THURROCK Council has apologised for an administrative blunder which means that a key and controversial planning debate will now be put back a fortnight.

A planning application for a new super quarry on land in East Thurrock between Orsett, Linford and Stanford-le-Hope was due to be debated and decided at next Tuesday's (10 February) planning committee. Officers have recommended approval.

The plan has created much local concern and more than 1,100 residents have raised objections on the council's planning portal. By registering those comments, the complainants were entitled to lodge a further written submission and compete in a ballot to speak at the meeting.

However, due to a mail merge technical mix-up, despatch of letters informing them and inviting them to attend has become an administrative blunder that leaves the authority red-faced. Though it doesn't necessarily have to under statute guidelines, the council has conceded the appropriate thing to do will be delay the meeting so everyone is treated fairly.

Due to a technical glitch in the letter printing and mailing process, many addresses across the region, in Stanford, Linford and East Tilbury, received multiple letters all addressed to different people at the same address. One property got six letters all with differing names.

A council statement sent out this afternoon.

The incorrectly addressed letters started arriving yesterday and today and the council has acted quickly once it was alerted to the situation.

A council statement this afternoon (Friday, 6 February) says: "Due to an administrative error, notification letters for planning application (Reference:19/01709/FUL) were sent to incorrect addresses.

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"As a result, not all affected residents received the required notification.

"To ensure everyone has a fair opportunity to be notified of the committee date, the application has been deferred and will now be reconsidered on Tuesday, 24 February.

"We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding."

The cost of the blunder and the number of incorrect letters is not known, though it may run into the hundreds. They were mailed second class, which cost 87p, though there may be a multiple franking discount.