Closure of Martello tower would be 'great loss'

The threatened closure of a Martello tower in a seaside town could be a "great loss" to the area, a community leader says.

Indi Sandhu manages the Essex Culture Diversity Project, and has been using the Martello tower in Jaywick since 2010 for regular meet-ups and events.

Jaywick's Martello tower was built in 1809 and was originally one of 29 dotted around the East of England. They were constructed to defend the country against the threat of invasion by Napoleon Bonaparte and his armies.

Essex County Council said it would save £90,000 in the next financial year if the site was closed, according to the budget plan.

The tower opened as a hub for arts and creativity in 2005.

Sandhu said: "It's [the tower] a pillar in the community that brings people together.

"It has been a centre point for community groups and it is going to be a great loss for the community."

He said the Martello tower had helped bring creatives to Jaywick.

The council said the closure of the site would help with net savings, but it acknowledged that the lack of funding would result in a loss of community involvement - with potential negative health and wellbeing implications.

"Every effort will be made to relocate planned activity to other venues within the community," it said.

Sandhu continued: "You can't build another Martello tower somewhere.

"You can move the activity somewhere else but it won't have that same effect so that needs to be preserved."

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