THURROCK residents opposing a huge rent rise that threatens the future of a borough pre-school have submitted a petition to the borough council calling on it to reduce its rent demand.

As reported on Thurrock Nub News last month, Thurrock Council indicated it intended to incease the rent on Aveley pre-school by 120 per cent - a figure that its operators say makes its future not viable.

At last week's meeting of the full council, Aveley and Uplands ward councillor Jacqui Maney presented a petition signed by 700 residents demanding the council reconsiders its "unfair" rent demand on the not-for-profit pre-school in Stifford Road.

Cllr Maney said: "We call on Thurrock Council to reconsider the proposed rent increase for the building occupied by Aveley Pre-school. The excessive increase sought by the local authority cannot be sustained by the pre-school which would need to close if a compromise is not agreed.

"I've been working alongside the pre-school since October on this issue. I'm pleased that the council is now listening.

"However, we are yet to receive a firm decision and I hope this petition will go some way to reinforcing the strength of feeling in Aveley. The pre-school has served Aveley children and parents, many from deprived backgrounds, for 17 years. Unlike most other childcare providers, it does not operate on a commercial basis and is a community interest company."

Cllr Maney revealed at the meeting how the pre-school's boiler has been broken since last year.

She said: "We fully understand the need for the council to review all authority rents to ensure they are in the best interests of all parties.

"The pre-school recognises this too and accepts that it has not had an up-to-date lease or rent increase for some years. However, the council is to blame for years of poor asset management and to set a 76 per cent increase now is wholly unfair.

"Make no mistake, Aveley Pre-school will close if the council were to increase their rent by the proposed amount. This will be a hammer blow to the local community.

"I will put on record now my disappointment the manner in which the council has dealt with the pre-school.

"There has been a lack of compassion or understanding and the fact that the pre-school has been without central heating since September due to a broken boiler is a disgrace."

Council leader, Cllr Andrew Jefferies said the rent increase would be reconsidered.

He said: "None of us are in any doubt that Aveley Pre-school is a valuable asset to the community. I would like to restate my apology that I gave for the lack of heating of the building.

"This is wholly unacceptable and I gave a direction for immediate action once it was brought to my attention by. I really am sorry for the time it's taken to get repaired.

"I agree that the proposed rent increase is not a fair offer and I've tasked officers with working up a fair alternative."