TRADERS have called for a shopping centre to be revitalised rather than shut down after fears were raised about its future.

Shop owners at the Knightswick Shopping Centre, off Folksville Road, Canvey, spoke out following suggestions Castle Point Council is considering the future of the site, and possibly buying it.

Terry Cox, 40, who runs a gift shop at the centre, said: “It hasn’t changed much since it was built in the late 1970s.

“It does need a lot of work to make it a bit more modern and attractive for visitors and traders.

“I am also worried about the empty shops at the centre.

“We need to make sure it is kept in a good condition to keep footfall which has been dropping a bit over the last few years.

“We have seen council officers walking around the shopping centre with site staff but we’ve been told nothing.

“It does seem that something is going on here.”

Sandy Thompson, 50, who runs a clothing shop at the island centre said: “A few of us are worried about our jobs.

“They should be up front with us and telling us what is happening here.

“We want to know the council or new owners are not going to increase rates to get rid of us.

“We need to know our jobs and livelihood are going to be kept safe.

“I think it’s wrong that we’ve not been told anything about what is going on.”

Centre manager Andy Pay and councillor Norman Smith, the leader of Castle Point Council both refused to comment at this time.

Councillor Chas Mumford, cabinet member for regeneration and business liaison, said the council is in exploratory discussions with various institutions but nothing has been formalised yet.

Documents from the Canvey Community Archive state plans for the shopping centre began in the early 1970s and works were underway by 1978.

The shopping centre has 277 car parking spaces and is currently home to a number of large retailers.

These include Peacocks, Costa Coffee and more.

Castle Point Council was asked to provide more details about the discussions.