THURROCK Council leader Rob Gledhill has apologised to the residents of Stanford-le-Hope for the delay and problems surrounding the rebuilding of the town's rail station.

At a meeting of the authority's cabinet tonight (Wednesday, 15 January) senior councillors gave the green light for what will be a multi-million pound land acquisition that Cllr Gledhill says will deliver 'a fantastic opportunity'.

The location of the land acquisition is a thinly veiled secret in council circles but is not – as some residents have suggested on social media – a repurchase of the Sandpits car park, an issue that has been a running sore for residents since it was sold several years ago to developers at a knockdown price.

Thurrock Nub News is aware of the location buts respects the commercial confidentiality of any deal, with the council due to sit down with the landowners shortly.

Local councillor and borough Mayor Terry Piccolo quizzed Cllr Gledhill, asking: "Since the previous Labour administration's near unconditional and disastrous sale of the Sandpits car park for a pittance, I have been pushing for the promises to Stanford-le-Hope residents and businesses that these much-needed regeneration projects are completed to ensure car parking and transport links around our busy town centre and station are improved.

"Can you assure me that the purchase of this land will bring an end to the stranglehold that Capital Land Partners has had on our community?"

Cllr Gledhill gladly delivered that assurance, saying: "From my understanding of the purchase of the land, part will be used for the bus turnaround but it does support not just commuter car parking but short term parking to walk to the local high street. It won't be as convenient as the Sandpits car park but it is long overdue. It is not directly opposite the shops but it is in that area.

"What we have here is a fantastic opportunity to solve a problem. The idea of improving Stanford station has been around for ten years.

"Now DP World is going from strength to strength and there are more commuters and there is a need to get more employees to and from the port.

"Should we agree the purchase tonight, it will allow a better station building, speed up delivery right across the project by having a much less complicated design, and it allows a much better bus turnaround facility.

"The Stanford-le-Hope transport hub will bring much-needed additional parking provision in the area.

"I must apologise to Stanford residents for the time it has taken to get where we are, but this is now an opportunity to deliver a lot more.

"I can assure all residents it's really great to be able to start delivering a much improved station and equally get the increase in parking provision. It's something that will benefit the wider area."

His deputy and finance portfolio holder – as well as Stanford West ward councillor - Cllr Shane Hebb concurred that the new plans offered a welcome change in fortune for the troubled project.

Cllr Hebb said: "There's obviously multiple benefits to this project. It will get the station done. A welcome and refreshing look at the project has come up with a new design

"Residents are positive to this change and it is a partial resolultion to the Sandpits car park sale. We can develop the site."

Transport portfolio holder Cllr Ben Maney added: "It is so important that we get this back on track, This opportunity is a lifeline. Time is of the essence."

After a vote to approve the purchase at a price still to be agreed, Cllr Gledhill concluded: "I look forward to good honest dialogue to move Stanford forward, rather than going through a compulsory purchase order."