Potton Island
Encyclopedia
Potton Island is a sparsely populated island
west of Foulness
in Essex
, England
. It is connected to the mainland by a bridge with a traffic light system, and the road leads to Great Wakering
.
Unlike some of the other nearby islands which were formerly marshland, Potton Island has been inhabited at least since the Neolithic
era. It was home to several arable farms until it flooded in 1884, leading to its temporary abandonment and longer term use as pasture
. The island was reclaimed in the 1940s but some time after being acquired by the Ministry of Defence
in 1955 it reverted to pasture. It has recently been disclosed (June 2005) that Potton Island was considered by the UK government in the 1980s or 1990s as a potential long term storage site for high level nuclear waste. Local government (Southend-on-Sea Borough Council) subsequently expressed their surprise and concern that they had not been party to any consultation on the matter.
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
west of Foulness
Foulness
Foulness is an island on the east coast of Essex in England, which is separated from the mainland by narrow creeks. The large island had a usually resident population of 212 people in the 2001 census, who live in the settlements of Churchend and Courtsend, at the north end of Foulness. The island...
in Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It is connected to the mainland by a bridge with a traffic light system, and the road leads to Great Wakering
Great Wakering
Great Wakering is a village in Essex, England. The nearest large town is Southend which is approximately four miles to the west of the village...
.
Unlike some of the other nearby islands which were formerly marshland, Potton Island has been inhabited at least since the Neolithic
Neolithic
The Neolithic Age, Era, or Period, or New Stone Age, was a period in the development of human technology, beginning about 9500 BC in some parts of the Middle East, and later in other parts of the world. It is traditionally considered as the last part of the Stone Age...
era. It was home to several arable farms until it flooded in 1884, leading to its temporary abandonment and longer term use as pasture
Pasture
Pasture is land used for grazing. Pasture lands in the narrow sense are enclosed tracts of farmland, grazed by domesticated livestock, such as horses, cattle, sheep or swine. The vegetation of tended pasture, forage, consists mainly of grasses, with an interspersion of legumes and other forbs...
. The island was reclaimed in the 1940s but some time after being acquired by the Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)
The Ministry of Defence is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces....
in 1955 it reverted to pasture. It has recently been disclosed (June 2005) that Potton Island was considered by the UK government in the 1980s or 1990s as a potential long term storage site for high level nuclear waste. Local government (Southend-on-Sea Borough Council) subsequently expressed their surprise and concern that they had not been party to any consultation on the matter.