A THIRD road off Canvey is a must if a major fuel storage facility is to expand, council bosses have insisted.

Bosses behind Oikos, Haven Road, Canvey are planning to expand the storage facility from 290,000 m3 up to about 600,000 m3.

But Castle Point Council says a third road must be included in these plans which are set to be put to Government.

Norman Smith, Tory council leader said: “We will be making a case for additional road improvements that will be needed.

“We will be asking for a third road off Canvey to go to Stanford-le-Hope.

“As the site has plane fuel it is part of a critical fuel supply and we could be severely impacted if there was a national emergency.

“Our road network is already at full capacity and this could make things worse, if there is an emergency and more and more tankers need to access the fuel on Canvey.

“We know we may not be able to stop this plan going ahead but we can ask for the improvements and new road.

“The road network is not good enough for any additional tankers and traffic that will come with this expansion.

“If a major fuel pipe and or supply went down there would be huge demand on Canvey for the fuel.

“We believe the cost of putting a new road off the island in would be substantial but believe it’s very important for these plans to go ahead.”

The council will be a consultee in the plans that are set to be given to the Government very soon.

The plans involve new giant tanks on the south side of the storage site with new pipes and loading arms to move fuel in and out from the existing jetties.

A new workshop, an office extension, additional road tanker loading bays, and more parking could also be installed.

Bosses previously said this project is really essential in supplying fuel to meet the high jet and diesel demand.

Last November the chemical storage firm bosses held a consultation with residents telling bosses they are worried about traffic, the noise, the visual impact and lighting.

The firm is set to hold another consultation in spring.

Oikos is a nationally significant bulk liquid, oil and fuel import and storage facility.

It has been operating since 1936 on Canvey.

A spokesman for Oikos said: “We are still at an early stage of the development process for this project, and are studying all potential environmental impacts, including traffic.

"As a result, it is too early to comment on specific issues regarding local roads. We are, however, committed to consulting the wider community and stakeholders, including the local highways authorities, as we prepare our proposals, and will listen to their views.”