A CALL by Thurrock Council to residents to submit ideas for more leisure and entertainment facilities in the borough has been widely mocked.

The council issued a social media plea to residents to 'Have Your Say' on eight sites they have earmarked for leisure development in Bulphan, Chadwell St Mary, Corringham, East Tilbury, Horndon on the Hill, Orsett, South Ockendon and Stanford-le-Hope - though they have given few details of what is proposed.

The online survey has been ridiculed because it comes in the wake of the council announcing plans to significantly cut existing leisure and recreation facilities in the area - most notably by disposing of the Thameside Complex with its theatre, library and museum and also selling the Grangewaters outdoor activity centre.

In addition there have been many complaints about the lack of maintenance and investment at outdoor areas in the borough - including allowing the stagnation of Coalhouse Fort.

Leisure use charges have also been increased and the council has announced it plans to cut one in four jobs - with the expectation that many of those cuts will come in the area of leisure and social amenity provision.

Publishing the survey has brought lots of condemnation of the council.

Among the critics, local councillor Gary Byrne says the authority is simply 'taking the mickey out of local people'. "How can they do this in the same week they agree to close our theatre?" he says.

Given the widespread opposition to planned cuts and complaints about the council's commitment to leisure facilities, residents have questioned the validfity of the questions posed by the council.

For example the survey says: "The following questions focus on the natural, built, social, and financial assets of your community. Your answers will help the Council understand what is valued locally and where there is need for improvement, thereby enabling them to make a local plan that best serves local residents and workers."

Cllr Byrne said: "On the one hand the council totally ignores public opinion and thinks it knows best and can tell everyone what to do, but on the other they come out and say they want to know what the local people value. Why? When all they seem to want to do is shut things down.

"It is quite clear local people value the Thameside Complex and the Thameside Theatre. and they value Coialhouse Fort. But the council doesn't want to know that and when it is told that is the truth, they ignore it."

The council survey can be found via this link