FOLLOWING Wednesday's Thurrock Nub News story about the future of the former Tilbury Police station and untrue comments made by leading councillors, Thurrock Council have today (Friday, 22 August) issued a statement - but though it confirms that council leader Lynn Worrall gave out false information, the authority and her stop short of apologising.

The statement issued by the council says: "Following local rumours, which have been created and spread on social media and websites, we want to be clear that Tilbury Police Station is not being used as housing for people seeking asylum in this country. Local councillors have provided updates to help counter the disinformation being spread online.

"Untrue rumours like this can, as we have seen in other parts of the country, lead to unrest and violence that the local community can be swept up in. In the worst cases it has led to people being hurt, and others being arrested, charged and then given lengthy prison sentences.

"We do not want to allow outside agitators to come to Tilbury with the sole purpose of creating trouble, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake and then disappearing so the local community have to pick up the pieces. The council, and local councillors, must do everything we can to keep local people safe. We know local people want what is best for the area, and so do we.

"The facts here are simple and straightforward: the former Police Station is currently empty and it is not being used to house asylum seekers. As for the future, the owner of the building has told several people informally that they plan to apply to build flats on the site, any other suggestion is untrue.

"As plans for this site progress, the owners will have to get planning permission from Thurrock Council. This planning process means that as plans are submitted to us they will be published and you can comment on them before a planning decision is made. This happens in strict accordance with planning rules and regulations in an entirely transparent way.

"We urge you to ignore the rumours, be aware of the motives of those who start and repeat them, and instead follow the facts and listen to those who are dedicated to keeping you safe."

Our story earlier in the week told how Cllr Worrall, and her deputy leader Cllr Lee Watson, made incorrect statements about the site and the council's planning process.

Cllr Worrall falsely told residents on social media that an outline application for a flats development had been submitted to the council. It has not - and it has since been confirmed that the owners have a number of options they are considering for the station, which was sold by Essex Police last year.