Thurrock Council sets meeting date in August for future of Frost Estate 'parish council'

Speaking at Wednesday's full council meeting, Council Leader John Kent said a decision had to be taken before September, but that meetings with interested parties should be held first.

He explained that although the state of the estate’s privately-owned roads was the main issue “when this council decides whether or not a parish council should be created, the questions we have to ask ourselves – by law - are not to do with the roads, but first and foremost it is whether or not a parish council will enhance community cohesion there”.

He said: “I was at a really good meeting at East Thurrock United’s ground in Corringham where around 200 people were there wanting to have their say.”

“When I spoke towards the end of that meeting I said I would try to arrange a coming together of minds from the various interested parties so we could thrash out the issues and, just maybe, come to an amicable agreement.

“But joining together the diaries of three local council leaders, five local councillors and the spokespeople for the various groups on the Frost Estate is not proving easy.”

Cllr Kent said: “I still believe it is the best way forward so I have spoken to the mayor and she has agreed that instead of discussing this proposal at next month’s meeting of the council we hold a special council meeting in August.

“This one-issue meeting with standing orders suspended, should allow all interested parties to have their say and be heard directly by those with the final say – the councillors of Thurrock.

“It will also give us an extra four weeks or so to make sure as many people as possible can get to the discussions.”

Cllr Kent concluded: “I am not guaranteeing success, I’m simply doing all I can to find an agreeable way forward for all involved … and still giving Thurrock Council enough time to make its decision on a parish council before the September deadline.”

The date of the August council meeting will be announced later.