Bob Spink

Set in Essex on the Thames, Castle Point comprises Benfleet, Canvey Island, Daws Heath, Hadleigh and Thundersley. Our name 'Castle Point' came about when Canvey Island and Benfleet were combined as a single constituency. 'Castle' relates to Hadleigh Castle on the mainland and 'Point' to Canvey Point.

We are a largely urban, but nevertheless beautiful constituency which retains a splendid conservation area around the Hoy and Helmet pub. Among our historic churches we boast: St. Mary The Virgin, Benfleet (894AD) St. James The Less, Hadleigh (1130AD) and St. Peter's, Thundersley (1200AD).

Canvey Island is a unique, proud, close-knit Island community. Living space on the Island was created by Dutch engineers and the Island still cherishes Dutch cottages, including one dated 1618. The Island suffered from the Great Flood of 1953 which claimed many lives, but is now a safe vibrant community with dramatically improving education and the Country's premier giant killing football team - Canvey Island FC, known as the Gulls, of which Bob is President.

Statistics do not tell the whole story of our independent, enterprising people but they do give important insights. Over 5,000 constituents travel to London each day to work. We have about 90,000 residents and the highest proportion of home ownership in the UK (around 90 per cent). About 80 per cent of households have 2 or more cars (national ave. 66 per cent). The ethnic population is 1.2 per cent (national ave. 6 per cent) and some 14.2 per cent are self-employed (national ave. 11 per cent). Castle Point is a relatively young community with 30.2 per cent between 40 and pensionable age (national ave. 26.6 per cent), only 16.6 per cent of residents are pensioners (national ave. 18.7 per cent).

The picture painted by these statistics is a young vibrant community with relative prosperity, great initiative and self-reliance.