QUESTIONS have been raised again about Thurrock Council's integrity over its management of an area of land left to the borough for the good of local children – with the council accused of hoarding money for improper purposes to bolster its reserves.

Last year Chadwell St Mary councillor Sara Muldowney raised the issue of ownership of a parcel of land in her ward known as Flat Irons Field.

Her curiosity about the land was raised in July when the council listed the land opposite Cole Avenue as an 'asset for sale'. Despite the concerns of Cllr Muldowney and local residents the ruling Conservative cabinet voted unanimously to dispose of it to raise cash.

However, with the help of local residents, Cllr Muldowney's continued investigations showed the land was held in trust by the council after being bequeathed by Miss Elsie Florence Grover, for the benefit of the children of Chadwell. In the wake of her actions, the land sale was halted.

But ten months on Cllr Muldowney says the council has created a wall of secrecy and silence about what is to happen to the land – and what has happened to the money raised by leasing it out to a local farmer, something that was not a directive of Miss Grover who wanted it to be used as a playing field.

Miss Grover's will.

Cllr Muldowney says: "It is unacceptable that I am still waiting for answers. Freedom of Information requests, which were only answered recently following a complaint to the Information Commissioner, show that the council has been receiving more than £1,000 a year for the rental and wayleave of this land.

"This should have been paid into the charitable trust set up for this purpose. Where has this money gone?

"The council claims it is holding the money in reserves. That's not good enough. It should be paid into the Trust. I have asked the Charities Commission to investigate this matter and am awaiting their reply.

"Given the precarious nature of council finances at the moment, I fear this money has been spent, or will be spent by the Conservative-run council as they struggle to deliver a balanced budget this year rather than for the good of local children, which is why it was bequeathed to the borough."

Donating the land in her will, Miss Grover said: "I devise my freehold land known as Flat Irons Field, having an area of approximately six acrs situated at West Tilbury and adjoining the Chadwell estate of Thurrock Urbanm District Council shall be used by the Thurrock Council as a playing field or centre for poney riding for the young people of Thurrock.

She also bequeathed an area of land klnown as Bexlands, in West Tilbury to be used 'for such purpose as the council shall in its discretion think fit but so that the land shall at all tim,es be held for the benefit of the people of Thurrock.

Thurrock Council has declined to answer questions from Nub News.