Council losing control of lake after toxic sample

A council is set to give up ownership of a lake after inspectors found high levels of toxicity in the water.

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."

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