'Don't patronise Jaywick with special labels' (From Clacton and Frinton Gazette)

'Don't patronise Jaywick with special labels'

11:32am Monday 2nd November 2009

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THE leader of Tendring Council claims labelling Jaywick as a special case is “patronising”.

Councillors have called on the authority’s Tory cabinet to lobby the Government for funding for Jaywick, which is listed as the third most deprived ward in the country, as a “special case”.

Kevin Watson, who represents the Golf Green ward, said he was unhappy that Essex County Council is spending £7million on Brentwood High Street, which he said is in the richest borough in the county, but would not adopt and upgrade any of Jaywick’s dilapidated roads.

He called on council leader Neil Stock to make his position clear, after his cabinet colleagues said Jaywick was not a special case.

“Many people that I have met in and around the Brooklands and Grasslands area are tremendously proud of the neighbourhood where they live and point out that it has some wonderful characteristics,” said Mr Stock.

“In other words, they don't want to see themselves labelled as a special case.

“It is a patronising and condescending label that will do nothing to address the issues faced by the area.”

He said improving Jaywick is a priority, but there are other pockets of deprivation across the district that also need attention.

He said there is no “quick-fix solution” to transform Jaywick and regeneration will take a long time.

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