THURROCK Council has responded to local concerns about an illegal car breaking and workshop site in a residential area of the borough and told its operators they had three weeks to get of the land or make a formal application for planning permission.

Last week Thurrock Nub News highlighted the issue following the setting up of the workshop on land off Howard Road in Chafford Hundred.

Today (Friday, 12 March) Thurrock Council leader Cllr Rob Gledhill confirmed the authority has taken action.

He told Nub News: "Our planning enforcement team visited the site recently and liaised with the owner's agent regarding the car park, which does not at present have the appropriate planning permission.

"On Tuesday, 2 March the owner was given a 21 day period to cease using the land for the unauthorised activity. If this hasn't been completed by Tuesday, 23 March, or a valid application for suitable temporary use hasn't been submitted by this date, the council will begin formal action in way of the enforcement notice process.

"This would require them to cease using the land for unauthorised activity and see the removal of any vehicles, structures and materials on site in connection with that activity.

"A planning application for the redevelopment of the site is due to be considered by the planning committee in April."

That planning application is even more controversial that the car yard!

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Permission is being sought to build 344 new homes in a number of tower blocks on the site which has been a blight on the area for a decade.

It was first opened up for development about ten years ago and work began on building 140 flats. But the company behind the project went bust and since 2013 the less-than-half completed development have fallen into disrepair. In 2017 the plot was the subject of a huge blaze that spread to the nearby Sainsbury's superstore and there was another fire there in July last year that effectively razed the remaining buildings to the ground.

The scheme for the tower blocks, which is due to be debated by the council's planning committee next month, has been widely opposed by local residents.