BOROUGH residents have told Thurrock Nub News they are 'tearing their hair out' in frustration after a local landmark has once again been subject to 'industrial scale degradation' in what they claim is a clear breach of planning regulations.

The site in question is Biggin Lane between Tilbury and Chadwell St Mary where historic sandy cliffs overlook the Tilbury floodplain.

The site was a natural and much-used nesting ground for birds, particularly sandmartins, but over recent years the people living on a mobile home site have been digging away at the cliffs.

In March 2019 nearby residents complained vehemently as diggers were used to hack away at the face of the cliffs and large amounts of sand were extracted – with some stored on the site and more taken away.

Among residents at the site, many of whom are from the traveller community, a number of paving and landscaping businesses are operated. Neighbours believe they are illegally extracting minerals from the site and eroding a natural habitat.

The story was investigated and reported at the time by Thurrock Nub News' predecessor, the Thurrock Independent, who quizzed Thurrock Council over why its officers were not taking action.

The council responded by saying its planning enforcement officers had visited the site but "did not find any activity being carried out." It seemed an astonishing response at the time as the Thurrock Independent had furnished pictures of the sand being dug out.

However, neighbours who had complained did receive a response and they were told illegal activity was happening. A planning officer wrote saying: "I can advise that a potential breach of planning control has been identified and the case has been passed to me for formal investigation."

But nothing appeared to be done – though for a while extraction ceased.

One of the residents on a mobile home lot off Biggin Lane, Patrick Saunders of 3, The Laurels, had submitted a retrospective planning application to the council in June 2017 asking for permission to 'cut back and grade the cliff face due to falling debris and hazardous conditions'.

He pledged to bank soil and retier the bank for a more gentle slope."

The planning application was not approved and it still sits on the authority's planning portal as 'awaiting decision.'

Now neighbours fear more of the bank is being destroyed as a large digger has been excavating from the top of the cliffs and lots of excavated material material has been seen being transported away from the site. They have once again stated that complaints to Thurrock Council go uninvestigated and their complaints receive no response.

Thurrock Nub News was told about the problems and contacted Thurrock Council on Tuesday, 14 April but have waited in vain for a response.

We have been told of further concerns by residents, who told us the amount of digging has been stepped up and a large digger is now being used. One resident said it was 'industrial scale degradation and local people were 'horrified and tearing their hair out' because nothing was being done to stop the site's destruction.

There is little left of the former bird nesting grounds

Thurrock Nub News visited the site today (Wednesday, 6 May) and filmed the digger at work and witnessed other excavation at the cliff face behind the 'mobile' homes that have been sited there.

We have forwarded the information, picture and films to Thurrock Council and once again asked for a response.