THURROCK Council has withdrawn its plans to demolish the Prince of Wales pub in South Ockendon, possibly because its own highways department have questioned how it will be pulled down – asking if all safety concerns have been considered.

No official reason has been given for the withdrawal of the scheme, which was reported by Thurrock Nub News last month.

The pub and two adjacent garages have been earmarked as a potential site for new council houses and it seemed likely that the application to demolish the existing buildings would be a mere formality.

However, the council planning department has revealed the scheme has been pulled.

The council's landscape ecology officer had no objections, and the environment department - while acknowledging residents might have concerns - also said it was happy.

However, highways department officer Julian Howes says there are significant issues around the council's plans that could impact adversely on the safety of local schoolchildren.

On 11 February he said: "This application seems to have omitted some significant issues with the location of the building and the management of traffic associated with this development.

"This building is located by a zebra crossing which forms part of the walking link to the local school and if lorries are going to access the site careful management of the lorries will be required and lorries arriving and leaving during school opening and closing times should not be occurring.

"During all other times careful management will be required with traffic marshals on site to avoid conflict with pedestrians. Due to the close proximity of the building to the highway then careful consideration to the management of pedestrians is required.

"Consideration is needed to be given as to whether pedestrians should be able to walk past whilst the building is being demolished. For instance will the footway need to be closed? If so then the crossing may need to be relocated temporarily.

"In addition an HGV routing plan will be required to be submitted setting out the routing for vehicles avoiding weight restriction locations. In summary the Initial Demolition Management Plan does not fully consider the impact of this project on the surrounding highway network and pedestrian facilities and further consideration of the impact of this project on the highway and the adjacent pedestrian facilities needs to be considered especially as this is close to a school."

He called for more information and the council answered some of his initial concerns but not satisfactorily and Mr Howes says more information is still required regarding safety and a firm plan from demolition contractors has not been submitted.

Now the application has been withdrawn!