CALLS have been made for the council to use emergency powers to fence off a derelict jetty, which residents say is dangerous.

The jetty, in Holehaven Creek, Canvey, is almost as long as Southend Pier.

Fences which used to stop people climbing on the structure have been torn down.

Coastguards have repeatedly warned over the past year about groups of youths climbing on to the jetty, and there are concerns they could be seriously injured jumping or falling off.

Castle Point Council claimed two weeks ago it had no authority to replace the fencing, as the jetty is on private land.

The Echo has since checked the law and learned councils do have powers to make hazardous private property safe.

We pointed this out to council officers, who have now admitted it does have powers, but is simply not prepared to use them.

Instead, it says it is trying to convince the the jetty’s owner to make it safe, but has repeatedly refused to name the company responsible.

Joan Liddiard, chairman of Canvey Town Council, urged the council to take direct action.

She said: “The borough council has to do something, because it is dangerous.

If the company which owns it isn’t going to help, the local authority needs to either make it safe, or arrange for it to be taken down in the public interest.”

She says problems with young people climbing on the jetty are likely to increase in the coming months because the Roscommon Way extension road, which was opened before Christmas, allows vehicles get closer to the jetty than was possible before.

The structure was built in the Seventies by the oil company, Occidental, for a planned fuel storage terminal which was never developed.

It has stood derelict ever since.

The borough council has powers under the 1984 Building Act and the 1990 Environmental Protection Act to make the jetty safe.

Council chief executive David Marchant said: “Following informal discussions with local councillors, the council is taking a measured approach to deal with concerns about unauthorised access to the land and jetty.

“The council is approaching the landowners concerned to encourage them to take action to prevent unauthorised access to the jetty.”