THURROCK Council's planning committee met this evening (Thursday, 6 April) to debate the application for a new logistics hub on land adjacent to Watts Wood including Mardyke Farm, Ship Lane and Broomhill, Arterial Road in Purfleet-on-Thames.

They will be meeting again to make a decision later in the year after it was agreed to have a site visit!

The controversial application has prompted a significant amount of opposition from residents - but also support from supporters of Essex Boys and Girls Clubs.

Members were briefed on the application for the Mardyke Park hub by senior planning projects officer Matthew Gallagher.

A total of 12 units are proposed for either Class B2 Use Class (general industrial) and/or Class B8 Use Class (logistics floorspace) along with associated ancillary development.

The sizes of each of the units proposed vary from 241sq.m to 15,777sq.m (GIA) and with a total 45,340sq.m (GEA).

The site will also include a community use building, providing 500sq.m of community use floorspace space. It is planned to be used by the Bous and Girls Clubs.

The proposed lay-out of the site.

Mr Gallagher said the site was in the green belt, which was the fundamental reason why officers were recommending refusal as it was inappropriate development.

Mr Gallagher told members one major area of concern was the amount of traffic the site would generate.

The applicants, MD Star Ltd, said that it would be negligible but Mr Gallagher highlighted Thurrock Council's concerns and those of National Highways and he added: "We remain to be convinced that traffic flow is within acceptable limits."

He did acknowledge the site would create a significant number of jobs, there would be economic benefits and the council agreed that there would be no adverse impact on local air quality."

In summary he concluded that council officers did not believe that the benefits outweighed the harm to the green belt and there were more than enough reasons to refuse planning permission."

Committee chairman Cllr Tom Kelly asked whether the applicants' submissions were 'close' to being acceptable as they were given 'light' or 'medium' weight. That appeared to open a chink of light for the developers' ambitions as Mr Gallagher said: "I don't think personally I don't think there is anything there that is significant. Though that has to be tempered by the fact that there are other sites in the borough which are ready to go, which you should take into account."

Cllr Kelly then highlighted the fact that part of the reason for a recommendation to refuse was the visual impact on the environment, but said said the site was already home to large and intrusive pylons, suggesting they were far more negative than the visual impact of the buildings.

Mr Gallagher advised it was the job of councillors to weigh all recommendations 'in the round' and the advice that was given meant that they were going into a decision-making process with their 'eyes open'.

Flooding of the Mardyke Valley upstream of the proposed development.

Cllr Lee Watson quizzed Mr Gallagher over the danger of flooding. She described it as an area where horses already had 'private swimming pools'.

However, Mr Gallagher said that the site was designated as a 3A risk area which meant it was at risk but it was still viable subject to certain conditions. Originally the site had been classified as 3B, which is the highest level of risk, but it had now been downgraded as far as risk is concerned.

He said that originally there was an Environmental Agency objection because of the flooding risk, but this had now been lifted. He said there was no legitimate reason to object now on flood risk grounds, particularly because the development did not increase risk of flooding elsewhere.

Cllr Watson quizzed highways officer Julian Howes about how many HGV movements there would be in and out of the site, and how many might go through Aveley to be told: "Off the top of my head I couldn't tell you."

He said that if HGVs travelled towards Aveley in breach of a weight limit it wasn't a council issue, it was 'for the police to enforce it'.

He did concede it was likely that if there were problems on Junction 31 with the M25 it was likely lorries would go through Aveley. Hence he said the council were not 'convinced' on how the traffic would operate according to the applicants' submission.

Resident Jacqui Maney: "The proposed development site is green belt and is a demarcation line. If it were built on it would permit urban sprawl between Purfleet and Aveley.

"I would ask the committee to protect this area of green belt and open space. Any benefit being offered by the community facility will not be available to the majority of residents of Aveley. There is no way they should support this application."

Cllr Maureen Pearce also opposed the application, saying: "I am opposed to this proposal is yet another one that boxes bin our community with industrialisation. we don't need any more in this part of Thurrock.

The planning committee meeting can be viewed in its entirety above.

"This will decimate the character of this area. We don't need more community spaces, we already have them in Aveley.

"None of this would be a substitute for the natural area we currently enjoy."

Martin Solder, the Director Essex Boys and Girls Clubs, supported the application, saying: "I am here this evening to speak in support of the proposals at Mardyke Park in my capacity as County Director of the Essex Boys and Girls Clubs. This is a role I have had for 33 years.

"The proposals are predominantly employment-driven and, if approved, will provide 703 direct jobs. Funds will also be made available to provide people with the skills to access these jobs. These new jobs will also benefit from the proximity to the newly created Freeport.

"As you would expect, I am especially supportive of the new £2 million community facility that is being proposed. This will be enormously supportive for the youth of Aveley and Purfleet-on-Thames.

"It will also support the youth infrastructure we already have in the Borough, which includes those located at Belhus Park Cricket Club, Purfleet Youth Club, Chadwell and St Mary Boxing Club, Linford Boys and Girls Club and Linford Wanders FC, Seabrook Rise YC, Gateway Boxing club.

"The facilities at Mardyke Park will have an emphasis on recreation and leisure. It will include a multi-functional hall; a trim trail; sports pitches; a dog adventure playground.

"I attended the public consultation in advance of the planning application being submitted. I understand that any development on the Green Belt is an emotive subject.

"But, I also heard about how the existing communities of Purfleet-on-Thames and Aveley want the next generation to have opportunities for recreation, leisure, and employment.

"Those in attendance also talked about wanting a safe environment where HGVs do not need to access Aveley village centre. Mardyke Park responds positively to these demands.

"I have also seen the information that has been sent to elected Members in advance of the committee to summarise the proposals.

"This includes information relating to the proposed legal agreement and what this is on offer to Thurrock. £5 million towards local infrastructure is a very attractive package.

"This scheme is private-sector driven. It provides a strong balance between economic growth and well-being. It offers real tangible benefits and has the full backing of the Essex Boys and Girls Clubs and the 300 people that have publicly come out in favour of the scheme.

"I am especially supportive of the new nearly £2 million facility on the site that will be enormously valuable to the boys and girls of Purfleet and Aveley.

"The facility will offer something for all.

"I understand that any development in the green belt is an emotive subject but this is an opportunity for recreation and employment for the next generation."

"After all the questions and comments Cllr Paul Arnold said: "I have grave concerns, I would really like to see the site, it would be very beneficial."

He proposed that and it was unanimously agreed and the debate was adjourned to a future date.