A PROTEST will take place tonight ahead of a council meeting where controversial plans for the £10million refurbishment will be discussed. 

Residents are planning to protest outside the council offices tonight at 6.30pm ahead of the meeting. 

A motion has been tabled ahead of the meeting that could see the plans scrapped completely. 

The plans have come under significant criticism since they were announced. 

In March, the Gazette revealed that the extension to the council’s civic HQ will be partly built on a small park next to the current civic building dedicated to the memory of D-Day planners.

A plaque was placed in Mulberry Square in June 1994 and an unveiling ceremony took place.

While in April, Sadik Alakirik, owner of the popular Angel Cafe in New Road in Grays, launched a petition in a bid to block the plans.

His business is one of several which is facing demolition to make way for the expansion. 

The Gazette also revealed this week that more than £500,000 has already been spent on the plans, despite the plans not having planning permission and no business case produced so far.