PLANNING councillors wasted little time hearing details or debating the issue as they agreed to make a site visit to Tilbury to see the site of a controversial new housing proposal.

An application has been submitted to Thurrock Council to build eight new homes on a plot of land on Kipling Avenue in Tilbury which is currently home to a children's play area.

The new homes would form two terraces of buildings.

Forty members of the public have commented on the planning application, most of them stating strong objections about the project. Residents have also raised a petition objecting to it.

And local ward councillors insisted the application be brought before the planning committee, rather than be determined by officers – who had proposed in a report to the planning committee that it be accepted!

However, councillors on the planning committee were unanimous that wanted to see the site for themselves before considering the application and it was deferred for them to do so with a presentation or discussion.