A Second World War army camp could be under threat if a Canvey holiday park is developed, it has been claimed.

Army expert Gary Foulger hoped the original buildings on the site of the Thorney Bay Beach Camp would be preserved as a war museum.

However, since the 90-acre caravan site was bought by local businessmen Graham and Jeff King and John Pring, Mr Foulger has been terrified the war buildings will be knocked down.

Graham and Jeff King - sons of Jack King who owns Canvey's Kings Club - and Mr Pring, a senior partner in The John Pring Group, have grand plans for the park, including building a number of new houses fronting Thorney Bay Road.

Mr Foulger, who is a member of the Thameside Aviation Museum based at the Coalhouse Fort in Tilbury, said: "I am fed up with people saying "I wish we had preserved that" after things have been knocked down.

"We have to do something now to save these buildings before it is too late. It would be fantastic if they could be done up and preserved as a museum.

"The army base was considered very important during the war and it would be great if there was a war museum on the island."

He added: "There is also an Anglo-Saxon site on the land. The caravans aren't doing any damage but if they built homes on the land it could destroy the underground structures of the settlement."

However Jeff King said the caravan site and the land on Thorney Bay Road were two different sites.

He said: "We will be running Thorney Bay Beach Camp as a holiday camp for the time being. We have no plans for building at the moment."

Mr Pring added there were no plans to demolish the army buildings at present. He said: "The buildings are south of the area we plan to develop."

The army camp dates back to World War I and was of strategic importance during the Second World War.

Adolf Hitler considered it so vital to the British war effort it was marked in red on German maps.

Castle Point councillor Sylvia Waymark (Con, Canvey South) welcomed the development, as it will bring holidaymakers to the area.

She added: "The increase in traffic on the roads, however, could cause problems for residents."

Concerned - Gary Foulger wants to save Canvey's army camps from development

Picture:MAXINE CLARKE

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