THE start of the demolition of an iconic Canvey pub has been met with an outpouring of emotion.

The Admiral Jellicoe pub, Canvey High Street, will be totally demolished and replaced with 40 flats and a row of shops.

Plans were approved in December and hoardings placed around the site and now the first stages of demolition have begun - by Branch Company Ltd.

Although it is unclear how long the pub has been on the island, it dates back to at least the early 1940s.

Joan Thomas, 55, of Long Road, said: “It is such a shame.

“That pub has been there all my life, and although it has been closed for a few years, it is still iconic on the island.

“Not only are we losing a landmark, 40 flats on the site is not quite ideal, what about all the cars? 40 flats could be 80 cars, then what?

“We have enough issues as it is. Maybe this will add to the calls for a third road a bit.”

The pub initially closed in January 2017 mysteriously, and a demolition notice was placed on the site in January 2018.

That demolition was pushed back with the council insisting it needed proper permission.

Full planning permission was granted in December.

Former councillor Ray Howard said: “I am sad to see a building that has been a landmark on Canvey all my life go.

“There is no doubt it is a landmark for a lot of people, and it going will change the appearance of the area drastically.

“Lots of people wanted to see it stay, and campaigned to do so, and maybe I, in my former role, could have done more to protect like we did with the King Canute.

“Credit has to be given to the Co-op, because the King Canute is fantastic, and still looks as it was, and that would have been great with the Jellicoe, but it is difficult.

“Developers pay a price for the land, and must get a return, and I do have sympathy with members of the development control committee.”

The former councillor, who lost his seat in the recent local elections, insisted the new homes should put additional pressure on the council to complete the third stage of “road to nowhere”, Roscommon Way, due to concerns over the quantity of traffic.

Since the Echo went to print, it has come to light permission for the works has not been granted.

A Castle Point Council spokesman said: "The planning application is subject to a S106 agreement which is currently being drawn up. Permission does not come into effect until that agreement has been agreed and signed

"Demolition works have commenced – they don’t currently have planning permission , nor have they submitted a demolition notice to the Building Control Department.

"The Temporary stop notice was issued to halt the unauthorised works following the Council being alerted to the situation by the public.".