RESIDENTS in Stanford-le-Hope have expressed disappointment after being told that Thurrock Council will not be debating plans to close the day centre at Kynoch Court in the town.

News of the council's plans to close day centres across the borough was exclusively broken by Thurrock Nub News in March.

In the wake of that story residents across the borough reacted angrily and in Stanford and Corringham an online petition was set up on the Change.org platform.

While Thurrock Council has said it recognises the platform as a legitimate one to compile petitions, there has already been some conflict with the authority refusing to acknowledge the validity of other polls on it. Most notably this included the ongoing campaign to save the Thameside Theatre.

In the wake of that furore the council appeared to backtrack, but once again it is disputing the validity of another petition which has more than 1,000 names on it.

That has prompted organisers of the Kynoch Court campaign to report: "We had 1,169 e-signatures, plus signatures from shops and local residents. I would say approximately 350 of them. Many were collected by Cllr Gary Byrne.

"The council has accepted 92 hand-signed and only 1,029 of online petition. It has not given any explanation of why they have not accepted all the other signatures. This way, they do not have to discuss it in the next meeting."

A council statement received by Nub News says: "The petition was handed in during July's Full Council where it was accepted as valid, the petitioners will receive a response in line with the council's petition rules.

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It consisted of a petition containing approximately 90 handwritten submissions with full names and addresses and 1,029 e-signatures obtained through a change.org petition.

"As you know Thurrock Council has to verify all entries on a petition with the electoral register and this is not possible if people signing do not submit full addresses."