AIBU to ask: what's the deal with Canvey Island?

[ClareB83]

Like is it only accessible twice a day?

Or are the ground floors submerged at high tide?

Houses seem cheaper than nearby and according to google buses get you to benfleet station in a reasonable time.

What's going on?

Apparently it's as rough AF

I've also seen properties you can only access from the rear? Nice looking four bed detached houses, not odd looking ones.

It's a rough area, pretty much a shit hole.

It’s nicer than it’s reputation. Some really good schools, others not so. Get really busy coming on and off the island at rush hour though. It has high sea walls so no flooding. Can access it at any time.

Its a rough and pretty deprived area. One road in and out.

It's rough,if you read the local evening echo news paper there's a lot of crime that goes on there too. It has a reputation. Let's just say I won't be moving there anytime soon...

One road in and out.

That’s not true for a start!

It’s a lot cheaper than some nearby areas eg Benfleet as there are some really nice bits of Benfleet.

Traffic can get pretty busy getting on/off the island at peak times and it’s a bit too close to sea level for some!

It’s got a nice cheap cinema though!

I wouldn’t fancy living there but lots of people are v happy there.

It's built on reclaimed land. It flooded in the 1950's and people drowned. Yeah, there were fatalities for various reasons all over the country in every decade.

However, learning that it was built on reclaimed land made me think, nope, not moving there.

People live there right enough, but there's a reason why properties are slightly cheaper on Canvey Island.

Im sad to read its rough now .Used to go there from London many moons ago for days out in my DGPs Austin A40! Lovely memories of days by the sea , F and C ,Ice creams etc !

You can access it at all times but it is very busy getting on and off at Peak times. It doesn't have a particularly good reputation I think because of the trailer park, mainly. Lots of elderly people retire there. It has some amenities but quite a way to get to a bigger town. Houses aren't submerged!

It’s a strange place overall, quite insular and cliquey. Traffic can be bad at peak times, getting on / off the island. Property there is relatively cheaper then the surrounding areas. It’s low lying and reclaimed land which doesn’t bode well with global warming and rising sea levels

It's okay. Don't think it's particularly rough.
My in-laws live there, it's mostly old people. They never seem to have any trouble at all.

It's really rough, look at the Southend echo and search Canvey. The schools are not good, the traffic is bad, it has no train station.

Essex

OK thanks folks. Whether every impression is true or not, it's people's impressions that will be impacting property prices. Good to know.

Some hate crime and the usual gang of youths, just last week

www.echo-news.co.uk/news/18210885.prayer-centre-open-back-garden/

www.echo-news.co.uk/news/18205600.canvey-carers-car-smashed-hammer-teens-thugs/

I live on Canvey, it's not rough at all. I feel perfectly safe walking round after dark, never been burgled, robbed or assaulted. My kids went to school on Canvey, both are doing very well.

Oh yes, bus services. Buses run every 15 minutes to the train station. Traffic is bad at rush hour morning and evening. There are two routes off the island, not one, as people seem to think. I've lived here 30 years and never been flooded.

Interestingly it's currently seeing significant numbers of orthodox Jewish families moving there, as they can no longer afford to live in traditional areas like Stamford Hill. I think I watched a BBC documentary on it a year or two ago.

Yes Avocados there is a community of orthodox Jews. Sad to read about the hate crime above, I thought they were accepted and welcomed by Canvey residents. I guess there's always a few hateful people where ever you go.

My Ex lives there. 'Nuff said.

I have family there who have been there for years, they seem to like it - despite its reputation.

I live near to Canvey. It's no better or worse than any of the surrounding areas.

It really isnt that bad. Southend is much worse. I feel safer walking around canvey than I do southend. In the summer there is a wonderful feel of community at the seafront. People take care of it, whereas southend is absolutely trashed every sunny day.

Not somewhere I’d live personally. I wouldn’t go for Benfleet either though.