.
Barley straw was installed in May to reduce potential algae blooms, an aerator has been installed to help with oxygen levels and vast quantities of fish have been removed over the course of three years.
It has also put signs up warning people to stay away from the water.
"The town council is doing all it can to stop the environmental stress to the wildlife and to the local area," a spokesperson said.
Long-term projects to preserve the lake would need more funding, the town council added.
A Castle Point Borough Council spokesperson said: "[The council] will prepare a fully costed business plan that sets out a programme that not only restores Canvey Lake to a condition of sound ecological health, but also maintains the lake in good condition through ongoing maintenance."
Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Call for council to be abolished over lake dispute
Public warned to keep away from toxic lake
Related internet links
Canvey Island Town Council
Castle Point Borough Council
Environment Agency
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Woman Says Partner Won't Put Her on the Deed to His Home After He Asked Her to Leave Her Job to Raise Their Child
The woman — who shared her story on a community forum — said her partner claims she shouldn't be their home's co-owner because she's 'not financially contributing' A woman says that her longtime partner refuses to add her to the deed to his new house — despite the fact that they live together and share a child — and she's now wondering if she is 'expecting too much.' The woman detailed her story in the 'Am I Being Unreasonable?' forum on the U.K.-based community site Mumsnet, a place where women can go to seek input and advice from other women about a variety of topics. In her post, the woman said that she has been with her current partner for five years and that they share a 2-year-old. 'Things have been slightly rocky since having our child, but other than that, our relationship is good,' she explained. The original poster (OP) went on to say that they currently live in a home that her partner purchased before they met, and that they are planning on moving into a 'bigger family home' this year. 'I contributed to the [current] house before baby arrived, but haven't [gone] back to work as my partner very fortunately earns a good wage and doesn't want me to go back to work until our child is three and starts nursery [school],' she continued. The OP then said that while she isn't on the deed to their current shared home, she assumed that she would be made co-owner of the new one based on her contributions to their family. However, when she brought this up to her partner, he told her 'absolutely not' because she's 'not financially contributing.' 'I disagree with this as I feel that I am contributing in the sense that I'm bringing up his child and keeping his house clean, etc.,' she continued, adding that her partner claims he wants to eventually get married. 'I feel very insecure about this,' she admitted, before also stating that while her partner covers food and household expenses, she has been using her personal savings for all other purchases, and her 'savings are nearly done.' 'I feel that he is reluctant on making a commitment, and especially a financial commitment — not even just to me, but his own child. He also refuses to update his will or life insurance policy if anything were to happen to him,' she said. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. 'Am I expecting too much?' she asked, before adding that she feels as though she needs 'to have some sort of security about our relationship, especially since I'm dependent on him.' The vast majority of commenters said that they thought the OP's feelings were valid — but also said that she shouldn't have gotten herself into the situation in the first place. 'YABU [you are being unreasonable] for having gotten into this situation. You're not married and don't have [...] personal wealth, so a break from full-time work wasn't sensible,' said one person. They added, '[It seems] clear that retaining his personal assets and money is his priority. He also sounds sexist. For me, without immediate marriage and change of attitudes, the relationship would be over.' 'For the love of God do not have more children with him!' said someone else. 'You're taking all the risks here. Go back to work, stop being so dependent on him. I'd say get married, as that legal contract would be the best protection [...]. You need to put yourself and your child first because he certainly won't.' The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now! Another person said, 'I would be looking to get back to work full-time ASAP. He can 'not like it,' but he either needs to give you financial security [so] you can be a stay-at-home mom, or you need to get yourself paid employment. He can't eat his cake and have it.' Read the original article on People Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Woman Driven 'Mad' by Sister-in-Law's Posts About Dad Who 'Died 10 Years Ago': 'At What Point Is This Just Attention-Seeking?'
"It drives me mad. I've gone so far as to silence her," the woman said A woman is taking issue with her sister-in-law over social media posts she makes about her late father — who died a decade ago. In a post on the U.K.-based forum Mumsnet, the woman said her in-law's dad "died 10 years ago, and yet, it's almost daily, but definitely weekly, she's posting her grief on Facebook." The woman further detailed that her sister-in-law will write about "[how] much she's missing him, how grief is so silent and misunderstood," and it "escalates" on holidays — including Father's Day, Christmas and Easter — as well as "the day he died [and] the day they found out he was ill," plus "her kids birthdays [and] her birthday." "I used to get on with her well, but she's always driven me mad by text and socials," the woman continued. "At what point is this just attention seeking? It drives me mad. I've gone so far as to silence her because I can't bear the 'hope you're okay, hun,' stuff." The Mumsnet user added that her sister-in-law's "behavior has absolutely trashed my opinion of her," and it was exacerbated when she claimed her in-law "even got in competition with a relative of hers raising money for charity, because she had to be the one seen to be doing it and wouldn't collaborate." Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. In the comments section of the post, the woman was met with support from others, many of whom suggested that her sister-in-law needs professional aid to help her cope with the loss. "It sounds like she needs some counselling to help her manage her grief," one Mumsnet user wrote, as another said, "This sounds like an abnormal grief reaction. She really needs therapy, if she has not had this already." The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now! Others, meanwhile, couldn't help but feel that the woman's sister-in-law was taking things a step too far — and possibly continuing to post about her grief solely to get the reactions she has become accustomed to. "There's a huge difference between missing someone on special occasions or memorable dates and actually posting about it ... No need," wrote a commenter. Said one more: "It may be cruel of me, but I have no tolerance at all for performative or over-sentimental public grief." Read the original article on People Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Jalsa Salana: UK Muslim women ‘concerned' over negative attitudes toward hijab
British Muslim women attending the UK's largest Islamic convention have expressed their concerns after a survey found half of Britons believe Muslim women are pressured into wearing the hijab. Held annually at Oakland Farm in Alton, Hampshire, the Jalsa Salana attracts more than 40,000 participants in the Ahmadiyya Muslim community from across the world. As the event concluded on Sunday, a number of Muslim women in attendance reacted to the findings of a recent YouGov polling commissioned by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community which found that 49% of respondents believe 'most British Muslim women who wear a hijab do so because they feel pressured by their family or community.' 'I was very disappointed, but maybe not all together surprised,' Munazzah Chou, 40, said. 'I think the scale was quite eye-opening, because it's quite a significant proportion.' Ms Chou, who works as an ophthalmologist in the NHS, added: 'The misconceptions about Muslim women in particular are slightly insulting toward the intellectual capacity of Muslim women. 'People make choices every day that we don't understand: as a doctor, I see patients and we offer them treatments, and they often make choices that we wouldn't recommend, but I never jump to the conclusion that they're being coerced. 'I know that my choice to wear hijab is just based on my religious belief.' Referring to the Jalsa Salana convention, she added: 'There are 20,000 women here who would have a different journey towards wearing their hijab, but I think every single one of them would tell you how this is not a coercive practice. 'They've done it out of personal choice, and all from possibly slightly different, nuanced reasons – but all out of free will.' Syeda Ahmad, 23, said the polling results made her feel as though Muslim women 'keep having to have the same conversations and make the same points over and over again'. 'We do make our own choices, and we are fully thinking human beings who are able to do that ourselves,' she said. 'I feel like the results are maybe a reflection of a certain kind of attitude towards Muslim women that is more concerned with telling us how we feel and what we need, as opposed to asking us.' University student Unaizah Ahmad, 25, said she felt 'concerned' over the polling results. 'When there are calls made for hijab bans, I wonder if this is the mentality that is playing in the background and plays a role in people,' she said. 'And in my experience, it's the complete opposite. 'My hijab is completely my own choice. My religion, the way I practice it, is completely my own choice. 'I've never felt coerced or pressured to do with it. 'To people who hold that belief: I would encourage them to speak to Muslim women who wear a hijab, and hear it from them instead of giving in to preconceived biases.' In June, Reform deputy leader Richard Tice said there should be a 'national debate' on banning the burka. This came as former party chairman Zia Yusuf resigned following an internal row, in which he described a question asked to the Prime Minister by the party's newest MP, Sarah Pochin, about banning the burka as 'dumb'. Syeda Ahmad also further raised concerns over how these renewed calls for a ban on face-covering clothes will impact upon Muslim women and girls. 'If you're actually concerned about Muslim women and how we might be feeling, one of the worst things you can do is project your own prejudices and assumptions onto us,' she said. 'We've seen in other European countries that have introduced things like hijab bans or burka bans – we know from research that only serves to alienate Muslim women. 'It restricts them from places of education. It restricts them from places of work.' Wearing face-covering clothes is currently banned in seven European countries – France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, Switzerland, Austria and Bulgaria – while other countries have enacted partial bans. 'A great thing about Britain is that there are no bans like that,' Ms Ahmad added. 'That's why you'll find Muslim women in this country working in all manner of professions, as confident people.' She added: 'Religion is personal to people. 'They decide what they want to do, what they want to follow, how far they want to follow it, and there's no punishment for not wearing a hijab in Islam. 'Crucially, Islam allows you to make a personal choice.' A spokesperson for the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community said the survey's results 'highlight a persistent misunderstanding about Islamic teachings on modesty and women's choices'. The YouGov survey of 2,130 adults in Great Britain in mid-July asked people if they felt different groups of immigrants by religion generally have a positive or negative impact on the UK. While 41% said Muslim immigrants have a negative impact, the proportions feeling this way were much lower for other groups. Just under a quarter (24%) of respondents felt Muslim immigrants had a positive impact on the UK, lower than for any of the other religions stated.
