Anti-market campaigners: Our joy (From Thurrock Gazette)

Anti-market campaigners: Our joy

7:40am Thursday 29th November 2012 in News

Campaigners against the plan outside the council offices before the decision

OPPONENTS to the Corringham Market plan cried and cheered with relief as Thurrock Council’s planning committee chairman Cllr Terry Hipsey confirmed last week that planning permission for the market had been refused.

A campaign against the market saw 1,500 people sign a petition. The council also received a deluge of letters from supporters and opponents.

Deborah Stewart, who owns the Do It Yourself Centre in the town centre, gave an impassioned speech to councillors.

She said: “No where in the borough is there a market in such a highly residential place.

“Planning considers this a commercial area, but to those who live here, it’s residential first and conveniently has shops to support it.

“OMG know you don’t put a market in somebody’s front garden, it’s immoral. But that’s exactly what it proposed.”

Emma Keast, who owns Cranberries, said there is a “huge sense of relief”.

She said: “The bottom line is that the community and residents didn’t want the market. People who know the town realise that it isn’t right.”

Responding to news of the refusal on the OMG Facebook page, which is “liked” by 550 people, a number registered their disappointment permission had been refused.

Cass Everett, of Stanford-le-Hope, said: “Sorry to hear that, such a shame.”

Helen Emmett, also of Stanford-le-Hope, said: “That’s a real shame. I think it would have been a positive change for Corringham town centre.”