THURROCK Council's planning committee will be asked to make a decision which may have a huge bearing of the future of Grays Athletic FC next week.

On Thursday (25 February) they will consider a planning application which would see the former Thurrock FC ground and pitches on Ship Lane, Aveley, redeveloped.

Under the application put to the council, which officers are recommending be refused because it is in the green belt, the training pitches would host a new pre-delivery inspection (PDI) centre for vehicles run by the Group 1 Automotive company, an international vehicle dealership.

The football stadium will be gifted to Grays Athletic Football Club as their new home but with a 50/50 split for community football use. Grays have been homeless and have played at a number of grounds since their former Recreation ground site in the heart of Grays was sold by its owners, the Billings family, to Weston Homes and was redeveloped.

At the time of the sale a legacy gift of around £800,000 was promised by the football club's then owners to be ring-fenced towards the cost of a new ground – but what happened to that promise has been shrouded in mystery ever since.

It certainly has not been passed on to the club's new owners – a fans consortium who have worked tirelessly to keep the club afloat as they have moved to and played at grounds around the borough.

Currently Grays are tenants at Aveley's Parkside ground but with non-League football stalled by Covid-19 it is unlikely the Blues will play again this season.

Alongside the gift of the stadium to Grays Athletic and the community, Group 1 Automotive are proposing a number of additional benefits for local residents including an additional £500,000 for football facilities in Belhus Woods Country Park and transport infrastructure.

Julian Sutton, managing director of JMS planning who are submitting the application on behalf of Group 1 Automotive says: "Many of us know that Ship Lane in Aveley has a traffic problem, in particular with HGVs going through Aveley.

"Currently, even if the Council put in a weight limit, the HGVs would not be able to turn around and take a different route. There had been a study carried out by Thurrock Council which estimated the complete cost of a new roundabout including the purchase of any land would be approximately £1million.

"As part of the planning application being considered, Group 1 Automotive are providing a financial contribution of £50,000 and a HGV turning circle on their land which would allow this situation to be resolved and for HGVs to turn around and take an alternative route, thus helping to relieve the strain on Aveley.

"Up to 30 jobs will be created. Group 1 Automotive has agreed to initially only advertise these jobs locally in order to maximise the opportunities for local Thurrock residents to benefit from the new employment created.

"Despite the recommendation to refuse Group 1 Automotive believe that their hat-trick of new jobs, supporting football and new transport infrastructure will be enough to overcome the very special circumstances argument and we hope councillors will agree.

"It will be up to Thurrock's planning committee next week whether they play another blinder like they did for Tilbury FC in January and help secure a new home for Grays Athletic by approving the application or score an own goal and refuse the application.

"If you want to support a new home for Grays Athletic then you can email the Chair of the Planning Committee on [email protected]."

The planning report for the Ship Lane ground that will be put before the committee can be viewed here.

And the full application including residents' comments can be viewed here.