Council says it's 'still talking' - a year after threatening enforcement as the State continues to crumble and campaigners damn the inaction | Local News | News | Thurrock Nub News

DESPITE ever-increasing public concern and condemnation about a lack of action from appropriate authorities, Thurrock Council still appears reticent to take real action to protect the Grade II*-listed State Cinema in Grays.

The council is the lawful authority responsible for the protection of the building and has a range of measures at its disposal including carrying out the work and charging the owners and issuing enforcement notices which could lead to court action, potentially huge fines and even jail!

But its inaction, described as 'appalling' by the Cinema Theatre Association - one of the bodies desperate to save the building – has left the site in devastating mess – and it may now not be possible to restore it.

Over recent years Thurrock Nub News has documented the changes of ownership of the building, including the ultimately doomed project by pub chain JD Wetherspoon to turn it into a themed pub.

It's now 16 months since the building's latest owner took possession.

The new owner Naveed Ahmad of London Developments International (a company that appears to have little by way of assets and has charges against it) met with Thurrock Nub News and outlined his plans to restore the building as a function centre and add hotel rooms.

In July last year campaigners alerted the fire service and helped put out a small fire in the building, prompting expression of concerns about security and safety.

Mr Ahmad gave assurances that action would be taken and security stepped up. However, there have subsequently been regular incursions into the building through various points.

In the same month the council said: "Ownership of the building has changed hands very recently and we have moved swiftly to engage with the new owners.

"A meeting was arranged with them and their architects to discuss their proposals for the building and to seek to ensure that works are carried out at the earliest opportunity to ensure that further damage does not occur."

That was several months after campaigners, including the national Cinema Theatre Association and locally-based campaigners seeking the 'Save The State Cinema', had called on the council to take its responsibilities and act – which could include it take out necessary work itself and then ordering the owners to pay. However, it has steadfastly refused to undertake that option.

The ever-declining condition of the building has frequently been highlighted on Nub News and in other nationwide media. But despite the odd bit of patching up and boarding up of doors that have been broken open, little has been done to preserve the building.

In July campaigners said 'enough is enough' and demanded action from the council – listing its obligations and legal powers in a damning public statement.

That plea appears to have fallen on deaf ears and the council continues to talk, rather than take action.

A regular spokesperson for the 'Save The State Cinema!' group updated residents with news that the owner Naveed Ahmad and his company London Development International had reneged on their latest pledge, saying: "Over ten days ago the owner told Thurrock Council he would be starting repair work on the roof of the building 'within the next ten days'.

"That ten days has passed and no such work has commenced and no workmen of contractors have been on site during that ten day period."

Almost a year to the day since the council had said it was 'considering action' which included enforcement, Nub News again asked the council what its position is and received the following statement: "Thurrock Council recognises how important this historic and iconic building is to the residents of Thurrock and we are committed to play a key role in ensuring that the appropriate works are carried out by the building's owner.

The exterior of the building is rotting away.

"We are currently in talks with both the owner and Historic England about the scope of works required to fix the roof.

"Work will commence once formal agreements are in place between all parties."

That statement has cut little ice with campaigners who believe the time has come for the council to honour its responsibility and pointed to a previous call, saying the council's inaction is a massively contributing factor the much-loved and iconic building's demise.

It reads: "Thurrock Council, and the building's custodians, which have included Morrisons PLC, TSP Properties LTD, JD Wetherspoon PLC and London Developments International are, in our opinion, responsible for the widescale destruction of this listed heritage asset, and Thurrock Council in particular has tacitly agreed and approved its slow destruction.

"We call for an immediate end to this destruction, if only for the sake of the safety of those in the town centre and the neighbouring properties."