RESIDENTS have expressed their frustration over problems they have had trying to log onto Thurrock Council's consultation system to register their opposition to a planed new quarry, which was exclusively revealed on Thurrock NubNews in December.

The council is currently considering an application to open up the huge quarry across a large area between Linford, Orsett and Stanford-le-Hope.

It will see an expansion from the existing Orsett Quarry into adjoining land and the erection of a processing plant and ancillary activities, importation and treatment of reclamation material.

At the end of the site's extraction life, expected to be around 20 years, developers say the whole site would be restored and returned to farmland.

Thurrock Council is currently calling for the public's view on the scheme, which it classes as a major development that will have an impact on the local setting.

However, despite a significant public outcry against the scheme on social media and with around 150 objections registered, many people have been finding the council's system too difficult to cope with - or they have been timed out.

Vicky Newman Morris is one of the people who have spoken of their frustration and she has speculated the council may have an ulterior motive for a problematic site.

She says: "I think they are doing it on purpose so I can't object! I've registered twice to log a comment, it then asks you to log in and it won't accept my password which I know works as it was saved when I registered! I have typed it in at least ten times and it's just not working!"

Another angry resident is Lucy Grant, who says: "I've tried numerous times to log in but every password I choose then gets rejected the second time!

"Is there any other way people can share their concerns as this website is not fit for its purpose?"

And Linda Pritchard says: "I just can't get on the site to object."

Campaigner Mick Thompson is urging people to keep trying, but says if all else fails, a direct email to the council considering the application should be made.

He says: "The email address to object to the quarry is [email protected]. Quote the planning application reference 19/01709/FUL and state you are objecting.

Anyone willing to try to go directly to the council site should be able to find it on their website (https://www.thurrock.gov.uk/search-planning-records/planning-records-online ) and searching the plans using this reference 19/01709/FUL.

The red button below gives a direct link to the consultation process - where comments should also be recorded.