Campaigners make their point again and call for public to lobby councillors in fight against development of playing fields land

By Nub News Reporter 13th Jan 2025

Local News

CAMPAIGNERS calling on Thurrock Council not to build on green belt as part of the rebuild of homes at Blackshots in Grays have issued a call for support from residents and are planning to lobby councillors at their next meeting.

More than 2,000 borough residents have signed a petition opposing the build on green bel around the tower blocks in Blackshots, which are earmarked for demolition,

Council plans show that part of an area currently used for recreation on Blackshots' King George V Field would be swallowed up by the new development.

Local residents met over the weekend to unfurl a banner and show continued support for the opposition to the Council's intentions, also expressing concern by a lack of positive action from the charity "Fields in Trust" which is supposed to manage and protect land left in perpetuity for the recreation of residents of the borough.

Thurrock Nub News has been chasing Fields in Trust for a comment on the situation and finally, recently received a response from the charity, saying it wasn't in a position to act as they have received no formal application from the council.

Thurrock Nub News has seen correspondence between the two organisations, which refuted an earlier comment by Fields in Trust that there had been no contact at all.

The latest response from them, received last month, says: "As of right now, we haven't received a formal application from the Council but they have been in touch with us and know that the land is protected, and that they cannot build there without coming to us first.

"As a small charity with very limited resources, we can't get involved in local campaigns and will only get involved once the formal request has been submitted.

"At that point, the application will be considered by our Planning and Policy Committee according to our Buildings Policy.

"At this stage the residents should continue to contact the Council directly and express their views on the project, and if there are concerns about consultation then that should also be raised with the Council. The planning process is separate from us and will of course allow the residents to log their objections.

"We are unable to comment further on this case at this stage."

With the ball bounced firmly back to local residents, the group of concerned campaigners have repeated their objection to using any recreational playing fields land for residential building when brown belt land is available within the borough.

The petition is due to be discussed at Full Council meeting on the evening of Wednesday, 29th January at 7pm at the Council Offices on New Road.

A spokesperson for the Blackshots campaigners said: "Concerned, like minded residents of the borough should attend this meeting to show their support, please arrive by the latest at 6.45pm.

"Meanwhile contacting your local ward councillor by email (addresses available via this link) and asking him or her to oppose this action by the council would be greatly appreciated."

The petition to the council was submitted by former Mayor Joy Redsell in October, and led to a caustic response from Cllr Lee Watson, portfolio holder for good growth, who alleged she was seeking to make political gain out of the issue.

Cllr Watson said: "You did sit on housing overview and scrutiny where this went twice and you never said a word. You attended cabinet where it was unanimously put through by the cabinet at the time and you never said a word. You never put a recommendation through. It feels a bit like a campaign coming on.

"I'll take the petition and go through it. I've met with the committee at Blackshots, so I do know their concerns."