A THURROCK councillor has condemned members of the ruling Conservative group for failing to support a motion he put to council to try and stop the sale of the Grangewaters activity centre.

The cash-strapped council has earmarked Grangewaters as one of the assets that can be sold off to raise capital and save running costs as it battles to meet a shoprtfall in its proposed budget of more than £3 million

As soon as the sell-off plans were mooted, local users of Grangewaters began to muster a campaign to oppose the sale, as reported by Thurrock Nub News in September.

And recently Nub News Nub News revisited the activists' campaign, which has consistently been gaining momentum and support.

At last week's meeting of the full council, Cllr Mike Fletcher attempted to get a motion passed calling on the council to halt its disposal plans, but it was outvoted by the ruling group, prompting a strong response of condemnation from the Belhus ward councillor.

He said: "Conservative councillors have spurned the opportunity to support Grangewaters Outdoor Education Centre and to send a message to Thurrock's Tory cabinet to row back from selling or closing Grangewaters.

"I am really disappointed that Tory councillors voted to support the sell off of Grangewaters.

"It is clear the Tories will now push ahead with selling or leasing the site to help fill their financial black hole.

"The fact is that if you give away control of Grangewaters then all of those local groups that currently use the centre - such as the angling clubs, the Newfoundland Working Dogs or the Motorboat & Waterski Club - will be at risk of being priced out of using facilities that some have been using for over fifty years.

"Grangewaters is self-sustaining and prior to Covid was making a small profit. Unfortunately the council's response to this has been to hike prices, including a massive 63% increase for the Motorboat & Waterski club, threatening to price these activities out of the means of local people - a taste of things to come?

"Grangewaters is absolutely unique. It's the only place in Thurrock - or the surrounding area - where our young people can learn vital outdoor skills as well as acting as a training facility for schools, Thurrock Yacht Club and many individuals and a home for a range of clubs.

"Last week's meeting was the chance for councillors to show their support for Grangewaters and for all those who use it. It is bitterly disappointing the Conservatives voted, instead to give the green light to its sale or lease."