THURROCK Council says it will be taking urgent action to stop the latest illegal excavations at a Thurrock rural site which has been the scene of previous problems.

In 2019 the hillside adjacent to Biggin Lane between Tilbury and Chadwell St Mary was illegally excavated for minerals and to create space for more Traveller caravans on an authorised site below it. And the diggers returned again in May last year.

Through the summer of 2020 Thurrock Nub News reported extensively on the continued excavations and the lack of immediate action by Thurrock Council.

During the excavations power lines were brought down cutting off supplies to many nearby homes.

Concerns were raised publicly by local councillors and residents and eventually, under sustained pressure, the council then stated it would be taking action, and said that would include considering reparation of the site.

They left it too late though and it was a couple of days after the work stopped and the site had been cleared of men and machinery, that the council stepped in to issue a 'stop' order!

Since then there has been quiet – and no public sign of any prosecution or action by the council, including ensuring reparation.

But yesterday (Thursday, 8 January) the diggers started up again!

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Nearby residents were shocked when machinery was moved onto an adjacent site to the right of Sandy Lane going towards Chadwell St Mary and large amounts of material were clawed away from the hillside.

And work continued today even after council officers – alerted by residents and local councillors – turned up around midday.

A resident told us: "As before, it appears the workers on site will just carry on regardless. They show contempt to the law and to the council, which is so weak it's unbelievable. Get the police in and get this stopped!"

A statement from Thurrock Council this evening, attributed to council leader Cllr Rob Gledhill says: "The council was made aware of a possible planning breach yesterday afternoon (Thursday, 7 January) and officers were on site this morning at 10am to investigate.

"Having found evidence of excavations occurring, a Temporary Stop Notice (TSN) will be issued imminently.

"We take all reports of unauthorised activity very seriously and will work to ensure that Thurrock is protected through the enforcement of planning conditions where officers feel it is appropriate."