AFTER a couple of days of silence - a pleasure not enjoyed by residents close to a major distribution centre construction project - Thurrock Council has announced it plans to prosecute builders for breaching planning regulations.

Earlier this week Thurrock Nub News reported on the impact of late night working at the Segro Logistics site adjacent to the A13 and A1306 between Purfleet and Aveley which is close to a number of residential properties.

Noise and disruption from the site has gone on for months but despite pledges by Thurrock Council it appeared little or no enforcement action has taken place as the work has gone on through the night and over weekends when the site is supposed to be silent. However, we now know a a breach of condition notice was served on the site construction company in July - though it was clearly ignored.

On Tuesday evening (8 September) just before midnight, Thurrock Nub News was contacted by residents who had filmed the noise and work that made sleep impossible.

A resident told us: "This is unbearable. This construction has been a never-ending blight on our lives, it goes on and on."

There was no response to residents, Thurrock Nub News or even ward councillors, from the council and earlier today (Friday, 11 September) we again highlighted the situation.

It appears to be the straw that perhaps broke the council's back - and they have finally responded - saying action will be taken and the noise and work outside the permitted hours must stop.

And they say a prosecution had been initiated.

The council told Thurrock Nub News: "Thurrock Council served a breach of condition notice (BCN) upon Segro on 17 July 2020 because of incidents of out of hours working.

"In light of the recent evidence provided by local residents, the council is now preparing a prosecution case against Segro for flouting the terms of the BCN.

"The council has formally written to Segro today (Friday, 11 September) and rejected their request for evening working.

Cllr Mark Coxshall, cabinet member for regeneration and strategic planning, said: "We take all reports of unauthorised activity very seriously and we will continue to work with local residents to ensure that their amenity is protected through the enforcement of planning conditions including at the Segro site."

The council has also told Thurrock Nub News it no longer owns the site - which it did when a planning permission for the project was submitted in 2018, with no further ownership information updated, when the council controversially granted permission against residents' wishes in 2019.

However, no information about the site, why and to whom it was sold, and what the revenue gained from the sale was, has been offered.