A CHADWELL St Mary councillor has raised local concerns about the behavior and impact of refugees that have been housed in the local community.

As reported on Thurrock Nub News on Saturday there have been a number of complaints about the behavior of the refugees who have been in privately rented new houses on Oak Grove by the Home Office.

And there is concern that more new homes may be built for the same purpose.

Cllr Gerard Rice has taken up the baton on behalf of residents and has called on senior officers at Thurrock Council, including CEO Lyn Carpenter and planning director Andy Millard, to get involved. And he wants police to have a presence in the area too.

Cllr Rice says: "Residents have complained about this issue recently. We must remember residents pay their council tax bills which in turn pays for the salaries of officers and the allowances of councillors. We must remember we are servants of the public so let us pay attention to these serious problems.

"These problems have been going on since January. It is time for action."

Cllr Rice has called for:

• The police to be involved re social distancing and fines need to be issued before a person or persons die due to Coronavirus;
• Licensing to be involved as there are no fire doors and fire alarms in house of muliple occupancy. He says: 'Who in Thurrock Council will be responsible for a death if the licensing laws are not followed?'
• Action taken to curb the parties and loud music which is against all the emergency laws passed by the government in this National Emergency;
• The outstanding planning issues addresses and the Section 106 agreement implemented regarding the relocation of the public footpath which has disappeared when the houses were built;
• Environmental services to be involved in dealing with the uncontrolled rubbish and, with the warm weather coming, the possible invasion of rats.