YET again members of Thurrock Council's planning committee found themselves floundering around a controversial planning application and unable to make a decision.

And rather than make one - despite the fact that only one voting member was in support of the application - the bid for new homes on land adjacent to St Clere's Hall in Stanford-le-Hope was deferred.

The application for new homes and apartments had already been deferred once for a site visit - but after failing to reach agreement it will now be bounced back to the applicant with a directive to resolve access issues.

Councillors visited the potential site of five apartments and four terraced homes at James Court in December but were far from convinced about what they saw.

They brought back concerns about access to the site and the fear that it is only a matter of time before there will be an accident.

Cllr Angela Lawrence said: "Traffic is backing up getting into the site and bumping up onto the kerb. Others are using the slip road by the traffic lights and people are coming and going all the time."

Senior planning officer Lucy Mannion who is advocating approval of the scheme told Cllr Lawrence 'all that had been stopped' but she was immediately contradicted by Cllr Sue Sammons who said: "While I was there a large van turned up and I don't really think that this has been solved at all."

That was further backed up by Cllr Gary Byrne who told the meeting he had received communication from residents confirming lots of vehicles were accessing the site from the front.

Cllr Gerard Rice said: "Quite frankly, unless this problem with access is resolved I would be inclined to refuse this.

"Bumping up kerbs is just wrong and before we know it there will be an accident there and someone will be suing the council.

"I think it's that serious we should refuse this. This has not been resolved."

And Cllr Lawrence chipped in again to confirm that view, saying: "I don't think anything has been resolved since this was brought to our attention.

"It's not doing anything for the area and is not in keeping with the area.

"The barns have been neglected. I haven't got much faith at the moment. He didn't solve it with the first set of houses.

"It should be refused and they should redo it and then come back before someone is killed. This shouldn't be happening and it's not acceptable."

Cllr Rice then changed tack and suggested that the matter should be deferred for more talks.

Cllr Mike Fletcher said the matter should be easily solvable by blocking off access to the front of the development.

"Just block off the place and we are sorted!" he said.

Committee chairman Cllr Tom Kelly proposed that the scheme be passed, but he was unable to find even a seconder among the other councillors.

Cllr Rice's suggestion that the matter be deferred again then won approval of all but Cllr Lawrence who said the proposal should be rejected.

Ms Mannion said she thought deferral would be worthwhile but that the applicant and officers would need to be clear what the expectation of officers was.

The consensus is that access from the front of the side via London Road or Southend Road be blocked.