Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott has revealed Canvey's traffic problems will be looked at as part of the Government's ten-year transport plan.

Canvey is part of the East of England region and was named as a possible area for investment.

Prescott, outlining the plan in the House of Commons, said the Government would be looking towards improving the access to regeneration areas such as Canvey, Kings Lynn, Lowestoft and Thurrock.

Castle Point Labour MP Christine Butler welcomed the news but said it would be too early to say whether or not the announcement could lead to a third road for the island.

She said: "It's great that Canvey has been mentioned and John Prescott is aware of our problems.

"It has taken a lot of work but we are being taken notice of."

She said that she would now be writing to transport managers at Essex County Council to look at ways to improve the island's access.

Canvey Conservative councillor Ray Howard, highways chairman at Essex County Council, and Castle Point councillor has been campaigning for better road access for Canvey for more than 30 years.

He said: "Essex County Council has just put together its local transport plan for the next five years which will go to the Government by July 31.

"In it we have allowed for one major scheme and I hope improved access for Canvey will be it.

"It is good John Prescott has mentioned Canvey and I hope he will be putting his money where his mouth is."

Canvey has suffered congestion problems for many years and everyday thousands of motorists have to put up with traffic jams to get on and off the island.

Even the slightest problem on the roads such as an accident or roadworks can cause chaos.

Government roads minister Keith Hill visited Canvey earlier this year and took note of its predicament.

John Prescott has revealed that over the next ten years £59 billion will be spent on roads.

Transport action 'all spin' says MP

Brought to you by the Evening Gazette

A Government cash boost over ten years to improve transport in Essex and surrounding counties was today (Friday) denounced by the opposition as "pure spin".

Deputy prime minister John Prescott yesterday announced £180 billion from public and private money nationally - the biggest investment in rail, roads and public transport for generations.

And transport officials said that would mean big money for improvements to have a transport system in Essex and the East of England fit for the 21st century.

But when asked how much would actually go to Essex a spokesman admitted "no figure had been worked out".

Few new schemes for the county were revealed, but a spokesman said there would be pots more money for park and ride schemes, investment in rural buses and the Essex rail network.

And if studies conclude parts of the A12 need widening and the A120 to Harwich needs dualling, some of the new money could be used for this.

All measures - aimed to reduce overcrowding on trains and ease road congestion - have been highlighted in a bid to persuade people the Government is acting on transport, which is one of the most important issues for Essex voters.

But the detail of how this would happen was vague and long-standing schemes were re-announced to the regional press.

Tory shadow transport minister Bernard Jenkin - North Essex MP - said: "We don't believe these fantasy figures. Anybody who drives along the A12 knows it needs to be upgraded.

"This announcement has been all spin and no substance."

Mr Prescott said: "The transport needs of the East are best understood by the people of the East. The ten year plan gives the funding and flexibility to transform their local area.

"This country needs a fully integrated transport system which meets the needs of motorists and pedestrians, cyclists and rail users, in rural and urban communities."

The plan provides long-term funding. Now it is up to the service providers to begin the transport renaissance of the East."

North Essex schemes in Transport 2010

Roads:

A120 Stansted-Braintree, contract to be awarded 2001-2, already announced

A120 Investigate dualling to Harwich, already under way

A12 Kelvedon by-pass safety fences, before March 2002

A12, M11, widening, no start date.

Railways:

Further four tracking of Great Eastern main line, no start date

East-west rail scheme to Swindon from Suffolk

Channel tunnel interchange at Stratford for East Anglia access, previously announced, no start date.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.