CAMPAIGNERS have welcomed news that a popular seafront car park could be in line for long-awaited improvement work.

Islanders have long led calls for the Labworth car park, in Western Esplanade on Canvey, to be surfaced and for bay markings to be added, in order for more cars to park up.

It comes as the island’s surge in seafront trade continues with temperatures soaring.

About 500 cars were parked in the Labworth car park on Thursday, with a nearby car park in Thorney Bay also filling up fast.

Over several years, beachgoers have called on the council to upgrade both car parks.

A Castle Point Council spokesman says the authority will finally look into surfacing options for the Labworth.

She said: “The council is aware of the situation regarding the condition of the car park at the Labworth.

“We are currently exploring the options which are available to make improvements to the surface of the carpark and other areas on the seafront which the council regards as an important part of Canvey and as a visitor attraction.”

Thorney Bay car park, also in Western Esplanade, was expanded from 20 spaces, and the extension will increase the capacity to 60.

Campaigners have welcomed the news and hope that the council will use cash raised from the parking to pay for the work.

It costs 50 pence to park for one hour, 70 pence for two hours, £1.10 for up to three hours and £2 to park for more than three hours.

Barry Campagna, chairman of Canvey Baywatch, a beach volunteer group working at Thorney Bay, says the island is proving a strong alternative to Southend.

Mr Campagna, a borough councillor for South ward, said: “You can’t really get better value than Canvey really. It costs £2 to park all day, and kids can use the fun park for a fiver.

“It’s really good news the council is looking into resurfacing the car park, because once it’s more organised, we can get even more people coming to Canvey.”

Dave Blackwell, leader of the Canvey Independent Party, says that improvement to the car park will also help during the winter months.

He said: “Whenever there’s heavy rainfall it becomes flooded there, and then it’s out of action.

“We all agree it needs resurfacing, but it also needs to be used all year round. The council has made a lot of money from the car park and some of it needs to be reinvested.”