A PLOT of land in Grays went under the hammer today (Thursday, 16 October), despite the best efforts of the community organisation that uses it trying to buy it direct.

The land is off Maidstone Road in Grays and had been registered as Asset of Community Value because of its use by the adjacent Sikh Temple (Gurdwara) and community hall. It sits next to the former Greenline Club.

However, the council said it cannot sell the land directly to the Sikh community, despite recognising that it has become an integral part of operations at the venue.

And at aution today it was sold for £199,750 after the bidding was opened at £18,000. The top and winning bid was recorded two hours later after a race to buy that featured just two bidders. At this stage it has not been stated who won. 

Conservative councillor Qaisar Abbas has been at the forefront of the fight for the right of the Gurdwara community to buy it and says the cash-strapped council, which has 'acknowledged the Gurdwara's longstanding interest in this site' is acting punitively against the Sikhs, with raising money prioritised above community interest.

Cllr Abbas said: "The Thurrock Sikh community and Grays Gurdwara have been contributing in many ways in Thurrock from last 50 years.

"We do not understand why the council is so anxious and, in a hurry, to sell this particular tiny community registered asset while ignoring community's numerous calls and knowingly creating problems for Thurrock's peaceful Sikh community.

"The council gave wrong and contradictory information to complete the moratorium period and now proceeding to sell this important registered asset of community value. This is an outrageous decision, and I strongly condemn it."

The Thurrock Sikh community had previously presented a petition, signed by more than 1,000 people asking the council to stop the sale of this land in the past.

Following that move the site was granted status as an asset of community value in 2024, which theoretically gives the site's principle users the right to be at the head of the queue to buy.

However, the council's Director of Place Claire Demmel has told Jasvinder Jassel, chair of the Grays Gurdwara, that the authority has an obligation to get best value and she recently wrote to him saying: "Following careful consideration of your request, I must confirm that the Council will be proceeding with the disposal of the site via public auction.

"This approach follows legal advice received to ensure the Council's compliance with its statutory obligations and to uphold the principles of transparency and best value under Section 123 of the Local Government Act 1972.

"The Council has also complied with all statutory requirements of the Localism Act 2011 in relation to the ACV process, including the completion of the six-month moratorium period, during which no disposal took place.

"While the Council appreciates the concerns raised around earlier communications and process, there is no legal basis to defer or suspend the disposal at this stage. The decision to proceed to auction has been made to ensure all interested parties, including the Gurdwara, have an equal opportunity to bid in an open and transparent manner.

"As noted previously, no binding agreement has been entered into for the land. The Gurdwara is therefore welcome to participate in the auction should it wish to do so. 

"The Council remains committed to ensuring that the disposal process is fair, lawful and transparent, and we are grateful for your continued engagement."

That decision appears in contrast with platitudes offered by officers and senior councillors in May last year when the site was classified as a community asset.

Among them was Grays Riverside ward councillor and cabinet member Cllr Val Morris-Cook who said: "We have engaged with the Gurdwara on this issue and we are very pleased with the outcome, it's the right thing to do. I am looking forward to strengthening our relationship with the Gurdwara, the Sikh and other communities that use the facility in the months to come."

Jasvinder Jassel and Gurdip Singh Dhillon with Cllr Qaisar Abbas (centre) on the land in question.

Mr Jassel says Ms Demmel's confirmation of the council's position is unfair - and possibly against the law.

He said: "As Chair of the Holding Trustees, I have written formally to Thurrock Council and its Executive Director, Ms Demmel, outlining serious concerns about the administrative handling and inconsistent communication surrounding the proposed auction of the Maidstone Road land — which is a registered Asset of Community Value.

"The Gurdwara was repeatedly given assurances that any disposal would involve proper consultation and priority for registered community organisations. Unfortunately, the process has instead moved to public auction without clear explanation or resolution of earlier procedural issues.

"We have requested that the Council pause the auction and allow time for a transparent review and meaningful engagement with the Gurdwara. Our community continues to hope for a fair and lawful outcome that reflects the site's long-standing community and religious importance."

At the same time as the site was given community asset status last year, Mr Jassel and Mr Gurdip Singh Dhillon, president of Grays Gurdwara, issued a joint statement saying: "We thank Thurrock Council for listing this site as an asset of community value. The Sikh community has contributed positively in Thurrock for many decades, and we are very grateful for this listing."

In the petition, the Gurdwara had committed to buying the land 'at the market rate'.

The list of registered community assets in Thurrock can be viewed here: http://www.thurrock.gov.uk/.../assetscommunityvalue...