POLITICAL rivals of Thurrock Council housing portfolio holder Cllr Barry Johnson have ridiculed his credibility and described his performance as 'utterly disgraceful'.

Thurrock Nub News reported yesterday (Wednesday, 3 June) on a decision by Cllr Johnson to scrap consideration of building new council homes on another two of the sites council officers had identified as having potential for development.

Today the decision to remove Derry Avenue, Humber Avenue and Garron Lane green spaces in Ockendon from the list of sites for possible housing development was welcomed by residents who have campaigned against the idea.

Cllr Johnson acted after being lobbied by many residents, including receipt of a petition.

Resident Ruth Clapham, one of many to oppose the schemes, summed up local feeling by saying: "I'm delighted to see Cllr Johnson has climbed down from destroying our green spaces. Residents have fought really hard to make sure these plans were defeated and they've won."

And Labour councillor Lynn Worrall, who chairs the council's housing overview and scrutiny committee and has vehemently opposed a significant number of the sites earmarked as possibilities for development, tore into Cllr Johnson – not the first time the two have clashed on this subject.

She said: "This housing development list is in tatters. Every time Cllr Johnson comes under a bit of pressure he removes a site.

"This is no way to plan housebuilding in Thurrock. Scaring residents that they'll lose their houses and greens spaces, then scrapping his own plans and telling residents that it was he who saved them rather than admitting to proposing them in the first place is utterly disgraceful."

"He has u-turned on five sites since February. That's nearly 200 houses of his 500 planned builds no longer going ahead. Cllr Johnson talks about an "ambitious housing plan" but nearly half of them are gone.

"The sites he has removed will have to be replaced by alternatives. I'm scared where Cllr Johnson will suggest building next! Residents should keep a close eye on where he wants to put more houses – it could be next to you!"

The five sites removed from the list so are: Springhouse Corringham - 55 houses, Ridgewell Orsett - 55 houses, Callan Grove Belhus -43 houses, Derry Avenue Ockendon -14 houses, Garren Lane and Humber Avenue Belhus - 26 houses. A total of 193 homes.