FEARS about anti-social behaviour and a concern that costs of the project will balloon came to the fore when councillors were asked to consider plans for a new rail underpass and public open space to improve Grays High Street.

Concerns were also expressed about the lack of quality surrounding local consultation and the lack of numbers of people the designers have engaged with.

At last night's meeting (Monday, 6 July) of Thurrock Council's Planning, Transport, Regeneration Overview & Scrutiny Committee the focus was turned on the options to regenerate the area around Grays rail station.

Director of Place Andy Millard briefed members about the scheme saying: "It is an important piece of work. We need to make the most of the riverfront.

"There are two main stakeholders who need this, new people who want to use the river but also existing residents who all live around here."

Committee chairman Cllr Martin Kerin, have gone through two previous agenda items which have seen significant overspends and delays, asked: "At the risk of sounding like a glass half empty what guarantees have we got this is going to be plain sailing? What assurances that this is going to work first time?"

Mr Millard responded: "It's too early to start giving guarantees, we are trying to learn from previous projects. We hear it loud and clear we need to bring this in on budget."

Though, as yet, there is no agreed budget for the project although in the design brief, consultants warn that current provisional budget of £27.4 million is likely to rise significantly.

Cllr John Allen said he was a longstanding follower of the brief to develop the area around the station and expressed his concern about an underpass, adding: "I have always had several concerns regarding this project, particularly anti-social behaviour. This is a big thing in all parts of the borough and though we hear numbers are falling from Essex Police, I don't believe that for one moment.

"I have seen for myself what goes in Grays High street. My concern now with this project is to do with it being an underpass . Will it promote anti social behaviour? I would like to think we can have some public protection order on this space, I would like assurances on the best system, of CCTV than can be implemented.

"And I would like assurance there will be a sump pump system in case we have a heavy downpour so it doesn't flood. I would also like to know if we are close to the water table there when we dig down.

"How long will this take and what is the impact on the location?"

Mr Millard responded by saying: "The questions are very pertinent. Pumps will be very much part of the solution and issues of safety are absolutely paramount, These are things we will very much take on board when we look in more detail at the design. These sort of things we need to take on board.

"Designing out crime is at the forefront of our mind. We have given it detailed thought."

Councillors asked how long the project would take to complete once work was commissioned and were told it would take around 18 months.

Cllr Alex Anderson was also concerned about the low level of responses to the consultation process, saying: "I don't know if I am missing something. We have had 47 contributions in the consultation, it seems a little low."

The council's programmes and projects manager Rebecca Ellsmore told the meeting: "Local residents were more than happy to tell us their views but they were too busy to fill in a form."

She conceded that there need to be more consultation as the project moves forward.

Cllr David van Day appeared to feel the officers were given a hard time by the chair of the meeting, Cllr Kerin and he put him on the spot by saying: "We keep talking about the nasty, unforeseen things that come along. Do you have a crystal ball?"

Cllr Kerin retorted: "I am going to keep asking for guarantees, it's our job. If the day comes when I turn up to committee and don't ask the questions on scrutiny that is the day I should give up."

Cllr Oliver Gerrish warned that this was a project that the council had to deliver in a proper fashion, saying: "We need a solution that will work but I have concerns about the report that is presented here this evening, about the proposed potential costs against budget.

"Members will note the current budget is £27.4 million. Estimates are it could rise to anywhere up to £37.9 million. We are already significantly above the base budget, approximately ten and a half million over budget before we have even started. That seems a very significant overspend before we have gone to a detailed level of design."

He pointed out that three design options for the project put before councillors all failed to meet the criteria established for the project on cost, adding: "It's hard to see what we can do to get the cost back to the level of the budget.

"Do officers see cost reductions or budget increases as the solution? What are officers doing to come up with a more affordable project."

Mr Millard said: "We are absolutely mindful that we have to bring this project in on budget. We have work to do to reduce the risk of exposure. We have got to leave a legacy in the town centre but we have to get it right.

"We remain confident it is a doable proposition. To be honest, it's a work in progress!"

Cllr Gerrish sounded sceptical, saying: "Can you point me to any scheme where we have managed to shave £10m off the project."

That brought an interjection from Interim Assistant Director of Place Delivery, David Moore who said: "This is a very early estimate, we don't as yet have a final cost yet that we are looking to shave £10m off. It's currently a rough estimate. There are opportunities to increase budgets. There's plenty of opportunity to change those costs further.

"It's about reducing costs as well as increasing the budget. There is scope to include other elements of funding."

The committee agreed to recommend Option C to the cabinet as the preferred design.