Editing Castle Point

{{about|the district in Essex, England}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!-- See Template:Infobox settlement for additional fields and descriptions -->
|name                   = Castle Point
|nickname               = 
|settlement_type        = [[Non-metropolitan district]] and [[Borough status in the United Kingdom|borough]]
|official_name = Borough of Castle Point
|total_type             = <!-- to set a non-standard label for total area and population rows -->
|motto                  =
<!-- images and maps  ----------->
|image_skyline          = Thundersley, Essex - St.Peters Church.jpg
|imagesize              = 280px
|image_caption          = [[Thundersley]], one of the towns of the borough and its administrative centre
|image_flag             = 
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|image_map              = Castle Point UK locator map.svg
|mapsize                = 200px
|map_caption            = Castle Point within Essex
|image_map1             = 
|mapsize1               = 
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<!-- Location ------------------>
|subdivision_type       = Country
|subdivision_name       = [[United Kingdom]]
|subdivision_type1      = Constituent country
|subdivision_name1      = [[England]]
|subdivision_type2      = Region
|subdivision_name2      = [[East of England]]
|subdivision_type3 = County
|subdivision_name3 = [[Essex]]
<!-- Politics ----------------->
|government_footnotes   =
|government_type        = Alternative s.31
|leader_title           = [[List of MPs elected in the 2019 United Kingdom general election|MPs]]
|leader_name            =  [[Rebecca Harris]] ([[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]])
|leader_title1          =  
|leader_name1           =
|established_title      =  
|established_date       = 
|established_title1     = Established
|established_date1      = 1 April 1974
|seat_type = Admin HQ
|seat = [[Thundersley]]
<!-- Area    --------------------->
|area_magnitude         =
|unit_pref              = <!--Enter: Imperial, to display imperial  before metric-->
|area_footnotes         =
|area_total_km2         = 
|area_land_km2          = 45.08
|area_water_km2         = 
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|area_land_sq_mi        =
|area_water_sq_mi       =
|area_water_percent     =
<!-- Elevation -------------------------->
|elevation_footnotes    =  <!--for references: use <ref> tags-->
|elevation_m            = 
|elevation_ft           =
<!-- Population   ----------------------->
|population_as_of       = 2021
|population_footnotes   = 2021 Census
|population_note        =
|population_total       = 89,591
|population_est         = 89,591
|pop_est_as_of          = 2021
|population_density_km2 = 1921.2
|population_density_sq_mi =
<!-- demographics (section 1) -->
| demographics_type1      = Ethnicity <span style="font-weight:normal;">([[2021 United Kingdom census|2021]])</span>
| demographics1_footnotes = <ref name="2021 Nomis">{{NOMIS2021|id=E07000069|title=Castle Point Local Authority|access-date=5 January 2024}}</ref>
| demographics1_title1    = [[Ethnic groups in the United Kingdom|Ethnic groups]]
| demographics1_info1     =
 {{Collapsible list
 | 94.9% [[White people in the United Kingdom|White]]
 | 1.7% [[British Asians|Asian]]
 | 1.6% [[Mixed (United Kingdom ethnicity category)|Mixed]]
 | 1.3% [[Black British people|Black]]
 | 0.5% [[Ethnic groups in the United Kingdom|other]]
 }}
<!-- demographics (section 2) -->
| demographics_type2      = Religion <span style="font-weight:normal;">(2021)</span>
| demographics2_footnotes = <ref name="2021 Nomis"/>
| demographics2_title1    = [[Religion in England|Religion]]
| demographics2_info1     = 
 {{Collapsible list
 | 48.6% [[Religion in England#Christianity|Christianity]]
 | 43.5% [[Irreligion in the United Kingdom|no religion]]
 | 7.1% [[Religion in England|other]]
 | 0.8% [[Islam in England|Islam]]
 }}
<!-- General information  --------------->
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|coordinates            = {{coord|51.54|N|0.58|E|dim:10000|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type       =  <!-- enter ZIP code, Postcode, Post code, Postal code... -->
|postal_code            =
|area_code              =
|footnotes              = 
}}
'''Castle Point''' is a [[Non-metropolitan district|local government district]] with [[Borough status in the United Kingdom|borough status]] in south [[Essex]], England, lying around {{convert|30|mi|0}} east of [[London]]. The borough comprises the towns of [[South Benfleet]], [[Hadleigh, Essex|Hadleigh]] and [[Thundersley]] (where the council is based) on the mainland, and the adjoining [[Canvey Island]] in the [[Thames Estuary]], which is connected to the mainland by bridges.

The borough borders the City of [[Southend-on-Sea]] to the east, [[Rochford District]] to the north, the [[Borough of Basildon]] to the west, and the [[Thurrock]] unitary authority area to the south-west, across [[Holehaven Creek]].

==History==
Castle Point was formed on 1 April 1974, under the [[Local Government Act 1972]], as one of 14 [[non-metropolitan district]]s within Essex. The new district covered the areas of the former urban districts of [[Benfleet Urban District|Benfleet]] and [[Canvey Island Urban District|Canvey Island]], both of which were abolished at the same time.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Definition) Order 1972|year=1972|number=2039|access-date=31 May 2023}}</ref>

The district was named "Castle Point", combining references to landmarks in both of the former urban districts: [[Hadleigh Castle]] in Benfleet and [[Canvey Point]] at the eastern tip of Canvey Island.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Names) Order 1973|year=1973|number=551|access-date=31 May 2023}}</ref>

The district was granted [[borough status in the United Kingdom|borough status]] with effect from 1 February 1992, allowing the chair of the council to take the title of mayor.<ref>{{cite book |title=Bulletin of Local Authority Status Names and Areas 1 April 1991 – 31 March 1992 |date=1992 |publisher=Department of the Environment |location=London |page=7 |url=https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ukgwa/20221201175816mp_/https://s3-eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/lgbce/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/17529/change-bulletin-1991-1992.pdf |access-date=3 June 2023}}</ref>

==Governance==
{{Infobox legislature
| name               = Castle Point Borough Council
| logo_pic           = File:Castle Point Borough Council logo.svg
| logo_res           = 200px
| house_type         = Non-metropolitan district
| body               = 
| houses             =
| leader1_type       = [[Mayors in England|Mayor]]
| leader1            = Barry Campagna
| party1             = <br/>[[Canvey Island Independent Party|CIIP]]
| election1          = 21 May 2025<ref>{{cite web |title=New Mayor and Deputy Mayor elected at Annual Council |url=https://www.castlepoint.gov.uk/news/new-mayor-and-deputy-mayor-elected-at-annual-council-3378 |website=Castle Point Borough Council |access-date=30 May 2025 |date=22 May 2025}}</ref>
| leader2_type       = [[Leader of the council|Leader]]
| leader2            = Dave Blackwell
| party2             = <br/>[[Canvey Island Independent Party|CIIP]]
| election2          = 18 May 2022
| leader3_type       = [[Chief Executive]]
| leader3            = Angela Hutchings
| party3             = <!-- Non-political role -->
| election3          = 1 July 2022<ref>{{cite web |title=Chief Executive |url=https://www.castlepoint.gov.uk/chief-executive/ |website=Castle Point Borough Council |access-date=3 June 2023}}</ref>
| members            = 39
| structure1         = Castle_Point_Borough_Council 2025.svg
| structure1_res     = 250px
| structure2         =
| structure2_res     =
| political_groups1 =
:{{nowrap|{{Color box|{{party colour|The People's Independent Party}}|border=darkgray}} [[The People's Independent Party|PIP]] (24)}}
:{{nowrap|{{Color box|{{party colour|Canvey Island Independent Party}}|border=darkgray}}  [[Canvey Island Independent Party|CIIP]]  (14)}}
:{{nowrap|{{Color box|{{party colour|Reform UK}}|border=darkgray}}  [[Reform UK|Reform UK]]  (1)}}
| committees1        =
| committees2        =
| joint_committees   =
| voting_system1     = 
| voting_system2     =
| last_election1     = [[2024 Castle Point Borough Council election|2 May 2024]]
| next_election1     = 4 May 2028
| session_room       = File:Castle Point Council Offices - geograph.org.uk - 747098.jpg
| session_res        =
| meeting_place      = Council Offices, Kiln Road, Thundersley, Benfleet, SS7{{nbsp}}1TF
| website            = {{URL|www.castlepoint.gov.uk/}}
| footnotes          =
}}

Castle Point Borough Council provides [[Non-metropolitan district|district-level]] services. [[Non-metropolitan county|County-level]] services are provided by [[Essex County Council]].<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=act|act=Local Government Act 1972|year=1972|chapter=70|access-date=31 May 2023}}</ref> Canvey Island is a [[civil parish]] with a town council, forming a third tier of local government in that part of the borough. The mainland part of the borough (the former Benfleet Urban District) is an [[unparished area]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Election maps |url=https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/election-maps/gb/ |publisher=Ordnance Survey |access-date=3 June 2023}}</ref> In December of 2024 the Regulator of Social Housing issued a downgrade from a C3 to a C4 (the lowest consumer grade <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/guidance/how-we-approach-regulatory-judgements-and-gradings|title=How we approach regulatory judgements and gradings }}</ref>) after the council was found to not be able to demonstrate mitigation of fire risk, failed to survey the majority of their properties over the last 5 years, lacked up to date electrical assessments for 40% of communal areas, a lack of domestic abuse policy and being unable to demonstrate its response to hate crime. <ref> {{cite web| title=Regulator of Social Housing finds very serious failings at Castle Point Borough Council |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/regulator-of-social-housing-finds-very-serious-failings-at-castle-point-borough-council}}</ref>

===Political control===
Following the [[2024 Castle Point Borough Council election|2024 election]], a majority of the seats on the council were held by local party the [[The People's Independent Party|People's Independent Party]], which won all the seats on the mainland part of the borough, but did not contest any seats on Canvey Island. All the seats on Canvey Island were won by another local party, the [[Canvey Island Independent Party]]. The two parties had been running the council as coalition since the [[2022 Castle Point Borough Council election|2022 election]], when the council had been under [[no overall control]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=6 May 2022 |title=Castle Point Borough Council: Tories lose control after nearly 20 years |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-essex-61352214 |access-date=20 May 2022 |work=BBC News}}</ref> Despite holding all the council's seats between them following the 2024 election, the two parties agreed to continue to form a joint administration.<ref>{{cite web |title=Power sharing arrangements agreed |url=https://www.castlepoint.gov.uk/news/power-sharing-arrangements-agreed-2896/ |website=Castle Point Borough Council |date=2 May 2024 |access-date=4 July 2024}}</ref>

The first election to the council was held in 1973, initially operating as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities until the new arrangements came into effect on 1 April 1974. Political control of the council since 1974 has been as follows:<ref name=compositions>{{cite web |title=Compositions Calculator |url=https://www.electionscentre.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/composition_calc.html |access-date=21 May 2025 |website=The Elections Centre |publisher=University of Exeter}} (Put "Castle Point" in search box to see specific results.)</ref><ref name="vote2014">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/councils/E07000069|title=Castle Point|work=[[BBC News Online]]|access-date=27 July 2014}}</ref><ref name="defector">{{cite news|title=Defector gives power back to Conservatives|last=Mansfield|first=Katie|date=5 November 2014|work=[[The Echo (Essex)|The Echo]]|publisher=[[NewsBank]]}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!colspan="2"|Party in control!!Years
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}} || 1974–1976
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || 1976–1995
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}} || 1995–2003
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || 2003–2014
|-
| {{Party name with colour|No overall control}} || 2014–2014
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || 2014–2022
|-
| {{Party name with colour|No overall control}} || 2022–2024
|-
| {{Party name with colour|The People's Independent Party|full=yes}} || 2024–present
|}

===Leadership===
The role of mayor is largely ceremonial in Castle Point. Political leadership is instead provided by the [[leader of the council]]. The leaders since 2014 have been:

{| class=wikitable
! Councillor !! colspan=2|Party !! From !! To
|-
| Pam Challis<ref>{{cite news |last1=Weinfass |first1=Ian |title=Pam Challis loses seat as Castle Point falls from Tory control |url=https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/local_news/11232001.pam-challis-loses-seat-as-castle-point-falls-from-tory-control/ |access-date=30 May 2025 |work=Basildon Canvey Southend Echo |date=23 May 2014}}</ref> || {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || || align=right|May 2014
|-
| Colin Riley<ref>{{cite web |title=Council minutes, 4 June 2014 |url=https://www.castlepoint.gov.uk/download.cfm?doc=docm93jijm4n1856.pdf&ver=3727 |website=Castle Point Borough Council |access-date=30 May 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Local Election 2018: Tories gain on Castle Point Council with Canvey coup |url=https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/16204478.local-election-2018-tories-gain-castle-point-council-canvey-coup/ |access-date=30 May 2025 |work=Basildon Canvey Southend Echo |date=4 May 2018}}</ref> || {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || align=right|4 Jun 2014 || align=right|May 2018
|-
| Norman Smith<ref>{{cite web |title=Council minutes, 16 May 2018 |url=https://www.castlepoint.gov.uk/download.cfm?doc=docm93jijm4n3637.pdf&ver=6109 |website=Castle Point Borough Council |access-date=30 May 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Critchell |first1=Matthew |title=Castle Point Council: Boss steps down over "pressing business demands" |url=https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/19161483.castle-point-council-boss-steps-pressing-business-demands/ |access-date=30 May 2025 |work=Basildon Canvey Southend Echo |date=15 March 2021}}</ref> || {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || align=right|16 May 2018 || align=right|15 Mar 2021
|-
| Jeffrey Stanley<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gidden |first1=Alex |title=Local elections 2021: Updates from counts at Basildon and Castle Point |url=https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/19286012.local-elections-2021-updates-counts-basildon-castle-point/ |access-date=30 May 2025 |work=Basildon Canvey Southend Echo |date=7 May 2021}}</ref> || {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || align=right|15 Mar 2021 || align=right|May 2021
|-
| Andrew Sheldon<ref>{{cite web |title=Council minutes, 19 May 2021 |url=https://www.castlepoint.gov.uk/download.cfm?doc=docm93jijm4n6193.pdf&ver=10020 |website=Castle Point Borough Council |access-date=30 May 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=O'Brien |first1=Christy |title=Castle Point council elections: Tories lose control |url=https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/20119951.castle-point-council-elections-tories-lose-control/ |access-date=30 May 2025 |work=Basildon Canvey Southend Echo |date=6 May 2022}}</ref> || {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || align=right|19 May 2021 || align=right|May 2022
|-
| Dave Blackwell<ref>{{cite web |title=Council minutes, 18 May 2022 |url=https://www.castlepoint.gov.uk/download.cfm?doc=docm93jijm4n6724.pdf&ver=11344 |website=Castle Point Borough Council |access-date=30 May 2025}}</ref> || {{Party name with colour|Canvey Island Independent Party|full=yes}} || align=right|18 May 2022 ||
|}

===Composition===
Following the [[2024 Castle Point Borough Council election|2024 election]],<ref>{{cite news |title=Castle Point election result |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election/2024/england/councils/E07000069 |access-date=4 July 2024 |work=BBC News}}</ref> and a subsequent by-election in May 2025 the composition of the council was:<ref>{{cite news |last1=Spriggs |first1=Peter |title=Reform UK capture first Castle Point seat in by-election |url=https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/25202137.reform-uk-capture-first-castle-point-seat-by-election/ |access-date=30 May 2025 |work=Basildon Canvey Southend Echo |date=30 May 2025}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
! colspan=2| Party !! Councillors
|-
| {{Party name with colour|The People's Independent Party|full=yes}} || align=center|24
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Canvey Island Independent Party|full=yes}} || align=center|14
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Reform UK|full=yes}} || align=center|1
|-
! colspan=2|Total !! 39
|}

Notably, Castle Point is currently the only council in England where no seat is held by the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]], the [[Conservative Party (UK)| Conservatives]], the [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]] or the [[Green Party of England and Wales|Green Party]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Poole |first1=Cameron |title=Castle Point Council: Independents win at this year's election |url=https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/24298425.castle-point-council-independents-win-years-election/ |access-date=4 July 2024 |work=Canvey Echo |date=3 May 2024}}</ref> The next election is due in 2026.<ref>{{cite web |title=Local authority, combined authority, and county combined authority election cycles in England |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/election-timetable-in-england/election-timetable-in-england |website=gov.uk |access-date=26 May 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Castle Point |url=https://www.localcouncils.co.uk/councils/?council=castle_point |website=Local Councils |publisher=Thorncliffe |access-date=30 May 2025}}</ref>

===Premises===
The council is based at the Council Offices on Kiln Road in Thundersley.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.castlepoint.gov.uk/contact-us/|title=Contact us|publisher=Castle Point Borough Council|access-date=23 October 2022}}</ref> The building was built in 1962 as the headquarters of the former Benfleet Urban District Council.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Downer |first1=John |last2=Gamble |first2=Eileen |title=The Official Guides to Benfleet Urban District Council |url=https://www.benfleethistory.org.uk/content/browse-articles/memorabilia_and_souvenirs/official-guides-to-benfleet-urban-district-council/the-official-guides-to-benfleet-urban-district-council-2 |website=Benfleet Community Archive |access-date=3 June 2023}}</ref>

==Elections==
{{also|Castle Point Borough Council elections}}
Since the last boundary changes in 2024, the council has comprised 39 [[councillor]]s representing 13 [[wards and electoral divisions of the United Kingdom|wards]], with each ward electing three councillors. Elections are held every four years.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The Borough of Castle Point (Electoral Changes) Order 2023|year=2023|number=799|access-date=4 July 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Meyler |first1=Piers |title=Council agrees change in voting system |url=https://www.essexlive.news/news/essex-news/council-agrees-change-voting-system-9078849 |access-date=9 April 2024 |work=Essex Live |date=5 February 2024}}</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:Canvey Island from the air - geograph.org.uk - 2368316.jpg|thumb|[[Canvey Island]], one of the towns of the borough]]
The national land use tables published by [[Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government|MHCLG]] show that in 2017, 56.6% of the borough was covered by green spaces including agriculture, forest and open land, water and outdoor recreation spaces. Close to one-fifth (18.2%) was accounted for by residential gardens.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-land-use|title=Live tables on land use|website=GOV.UK|language=en|access-date=2019-05-31}}</ref> 

===Climate===
Climate in this area has mild differences between highs and lows, but despite adequate rainfall all year-round it is on average the driest part of the UK.  The [[Köppen Climate Classification]] subtype for this climate is "[[Köppen climate classification#Group C: Temperate/mesothermal climates|Cfb]]" (Marine West Coast Climate/[[Oceanic climate]]).<ref>[http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=591046&cityname=Castle+Point%2C+England%2C+United+Kingdom&units= Climate Summary for Castle Point]</ref>
{{Weather box
|location = Castle Point
|single line = Yes
|metric first = Yes
|Jan high C = 8
|Feb high C = 8
|Mar high C = 11
|Apr high C = 13
|May high C = 17
|Jun high C = 20
|Jul high C = 22
|Aug high C = 22
|Sep high C = 19
|Oct high C = 15
|Nov high C = 11
|Dec high C = 8
|year high C = 15
|Jan low C = 3
|Feb low C = 3
|Mar low C = 4
|Apr low C = 5
|May low C = 8
|Jun low C = 11
|Jul low C = 14
|Aug low C = 14
|Sep low C = 11
|Oct low C = 9
|Nov low C = 5
|Dec low C = 3
|year low C = 8
|Jan precipitation mm = 46
|Feb precipitation mm =35
|Mar precipitation mm = 41
|Apr precipitation mm = 38
|May precipitation mm = 33
|Jun precipitation mm = 33
|Jul precipitation mm = 30
|Aug precipitation mm = 30
|Sep precipitation mm = 36
|Oct precipitation mm = 41
|Nov precipitation mm = 41
|Dec precipitation mm = 41
|year precipitation mm = 445
|source 1 = Weatherbase <ref name=Weatherbase>
{{cite web
|url =http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather.php3?s=591046&cityname=Castle-Point-England|title =Weatherbase: Historical Weather for Castle Point
|publisher=Weatherbase
|year=2013
}}
Retrieved on April 19, 2013.
</ref>
|date=April 2013
}}

==Demography==
The median age of Castle Point's residents at the [[United Kingdom Census 2011|2011 census]] was 45, compared to a regional average of 39 and national average of 40.<ref name=cen>[http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=7&b=6275049&c=castle+point&d=13&e=62&g=6423561&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1417450940590&enc=1&dsFamilyId=2474 (Key Statistics: Age Structure)] [[United Kingdom Census 2011|2011 census]] Retrieved 2014-12-01</ref>

Castle Point has several estates laid out as [[seaside resorts]] for retirement, which is reflected in 7% of its population at the time of the 2011 census being aged 75 to 84, compared to 5.5% nationally.<ref name=cen/>

==Transport==
[[File:South Benfleet Shops - geograph.org.uk - 1600424.jpg|thumb|[[South Benfleet]], one of the towns of the borough]]
The [[A13 road (Great Britain)|A13]] crosses Castle Point and the [[A127 road|A127]] skirts it to the north, providing direct links to both [[Southend]] and London.

The only station in the borough is [[Benfleet railway station]] on the [[London, Tilbury and Southend line]] from [[Fenchurch Street railway station|London Fenchurch Street]] to [[Shoeburyness railway station|Shoeburyness]], operated by [[c2c]].

Castle Point has an extensive bus network operated by the [[First Essex]] and [[Arriva Shires & Essex]], with services across the borough and to [[Southend]], [[Basildon]], [[Lakeside Shopping Centre]] and [[Rayleigh, Essex|Rayleigh]]. Weekday services by Stephensons of Essex also travel to London, Southend and [[Thurrock]] College and Regal Busways offers a six-day-a-week service to [[Chelmsford]].

==Economy==
''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' reported that economic output of jobs in Castle Point in 2022 was 59% of the national average, the lowest urban council area in England, by the 'Gross Value Added per Workforce Job' statistical measure. A third of jobs were part-time, above the England average of 23%, and many of the jobs were in the retail sector. The population has more retired people than average, 26% over age 65 compared to 19% in England at the last census, and the district's population has the second lowest rate in England of degree level qualification at 18.5%.<ref name=telegraph-20250430>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/jobs/least-productive-town-in-england-castle-point/ |title=The least productive town in England, where full-time work is a pipe dream |last=Corfe |first=Ollie |website=The Telegraph |location=London |url-access=subscription |date=30 April 2025 |access-date=1 May 2025}}</ref>

In 1959, Canvey Island received UK's first shipment of [[liquefied natural gas]] and [[Canvey Island#Petrochemical industry|was once a petrochemical industry hub]], but that has reduced to two storage sites remaining. Large employer [[DP World London Gateway]] is nearby the district, but travel to there is difficult due to [[Holehaven Creek]].<ref name=telegraph-20250430/>

==Sport and community facilities==
Waterside Farm Sports Centre, on Canvey Island is set in {{convert|88|acre|ha}} of parkland and has a range of indoor and outdoor facilities, including a 25-metre swimming pool, a learner pool and facilities for badminton, squash, netball, basketball, trampolining and gymnastics. The centre also includes an outdoor 6 lane, 400-metre athletics track. Opposite the sports centre is the Castle Point Golf Course, an 18-hole par 71 public pay-and-play course with a 17-bay floodlit driving range.<ref>{{cite web |title=Castle Point Leisure |url=https://www.castlepoint.gov.uk/leisure&a=1 |access-date=3 June 2023}}</ref>

Runnymede Pool is situated behind the Council Offices in Kiln Road. It has a 25-metre pool and a learner pool and is home to Runnymede Swimming Club.<ref>{{cite web |title=Runnymede Swimming Club |url=https://runnymedeswimmingclub.com/ |access-date=3 June 2023}}</ref>

==Twinning==
Castle Point is twinned with three towns and counties:<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.castlepoint.gov.uk/Category.asp?cat=455 |title=Castlepoint Borough Council |access-date=2019-01-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120207141527/http://www.castlepoint.gov.uk/Category.asp?cat=455 |archive-date=2012-02-07 |url-status=dead }}</ref> 
* [[Romainville]], a north-eastern Paris suburb, since 30 March 1962.
* [[Cologne]] District, Germany. Formally since 19 June 1971 when Lövenich (now part of Cologne) was an independent town.
* [[County Roscommon]], [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]]. Twinned with Castle Point council in April 1998.

==Places of interest==
[[File:Dutch Cottage Museum at Castle Point.jpg|thumb|Dutch Cottage Museum]]
[[Hadleigh Castle]] is preserved as an ancient monument from the 13th century, forming the most important historic site in the borough and the most important late medieval castle in Essex. The Dutch Cottage Museum contains a variety of exhibits that illustrate the history of Canvey Island, and the Castle Point Transport Museum, also situated on Canvey in the retired District bus depot, features a display of over thirty old buses, coaches and commercial vehicles.

==Arms==
{{Infobox COA wide
|escutcheon = Per chevron embattled per pale Gules and Vert and barry wavy Argent and Azure in chief two ancient crowns Or and in base on a lozenge Vert a mound of earth issuant from its base and thereon a representation of a Canvey Island Dutch cottage Proper.
|crest =  On a wreath Or Gules and Vert within a circlet of oyster shells Proper and between two stalks of wheat leaved Or a tower triple towered Gold.
|motto = Societas Florebit (Fellowship Will Blossom)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://civicheraldry.co.uk/east_of_england.html |title=East of England Region |accessdate=8 March 2021 |publisher=Civic Heraldry of England}}</ref>
|notes = Granted 30 September 1987.}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.castlepoint.gov.uk Castle Point Borough Council Home Page]
{{Commons category|Borough of Castle Point|Castle Point}}

{{Essex}}
{{East_of_England}}

[[Category:Castle Point| ]]
[[Category:Non-metropolitan districts of Essex]]
[[Category:Boroughs in England]]