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Residents fume at campus approval

7:40am Thursday 9th February 2012 in News

RESIDENTS have reacted angrily to the news plans for a new college campus in Grays town centre have been approved by Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation.

Ray Abbott, from Woodview, who has been campaigning against the proposal since plans were revealed last September, said: “It is disgusting.

“It was diabolical and we still have not got any answers to our questions.

“We cannot appeal the decision, but we can raise some money to try to prove the decision-making process was flawed and illegal.”

Mr Abbott handed in a 2,221-signature petition to Thurrock Council last month opposing the new campus and plans to tear down the current South Essex College site, building 362 homes in its place.

He added: “Everyone we have spoken to from Grays, Tilbury and Chadwell St Mary is against the plans.

“We all think the campus is better off where it is and we even suggested building the new college there, but we were told it is not fit for purpose and is not in the right location.

“We will have a meeting with all the residents to decide what to do next.”

Little Thurrock Blackshots councillor Joy Redsell has also spoken out after she was refused permission to talk about the application at the meeting.

She was told less than two hours before the meeting she could not speak.

She said: “This is outrageous and to me it illustrates the contempt this unelected quango (the Development Corporation) has for local democracy.

“If the college does move to Grays we all hope it will be successful, but it is important the voices of councillors and residents are heard.

“I was not even told why I had been prevented from speaking.”

Comments(21)

Educator51 says...
10:14am Thu 9 Feb 12

I am astonished this is going ahead, clearly the arrogance of local government towards its constituency is astonishing and unacceptable. If the current location of the college is not suitable how it is Palmers College is thriving?
Maybe it’s because it’s not hampered with inept, incompetent management.
Not too long ago plans were put forward for the redevelopment of both the Basildon and Woodview sites and founding only pulled because of the over spend of the incompetent management of the Learning Skills Council (LSC) which left many colleges in limbo throughout the country. So why is it not such a good Idea now?
Having worked in a number of new build colleges sited in or near town centres and having seen firsthand the many issues that outweigh the benefits of Town Centre sited Colleges least of all Parking, road infrastructure and disruption to retailers (Ask local retailers at the Southend Campus). I’m supprised this development was not shown the waste paper bin from the outset.
Location and surroundings do not improve a learner’s ability to learn, that comes from within and the self motivation to learn.
Maybe it’s time for a vote of no confidence and the immediate resignation of planning Officer Kirsty Towler as there is a clear disregard for the local residence.
Having sold a college merger on becoming a college of excellence and showing a very poor performance in last week’s Ofstead Richard Launder (Chair of the corporation) and John Hayes (Acting Principle) should also consider resignation.

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Cvh says...
11:06am Thu 9 Feb 12

Anything TBC gets its sticky claws into turns to sh*t

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thurrock_citizen says...
12:51pm Thu 9 Feb 12

TBC is a real joke. lets be honest here. more houses means more council tax plus the land fee's for selling the land. With all these new developments planned which by 2020 will increase Thurrock by over 20,000 new homes. were are the school places? hospitals? doctors? dentists?. and the vast majority will not be purchased by local people, will be even more for london I bet.. I hope everyone thinks about there vote at the next election, we need a council that will protect this borough not wreck it the way they TBC have been doing.

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Bernard 87 says...
2:41pm Thu 9 Feb 12

"we need a council that will protect this borough not wreck it"

I couldn't agree more.

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Dave_ says...
3:23pm Thu 9 Feb 12

“we all hope it will be successful” … what a stupid thing to say, it will be successful as the kids will have nowhere else to go and massaging of figures combined with simplistic courses will engineer “good” results, thus insinuating success.

As for a wrecking council, this was founded in the 30 years preceding 2004, when we had continual Labour councils. When one group get power for so long, they just stumble along, getting evermore complacent under the belief that what they are doing is right. However this directly linked to complacent voting by generations who thought we live in Thurrock so we must be working class and so we must vote Labour.

As for the TGDC, councillors will miss this as it’s one less gravy train.

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d_2da_ougle says...
3:26pm Thu 9 Feb 12

got to love the way this is all being put forward by the gazette, (residents disapproval at campus approval being build in grays) the real issue is the building of 300 plus houses on the old woodview, whilst i think the campus moving to grays is on ly a posotive thing for students and the town center a like, i do not agree with a esetate the size of the garrisons just popping up somewhere just for the fun of it, the council dont listen to the residents that live around there, i think a suitable comprimise would bee to build half the amounts of hhouses requested on the side of the side closest to chadwell and for them to landscape the other half closet to the woodview residents, this would show the council listen to their residents it just seems they have gone this is what were doing and sod any of what you have to say about it

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Cvh says...
3:48pm Thu 9 Feb 12

More houses = more council tax thats what its really about comrade kent and his mob get richer simples

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improving road safety says...
4:20pm Thu 9 Feb 12

With regards to the outstanding and ongoing road safety problem around the two North Grays Colleges at various times of the day roads from Grays, Tilbury and Chadwell are congested causing a road safety hazard, that’s without mentioning the illegal car sales taking up parking slots, moving the new build Thurrock Tec to Grays now make common sense, what does concern me is what will be the safe route for the double Decker buses to get the students to the new College? Grays one-way system is grid locked most of the time during the school run!
Sadly I still think the argument is about house prices!

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thurrock_citizen says...
4:59pm Thu 9 Feb 12

improving road safety wrote:
With regards to the outstanding and ongoing road safety problem around the two North Grays Colleges at various times of the day roads from Grays, Tilbury and Chadwell are congested causing a road safety hazard, that’s without mentioning the illegal car sales taking up parking slots, moving the new build Thurrock Tec to Grays now make common sense, what does concern me is what will be the safe route for the double Decker buses to get the students to the new College? Grays one-way system is grid locked most of the time during the school run!
Sadly I still think the argument is about house prices!
I dont think the council is really worried about road safety. the collages are full of grown adults unlike the school at the bottom of the hill (Gateway) which is not only going to be a secondary school, but also a primary school. having little children walking to that school is were the real safety concerns should be. the comments early about labour being voted in... I seem to remember the tories getting the vote but the councillor changing sides to labour. I don't trust any of the councillors tbh.

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Bernard 87 says...
8:27am Fri 10 Feb 12

Labour councils are used to imposing whatever they want on the electorate, especially housing so I can't say that I'm surprised by this decision considering Thurrocks long association with Labour. Labour are doing what they do best - ignore everyones opinion which differs from their own as they know whats best.

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WTF100 says...
9:13am Fri 10 Feb 12

This has been approved because the majority of arguments against it are flawed. It's a bunch of NIMBYs who are
simply worried about house prices. A town centre location is better for the MAJORITY of people not just the few who happen to live near the campus. I'm all for the plans and I support the building of quality family sized houses on the old site. But the campaigners conveniently just survey those who share their opinions.

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Bernard 87 says...
10:22am Fri 10 Feb 12

To be worried about your neighbourhood and your house price declining is not being a nimby. Its showing that you actually care about your community. The problem with the Woodview plan is that while some may say moving a college into the town centre will increase footfall Grays and may help give businesses a boost (and better public transport links), residents of Woodview do not want a massive estate of houses (or more likely flats) built on open fields. If the developers came to the table with a plan which was for 150-200 large family homes with big gardens and a green buffer between the existing houses and the new estate then there would be less objection. The problem with housing development is that the houses tend to be small and plans always consist of tons of flat. An even better winner would be to build the new houses in the style of what is already there to help them blend in a bit better.

I would rather concentrate large scale house building in Purfleet and making sure that the area is transformed into a pleasant town while making sure smaller plans are in keeping with their surroundings and are mainly houses.

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Educator51 says...
10:24am Fri 10 Feb 12

WTF100
What do you base your opinion on?
Why will a college in the middle of Grays Town Centre be of benefit to the Majority?

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WTF100 says...
5:13pm Fri 10 Feb 12

Educator51, The clue is in the word 'centre' i.e. central, easy to get to for everyone particularly by public transport. The high number of students quoted as attending the current campus by car is an indication its location is of benefit only to a privileged few who can afford cars and not a reason to keep it where it is.

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A.N.Other says...
11:01pm Fri 10 Feb 12

I feel very sorry for Ray Abbott because his two local conservative councillors are campaigning with him against these plans but they have forgotten to mention that they have both already voted for it to be council policy for the site to be released for housing. I hope he ask them how they can pretend to oppose these plans when they have both voted for the site to be demolished and sold off to property developers for a massive housing estate.

How can councillor Joy Redsell be against these plans when she has already voted twice for the site to be sold off for houses?

Wake up Ray Abbott and Woodview residents you councillors have betrayed you and now pull the wool over your eyes by pretending to be against the very plans they have already voted for twice.

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improving road safety says...
9:32am Sat 11 Feb 12

I agree with A.N.Other, my wife and I also feel sorry for all of the residents of Woodside North Grays that have been misled by their two Conservative councilors, how two faced can some councillors be, but wait. all councillors know that over time the bad feelings regarding important planning decision will soon be forgotten and at the next local election the same residents that signed the 2,221 petition and made a protest at the Thurrock council offices in New road will still be marking an X on the voting papers of the same councilors that have let them down, I think its time to get a petition going to change your councillors, it wont be long before they are out and about knocking on your door! by the way, just heard on the BBC news that some councils in the country want to introduce prayer meeting in the chamber before committees starts. WHAT.

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Mrs J says...
12:44pm Mon 13 Feb 12

Lets face it everything that has happened in the borough has wrecked it!!! All the lovely places that were here have been torn down for the sake of "Progress" Money grabbing is what this is about - has the builder who is building the houses given an nice new something for the borough - like the ones who paid for the campus on Chafford so that they could have the better land where they wanted it! I for one will never go to college in the middle of the town centre - I'm scared to go down there in daylight - yet alone an evening of study in a frightening place!!! I have lived in the borough all my life and am too scared to venture to town!!!! well what's left of it. LEAVE OUR COLLEGE ALONE!

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Dave_ says...
2:28pm Mon 13 Feb 12

WTF100
There are buses that run to Lodge Lane (stopping at King Edward Drive) and Chadwell Road (Palmer’s), so there is plenty of opportunity for using public transport for the current location.
The fact people use cars is a sign of the times and also down to the fact public transport is over-priced and inflexible.
Given that the current loction is 4 or 5 times bigger than the new site, displays a complete disregard by SEC for the potential for expansion at Woodview. It may also show how funding for education works in this country, ie get it for new, but not for redesigning and expanding an existing site. If this new college is as wonderful and successful as they say and they need to expand it in a few years, where on earth will it expand to and will they get the money to do it, or do they abandon it and build new somewhere else where there is more immediately available room?
Then there is Grays town centre … enough said on this though as being unsuitable.

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Bernard 87 says...
2:50pm Mon 13 Feb 12

Not to mention the masses of outdoor space which will be lost and will go under concrete in Woodview.

I just cannot see students regenerating Grays town centre.

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d_2da_ougle says...
12:45pm Tue 14 Feb 12

where will it go when it needs to expand my young boy the awnser to that will be upwards untill it looks like them lovly 3 little tower blocks next door to said building, lets face it grays does need a push in the right direction you could currently set a bomb off down there and it would be reported in the gazette as the bonb has caused 1 million pounds of improvements as opposed to damaged

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Bernard 87 says...
10:37am Wed 15 Feb 12

Its unlikely that they would build upwards. Expansion would have to mean opening a new building somewhere else in the town.

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