THE derelict Calcutta Club in Tilbury is once again ablaze.

It is the third major incident at the building in recent months.

The last fire was in December and before that in August last year.

Firefighters from Orsett, Grays, Corringham, Basildon and Loughton attended, including deployment of the Grays-based aerial platform ladder.

When fire crews arrived they reported that the roof and external walls of the building were not structurally stable and were likely to collapse imminently. 

Crews wearing breathing masks battered through boarded up doors and windows to get to the seat of the fire.

*Update 2:30pm* The fire has been extinguished. Firefighters will remain on scene to extinguish remaining hot spots.

Members of the public were diverting traffic prior to the arrival of police on the scene at the request of the fire service just after 2pm.

The building is owned by Fleet Property Property Limited, based at the Fleet in Purfleet-on-Thames.

An application to demolish the club and build 36 flats there was first submitted to Thurrock Council in June 2021.

Consultation has been taking place since 2019 between the applicants and Thurrock Council, who appear to still appear to believe that there is merit in the site being retained as a social or community amenity.

A statement on the authority's planning portal from the council says: "The principle of housing development at the proposal site could be deemed acceptable should the loss of the New Calcutta Club be justified.

"The design of the building would need to be of a high quality and there are highways, air quality and noise matters which would also need to be addressed."

Four years since those discussions started, it seems the issue is still unresolved.

Ward councillor John Allen is angry that the matter remains undecided and says the council should have taken a more positive role, even to the extent of compulsory purchasing the site if it isn't demolished and made safe.

He told Nub news this afternoon: "This has gone on too long. Three fires is three too many. This is a very dangerous place and it is unacceptable that firefighters have to repeatedly put themselves at risk because of inaction by either the owners or the council.

"The time has come for this site to be completely demolished and the council needs to authorise that. If the owner doesn't want to, the council should compulsory purchase it and do it themselves."

Firefighters attempt to enter the building from Calcutta Road.

The aerial ladder was deployed

The rear of the club

Updates and reaction to follow.