A £20million cash injection could go towards improving Canvey Lake or kickstarting the process of building a long-awaited third road as funding has been “retained and reformed”.

The investment, awarded as part of the “long-term plan for towns” programme in May’s spring budget was set to see £20 million awarded to a new “town board” made of residents, faith leaders and Tory MP Dame Rebecca Harris.

Following chancellor Rachel Reeves’ autumn budget, Castle Point Council has received confirmation the funding will be delivered across the next decade after plans were seemingly put on pause in August after Labour’s election victory.

The programme, which is being reformed, will see “revised guidance” issued by the Government after which the programme will start with a new town board set up by the council.

Independent coalition leader of the council, Dave Blackwell, is enthusiastic about the news which could see money put to initiating the long-awaited third entry road to the island.

He said: “We could use some of the money to do a scoping project for transport and infrastructure around a third road, the big thing about the third road is you need to have a business plan, and this provides an opportunity.

“The Department for Transport has always said you need a business case as to why it is needed and if we could build that business case, it would attract businesses onto Canvey.”

Mr Blackwell added that another major issue on Canvey the money could go towards is the desilting of Canvey Lake, which has suffered numerous ecological issues owing to a low water level.

He said: “One of the big issues with Canvey Lake is that it is gradually silting up and needs desilting, a lot of rubbish also comes off the road and goes into the lake so the lake could be a top project.

“This is why we need a project officer in place to look at costing, it is a project that people want though.”

The funding would be delivered in as-of-yet decided tranches by the Government across the next ten years.