A THURROCK pub that was once run by TV chef Jamie Oliver's dad looks set to be demolished.

The site of the Price of Wales pub on West Road, South Ockendon, has been identified by Thurrock Council – which owns it - as a location for ten social housing flats and now they have applied to their own planning department for permission to demolish it.

Latest plans to build on the site were first revealed in February last year when Thurrock Nub News reported on a council list of 20 sites across the borough that has been identified as suitable for social housing.

The list sparked huge controversy and several of the sites have since been struck off the list - but the Prince of Wales scheme has largely gone unopposed.

It is a case of history repeating itself as permission was granted for demolition in 2016, a year after the council had acquired the site with the intention of building eight flats and a studio apartment on the site. However, that permission – which sparked a public protest and a petition of around 500 signatures calling for the pub to be saved - has since expired.

At the time the campaigners said: "The building is of a timber frame design retaining quite a few original features. There is not much left of the old South Ockendon and what is left the council are slowly destroying. Save Ockendon, save The Prince of Wales!"

Trevor Oliver, father of TV chef, Jamie once ran the pub in the seventies.

You can read the application for demolition and make a comment via the link below.

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