A RENOWN estate agent has claimed families wanting to move to the island are being driven away by oversubscribed schools.

Darren Wood, owner of Wilson Wood Properties, at Furtherwick Road, on Canvey, says sales have been falling through because of buyers’ children being refused a place at the two remaining secondary schools – Cornelius Vermuyden and Castle View.

He stressed how it was a “grave mistake” reducing the number of schools from three to two.

The estate agent who has been running his business for more than 35 years, said: “Canvey is booming more and more now, and there isn’t so much stigma around it from when you had the oil refinery in the 70s and a higher flood risk.

“We see plenty of families from areas like Dagenham and Hornchurch who want to move to Canvey.

“They are selling their Victorian semis for £450k and buying something better in Canvey for £350k.

“But they are being told that there is no chance of their children getting into the schools because there are no spaces. Clients are then withdrawing their offers and looking for other areas to live in.

“People’s children are the most important thing in their lives, their happiness and education is more important than moving house so they’re staying put.

“I’d be a hypocrite if I said I didn’t want more homes built on Canvey because of course I want to sell them, but it makes no sense if some of the families wanting to move here are having to send their children to school in Wickford or Rayleigh.

“Canvey is becoming a fantastic place to live in – the beaches are heaving now and there are great places to eat and drink, but there is a lack of schools.”

Councillor Norman Smith, Castle Point leader, said: “Not so many homes are being built because of the flood risk.

“Part of any future planning would involve new schools or expansion that would only come with new homes.

“We don’t really want new homes on the island because of infrastructure issues.

“It may well be that schools are full up but we have been bringing people in from outside of the area to fill up schools so whether that is continuing I’m not sure.

“It’s a shame to hear that children of new families are allegedly being turned away. The island itself has an ageing population and more single people living in houses on their own.

“Each of the schools will have to look at their offers, there is no reason why the schools can’t expand, if the demand is there.”

Essex County Council refuted the claims and confirmed there were still places at both schools.

A spokesman for Essex County Council, said: “There are sufficient secondary school places for all children on the island to be able to attend one of the two secondary schools on Canvey Island.”