I’M sure by now most of your readers have heard of our success in winning the appeal and public enquiry into a proposal to build 280 houses between Thurrock park and Asda Tilbury.

Clearly this is a victory not only for local residents, but I hope for all residents of Thurrock and sends a clear message that if you fight for something that you think is right then you can win and overcome many obstacles.

I hope this gives cause for all residents of Thurrock to be more determined if you think there is a wrong being done.

We accept more housing will need to be built in Thurrock, but we contest that the land in question is not only unsuitable for development as it has greenbelt status and in the same area we have already lost so much open land with Amazon, Travis Perkins and the lorry park, but it is in reality a flood plain, and within yards of the A1089 which always has heavy traffic and a highly air polluted area, so it’s hardly suitable for residential development.

In addition, given the type of land this is, it would require substantial levelling out of the land with all the negative impacts this would bring to the local population including foundation piling causing unbearable noise, and serious concerns on the impact of the infrastructure with much “filling in” materials having to be transported by HGVs.

I know some people have concerns about people moving from London to here in the last 10 years but this isn’t new! However, we do need a proper and strategic vision for the area.

Yes Thurrock may not be perfect, but it is a borough that has very low unemployment rates, a borough where heavy investment has taken place, a borough that has a rich diversity and history and only this week we are celebrating the Windrush story where Tilbury Riverside played host to an excellent exhibition organised by the Port of Tilbury.

Above all it is a borough where clearly many people want to live, but that doesn’t mean to say all of this should be at the expense of trying to build on land that is unsuitable.

However just to clear up a few facts as I see much on social media that is incorrect.

The original planning application was rejected by the elected council planning committee in June 2017.

It was rejected with a majority, and I would like to thank the planning committee and all the councillors irrespective of political colours for declining the application even though the council officers gave a recommendation to build, so to me this proves we have good checks and balances and the elected councillors demonstrated true democracy and doing their job by going against the planning department’s recommendations.

The local people won a clear victory, and I would like to thank all the members of the Thurrock Park residents committee for all there help, and a massive thank you to all residents locally by objecting to the original application, some of whom attended and addressed the public enquiry, many who signed the petitions who live in all parts of Thurrock and beyond, as well as councillor Rob Gledhill and councillor Bucky Okunade for their support in also objecting to the application, and finally to the Thurrock Gazette in highlighting and reporting on this event as each stage progressed.

I can only hope going forward, those in the position of authority and power think hard where to “approve “ any upcoming housing developments ensuring they are in the right areas, have the right infrastructure and with a futuristic view for Thurrock.

I’m sure many decisions won’t be easy or please everybody, but it is important public opinion is heard and listened to as well.

TONY COUGLIN

Chair, Thurrock Park Residents Committee