CANVEY ISLAND: A small island community in the Thames Estuary that voted massively for Brexit is now drawing inspiration from distant Catalonia for its own plans to gain independence from authorities on the mainland.
Just 40,000 people live on Canvey Island in Essex, a 40-minute train ride from London but a world apart from the British capital.
鈥淲e are surrounded by sea, I suppose it gives us that feeling of independence,鈥� said Edward Parkin, 39, who works at the waterfront arcade Parkins Palladium.
Just two roads connect the area to the mainland and there has been resentment that decisions are being taken on the other side of the water which affect the community.
鈥淚t is always the mainland that decides. People are fed up,鈥� said Dave Blackwell, whose frustration with the situation led him to create the Canvey Island Independent Party (CIIP).
The latest move seen as unacceptable by Blackwell is a proposal to turn a community center into housing, following a decision by Castle Point borough council 鈥� which governs Canvey.
The septuagenarian has announced a petition on independence and, inspired by Catalonia, a referendum for Canvey to separate from Castle Point and run its own affairs.
鈥淚f we鈥檇 have a referendum tomorrow, 80 percent of the people would be in favor of independence,鈥� he said.
Islanders have already tested their breakaway views at the polls, with the area voting by 72.7 percent in favor to leave the EU in last year鈥檚 referendum 鈥� one of the highest proportions in the country.
Blackwell, who started his party 14 years ago, sees his ongoing bid for independence as similar to Brexit.
鈥淲e have done campaigning for independence in the past. It grew,鈥� he said.
鈥淧eople are fed up with mainstream parties and want to be able to determine their own future.鈥�
Nine out of the 11 Canvey Island town councillors have already been convinced to join CIIP, along with 15 of 17 councillors representing the island in Castle Point council.
But the leader of Castle Point council, Colin Riley, is firmly against the idea and argues the talk of separatism is taking away from the 鈥渨onderful sense of community鈥� within the area.
鈥淎t a time when all councils are facing increasing pressures on budgets and are looking at ways of working together it would be contrary to promote independence for Canvey island,鈥� he told AFP.
鈥淚 am hopeful that we can quickly get back to business.鈥�
On Canvey Island, however, residents are already coming up with ways to spend the council鈥檚 budget if autonomy is returned.
Ideas include a third road to the mainland to relieve congestion, a new drainage system to protect the island from flooding, or more toilets along the beachfront.
Dave Taylor, tucking into a plate of bacon and mushrooms on toast at Sue鈥檚 Cafe, told AFP independence 鈥渨ould be a very good idea.鈥�
鈥淭he money will be spent on the island, not elsewhere,鈥� said the 74-year-old, noting unhappily that it was left to volunteers to clean Canvey鈥檚 beach and repair the island鈥檚 benches.
Cafe owner Sue Thomas, donning a blue apron, agreed: 鈥淚 think it might be a good thing for the people of Canvey; they could make decisions for themselves and have a say.鈥�
It has been more than 40 years since the creation of Castle Point borough council, in 1974.
Blackwell believes the case of Catalonia could act as a catalyst for change.