We live on a hell hole island: Inside ‘abandoned’ UK holiday resort once loved by tourists but now slammed by locals as a ‘dump stuck in a time warp’

Residents living on an ‘abandoned’ holiday island say they are living in a ‘time warp’ from the 1960s, which visitors have left behind.

Canvey Island in Essex used to be a thriving holiday destination with a thriving tourist economy.

The island once attracted big names from showbiz to delight crowds of day trippers, including Edwin Starr, Freddie Mercury, Tommy Cooper and Shirley Bassey.

But years later, Canvey’s star has faded and ‘forgotten’ locals have labeled it a ‘crime-ridden hellhole’ with no ‘soul’.

While in its heyday excited crowds thronged the entertainment-laden streets and flocked to the beaches, the coast is now dominated by empty buildings.

One man told MailOnline: ‘I can’t take it anymore. It’s hell on earth. I’m moving to Kent. It is a mess.’

Canvey Island has a small number of shops in the town centre, but many of these are closed

Canvey Island has an overall crime rate of 86 crimes per 1,000 residents, figures show (pictured, construction underway on the town’s coast)

But while not all locals denigrate their hometown, the city has been criticized online and named one of the 153 most depressing places in the country by website iLiveHere’s annual survey.

Crime statistics show the island is one of the top five most dangerous medium-sized towns in Essex.

It has an overall crime rate of 86 crimes per 1,000 inhabitants, which is poorer than the overall rate of 83 per 1,000.

Roger Thomas, 81, has lived in the city for 55 years. He said: “It has become a crime-ridden hellhole. It has no soul anymore.

‘I don’t have the strength to move, otherwise I would get out. It’s so sad. It used to be beautiful. It was lively, very busy with tourists and always full.

‘Now more people are leaving than coming in. I don’t feel safe on the coast. It’s terrible.

“A friend of mine was robbed at knifepoint last month.”

Another said: ‘It’s stuck in a time-wrap. It’s like living in 1970. There is little appeal to come here.

Canvey Island was a thriving tourist destination in the 1960s, but this has changed since then

Locals say shops on Canvey Island are closing one after another as footfall falls

Retired demolition worker Chris Taylor, 72, defended the island and criticized those who criticized it

‘Everything is deserted. It’s empty store after empty store. It’s always freezing too, but I guess I can’t complain too much about that.

‘Britain’s biggest stars used to come here to perform, but now it’s dead.’

Kim Pattimore, 64, who works at the Fantasy Island Arcade near the sea, said improvements are urgently needed.

She said: ‘It’s a lot quieter than it used to be. It is very limited and empty. Investments are needed and we need fewer empty shops.

‘It’s still very old-fashioned. We get a lot of people here from the East End of London because they love how old and run-down it is.”

Ryan Parker, 33, said he was about to leave the island after living here for three years.

The builder said, ‘I can’t take it anymore. It’s hell on earth. I’m moving to Kent. It is a mess.

Big names who have performed on the island include Freddie Mercury, Tommy Cooper and Shirley Bassey, but now mainly tribute acts appear

Many locals say Canvey Island is a ‘crime-ridden hellhole’ with no ‘soul’

Carol Campkin, 77, with her friend Sue Hill says Canvey Island needs a remake

Canvey Island’s crime rate, at 86 crimes per 1,000 residents, is higher than the overall rate of 83

‘People don’t feel like it anymore. we feel abandoned. It’s like they want to dump all the trash here and forget about it.

‘Look at all the graffiti, look at all the abandoned shops and vacant buildings. It is also the charity shopping capital of Britain.

Retired demolition worker Chris Taylor, 72, defended the island – and criticized those who criticized it.

He said, ‘What do they expect? I bet the people moaning are all spoiled brats anyway.

‘They want everything in life to be handed to them on a plate.

‘What do they expect? Where do they plan to move to, New York?

Dame Shirley Bassey (pictured with then Prince Charles) performed in Canvey Island

Queen legend Freddie Mercury performed on Canvey Island during the boom of British tourism

‘It’s madness. Canvey does what it says on the tin. People need to keep their mouths shut.”

Carol Campkin, 77, added: ‘It needs a remake. It’s cheap and cheerful.’

At the beginning of the 20th century, only 300 people lived on Canvey Island.

It later became a popular seaside resort with fairground rides and food stalls. Founded by entrepreneur Frederick Hester, the resort included a huge boardwalk and pier, as well as winter gardens and monorails, although many of these have been destroyed over the years.

In the 1960s, thousands of people were still flocking to the town of Essex every year. It was seen as a place where people lounged in deck chairs, ate jellied eels and wandered through the ornamental gardens.

David Blackwell, leader of Castle Point Borough Council – which includes the island – said: ‘Yes, it has deteriorated after 20 years of Conservative rule, the new independent government will tackle some of that by giving almost £5 million to Canvey this year to spend.

‘£1m shopping center revamp. £1.5 million to modernize the community centre. £1.5m for a new seaside cafe. £800,000 for a new all-weather sports pitch, £100,000 for new play equipment in the park.

‘Canvey has a bright future under our management. I have lived here all my life and campaigned for improvements as Leader of the Opposition and am now in a position to do something about that as Leader of the Council.”