Council makes U-turn to save Martello tower

An iconic Martello tower in a seaside town has been saved from closure after the local community rallied together, a council has confirmed.

Jaywick's Martello tower, built in 1809 and one of 29 dotted around the East of England coastline to defend England from invasion by Napoleon, had been earmarked for closure next year by Essex County Council.

The council had said it would save £90,000 in the coming financial year in its budget plan by shutting the building, which now operates as an arts hub.

However, in a statement, a council spokesman confirmed it would not go ahead.

He added: "This decision has been made following further investigation and in response to the concerns expressed by local communities."

Community group leaders had been among those opposed to the threatened closure of the tower, on Belsize Avenue.

It had opened as an arts and creativity venue in 2005.

Last week, Indi Sandhu, who has been using the facility for Essex Cultural Diversity Project events for more than a decade, told how the proposed closure would be a "great loss" as the unique venue was a "centre point for community groups".

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