A COURT has delayed a bid by Thurrock Council to evict the operators of the Grays Beach Lighthouse Café - who say they are being 'unfairly manipulated and mistreated' by the authority.

The community café is operated as a community interest company (CIC) led by Anita Sharma Singh and Harmesh Singh from Grays.

Administration of the facility, which was put into the hands of local people by Thurrock Council several years ago has been checkered and there have been 20 administrative officers registered at Companies House of which 15 have resigned over the years.

Amita Sharma and Harmesh Singh

In April this year The London Gazette published notice that the Lightship CIC would be struck of the Companies House register. That action has subsequently been 'temporarily suspended' because of an objection to the striking off.

A record at Companies House of the CIC's affairs show it is not the first time attempts have been made to close it down.

And its accounts for the last financial year are well overdue.

Cllr Lee Watson, Thurrock Council cabinet member of good growth has confirmed the council's intention to take back control of the asset.

In a statement to Thurrock Nub News she said: "As residents know from last year's consultation, we have exciting plans for the Grays Riverside, including a new café with views of the river.

"We are trying to work with the current Lightship Café managers so we can take the building back, which is vital to allow works to get underway.

"We went to court on the 17 June to try to progress this process.

"The District Judge asked for more information to help inform their decision, and so the warrant which was due to be executed on Thursday, 19 June 2025 has been paused.

"We will keep residents updated on progress to deliver our plans for Grays Riverside, which we know local people are keen to see."

However, Ms Sharma says the council is treating her and her partner, and other members of the CIC, unfairly.

She backs up her claim by saying that is the reason a judge has stayed execution of the eviction notice.

Ms Sharma told Nub News: "We have been unfairly treated and have not been supported by the council despite myself and my partner investing £38,000 of our own money here.

"We renovated and opened the coffee shop, for example. We support the splash pad which opens in the summer by hosting birthday parties for children using it.

"How does the council justify us disappointing those children. We wanted to include the splash pad in the lease but the council will not allow us.

"We are being unfairly manipulated and mistreated' by the authority. If they want us out to 'improve' the park, so be it. We will work with them and work it out but the way they have gone about this is all wrong."

She went on to make a number of allegations against the authority, saying: "What the council is doing is to harass and racially discriminate those that have worked so hard to make this place 'special' for everyone in the community.

"Since we took over in 2021, community members have always commented how improved it is and how they love the food now etc. The increased footfall and sales etc is proof of this. The comments from the community are proof of this.

"We have been chasing the council for a new lease since 2022, and they kept sending a draft that did not include the splash pad. The splash pad uses chemicals and is tested three times a day to ensure the safety and quality of the water. But the incompetent Thurrock Council was not including the particulars for this. They then started excuses about the regeneration works.

"I have a video as cctv proof of a current council present at a board-meeting where I was being harrassed and racially attacked trying to force me to leave in 2022. But I fought and am still here! 

"We had the eviction notice stopped last week as I had proof that we were communicating with the council and they failed to respond to us. This is why the Judge stopped the eviction.

"We have children's birthday parties booked over the summer, we have SEN children events booked on the splash pad and the council is trying to stop this. Is this a community supporting council? They want to see tearful children during the summer. This is our current council. 

"Currently the cafe is home to Thurrock Hindu Temple and is the hub for a monthly gathering that takes place. Thurrock Council is racially attacking us. 

"When asked to show what dates builders will be going into the cafe to start regeneration works they are not able to answer. So is this not a ploy to 'kick us out'?

"What is the urgency for us to leave immediately and not wait until the end of the summer - if this is not a racial attack?

"I fought then and I will fight now - because we have supported the community and not Thurrock Council."