Council leader defends football club role

7:00am Wednesday 23rd January 2013 in News

THE leader of Thurrock Council has been forced to clarify his role at a football club bidding to buy a popular sports and social club in Corringham.

Cllr John Kent is honorary president of East Thurrock United, who are looking at acquiring the Pegasus Club site, which has been left under-threat following the closure of Coryton oil refinery.

Tory councillor Mark Coxshall this week slammed the football club’s plans before joining the Pegasus Club’s committee in questioning the council leader’s role.

Responding to increasing speculation, Cllr Kent said: “If I go and watch local football people will say I am trying to further the position of the club, just like they would if I got involved in a theatre, club or any local organisation.

“I can’t let that sort of accusation get in the way.

“I have removed myself from discussions at every opportunity. Everything has been open and above board.”

The Gazette revealed last week that talks which could lead to a member buy-out will take place at the Pegasus club this weekend after a “substantial bid” by Thames Oil Port, which recently purchased the refinery site, was turned down by administrators in December.

East Thurrock United, who currently play their games at nearby Rookery Hill, are also considering purchasing the club and building a small football stadium while developing the club’s current sports facilities.

The land was included in the council’s local development framework in November, which opened to public consultation last Friday, although the council has stressed it doesn't want to remove the club site from the green belt.

But Cllr Coxshall wants to see the club maintained in its current form.

He said: “Talk of moving the football club to the site is ridiculous. I’m sure the people running the football club would love to build a new stadium on the Pegasus Club’s wonderful grounds, but that would be a disaster.

“I support the ambition of East Thurrock United to move to better facilities, but not at the expense of the Pegasus Club.”

Neil Speight, secretary of East Thurrock United, defended the club’s plans and its president.

He said: “To suggest any impropriety by East Thurrock United FC or John Kent is extremely unfair, untrue and probably actionable were he or we so minded.

“East Thurrock United and, I am sure, John, have no wish to add to the Pegasus Club’s troubles.”

He added: “We do not wish to take over the Pegasus Club, we wish to work with it and secure the future. “However, we are fortunate enough to have access to funding required to purchase the site through our owner.”

To take part in the council’s local development framework consultation and make your views on the matter known, visit www.thurrock.gov.uk/planning/strategic/content.php?page=core_strategy

Comments(14)

A Dermot says...
8:26am Wed 23 Jan 13

Dodgy as hell.

Remember it was only a few months before he was working with the club to try and buy the site while all along he was working with his friends at the football club to get East Thurrock's plans included in the borough's local development plan.

No doubt with Cllr Redsell getting away with all he dodgy dealings then other cuncillors think they can get away doing similar dodgy things.

It is also a joke that Neil Speight defends John Kent. Neil Speight is the editor of the Thurrock Enquirer - a newspaper that exists solely because of its advertising contract with Thurrock Council. You don't bite the hand that feeds you Neil. I wonder what your newspaper will be saying this week about this story?

This whole thing stinks and whether Tory or Labour they are as dodgy as each other when it comes to planning applications

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A Dermot says...
8:28am Wed 23 Jan 13

I might add it is also a joke that Cllr Mark Coxshall slammed East Thurrock FCs plans. Last year he voted for their plans to go forward into the Borough's Local Development Plan. He votes for one thing and says another to Pegasus cub members.

Cllr Mark Coxshall you are a hypocrite.

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lisasargent@btinternet.com says...
11:03am Wed 23 Jan 13

The Corringham Light Railway Project Committee is going to make sure that whoever and whatever happens, Pegasus Club stays to the Thurrock Council boundary.
No-one is going to destroy the track bed that has more history and heritage than any of the companies currently in contention.

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Cvh says...
12:42pm Wed 23 Jan 13

Perhaps he should stand down as council leader until this is resolved

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Paul The Gardener says...
1:32pm Wed 23 Jan 13

So Mr Kent responds as if he's an ETU supporter:
Responding to increasing speculation, Cllr Kent said: “If I go and watch local football people will say I am trying to further the position of the club, just like they would if I got involved in a theatre, club or any local organisation.
But being Honorary President is a bit different to just going to watch the team.But, a word of caution, to ETU supporters.Mr Kent used to 'support' and regularly watch Grays Athletic until very recently.As most football supporters will tell you, a club is for life! So, if he can change his allegiance that quickly who knows how reliable he is!

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luckyforme says...
9:09pm Wed 23 Jan 13

I remember reading in this paper that the Football Club wanted to move to land between the A13 and the old A13 Southend road there are no parking problems, easy access for people coming from all sections of the borough, no schools and no residents to hear the noise what happened to that idea?

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luckyforme says...
9:19pm Wed 23 Jan 13

I have to ask why is the Football club car park sectioned off and people living in containers and caravans causing the roads to be overcrowded with cars that should be in the car park also lorries parked overnight without planning a sensible site for lorry parking at Cawder Hall was refused permission. Would our council leader please comment on the use of the car park at this club

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luckyforme says...
9:38pm Wed 23 Jan 13

It is ironic that a club with the Council Leader as President is allowed to blatantly flout so many planning laws and are it seems not being investigated by the planning enforcement dept.
I would urge anyone considering supporting a move to the Pegasus for this club please go take a look at the filthy mess at the East Thurrock and ask do you want the immaculate Pegasus turned into this eyesore ?

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luckyforme says...
10:09pm Wed 23 Jan 13

I just copied this from an article in this paper cant help wondering why it is applied at one site and yet ignored at East Thurrock .
any councillor have a comment ?
The enforcement action at Cawder Hall Farm will be a big blow to those who think that planning policy can be ignored. As local councillors, we will always defend our community.”

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pheebs says...
10:40am Thu 24 Jan 13

Cannot believe (Well i can ) that the leader of the council is allowed as leader to get put on to so many different commitees and boards with in thurrock this is surely not good for the council reputation,
Mr Kent stood up at the Pegasus club and said he would SUPPORT THE CLUB 100%.
come on Mr Kent where is your support now!!!!!!!
Maybe the Pegasus Club is passionette about the club and this does not involve making huge amounts of money,just supporting all the sports sections and members also the history of the club.

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coddy says...
8:39am Fri 25 Jan 13

You'd think he resign as council leader or president of the footbal club. This is relly dodgy.

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pheebs says...
8:48am Fri 25 Jan 13

perhaps he should stand down from both!

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thurrock-baz says...
1:57pm Fri 25 Jan 13

Perhaps the usual political muck rakers should bog off and find something else to whinge about.

The dinosaurs who run the Pegasus Club as if it was their own personal possesion want things to remain as they are for evermore, sadly that aint going to happen.

As I see it the Football Club expressed an interest in buying the Peg basically to save it from extintion, and to maintain something of a statur quo as far as the current Peg members and facilities are concerned.

Surely there are enough level headed Pegasus members who live in the real world, who might encourage some dialogue with East Thurrock United.

Otherwise I fear I can hear the bulldozers revving up already.

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luckyforme says...
9:14pm Sat 26 Jan 13

I would say that the people at the Pegasus are concerned what the leader of the council and the management of the Football Club intend to do with the people that are presently living in containers and caravans at East Thurrock Football Club will they move them all to the Pegasus Club will they fence off the car park for them to live there as they have at the Football Club are the residents of Herd Lane going to get 50 new nieghbours or will they put more of them in the grounds of the lake with the ones they have in there currently ? It is clearly time that Mr Kent stood up at a council meeting and gave a clear and honest answer as to why these activities are carried out at premises that he is representing.

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