A PLAN to open a new club bar and function suite in Grays has come under scrutiny and will be subject to a licensing committee review next week.

It's the latest twist in what has been a controversial and somewhat contentious turn of events around the erection of a building on Thurrock Rugby Club land which was supposed to be used exclusively for educational purposes.

The building cost £3 million, which was given by Thurrock Council which supported granting of planning permission to help alleviate a secondary school places crisis in Thurrock that were amplified by delays in the building of the Orsett Heath Academy, part of the South West Essex Community Education Trust (SWECET).

Thurrock Council's planning committee were urged to support the building's erection as a short-term measure to combat the shortage of school places and did so – on the understanding that when its immediate use was ended, it would become a facility to be used for education or sporting purposes.

The building's life as a school site came to an end last year with the completion of Orsett Heath School on nearby land.

The plan was for it to become a sporting academy, which was enshrined in its planning permission – justification for the grant of £3 million,

The planning approval said: "Once the new development ceases to be the interim structure and Orsett Heath Academy is open for pupils (likely 2021), the building will continue to be used by SWECET and TRFC for educational and sports provision in conjunction with Orsett Heath Academy and thus providing a lasting legacy use by enhancing Education, Sport and Recreation as a 'Thurrock Institute of Sport'.

When the plan was conceived, Cllr James Halden, who oversaw education at the time, said: "Thurrock Council has already committed £3 million for a temporary building to ensure the school opens next academic year, which will then become a great joint resource with the rugby club.

"Once pupils at the rugby club have been moved over to the new academy school, the building will remain in use for educational and sports by the club, creating what has been labelled as an 'institute of sport'."

However, it appears the rugby club now has different plans for the building.

In February, Thurrock Council received an application for a new premises licence for the building, now named 'Bar 1928' at Thurrock Rugby Club, Long Lane.

If approved the bar will have live and recorded music and will be open for the sale of alcohol Monday to Wednesday from 12noon to 11pm, Thursday from 12noon to midnight and Friday to Sunday 12noon to 1am.

Simon Barnes, from Essex Police, has submitted a representation outlining concerns that the "proposed operating schedule is insufficient and is likely to undermine the licensing objectives of prevention of crime and disorder and the prevention of harm to children".

Mr Barnes has called for a number of conditions should the licence be granted, include CCTV surveillance at all times. Other objections have been received from residents and a licensing hearing will take place on Thursday (10 April).

In a letter to the council one resident said: "We have very grave concerns relating that could affect our current situation, standard of living conditions and welfare, should the new license changes be granted.

"Increases relating to additional road traffic noise and volume of traffic movements will no doubt be much higher levels than our current normal flow should the new license be granted There will be a potential for much more traffic and especially later into the evening and nighttime periods and certainly into the early hours for most nights of the week.

The resident added: "We do not currently have any real issues along our section of this road and do not think it will be fair to change or create a recipe for a serious change that we most certainly could affect us. At this moment in time, we are very concerned and disappointed to hear this proposal.

"We can only expect to be significantly affected, this is likely to become severely stressful and most unwanted."

Another part of the rugby club site was used to house 'temporary classrooms' and that too is the subject of an application by the rugby club who want to retain it to create a nursery, despite the planning directive that it should be removed as soon as its educational need was over. See story via this link.

Thurrock Rugby Club has been invited to comment on the proposals across its site – but has not responded.