THURROCK Council defended its decision to take the sale of a small plot of land in Grays to an online auction.

The authority has come in for criticism, led by Conservative councillor Qaisar Abbas for not offering the land, comprising a number of car park places off Maidstone Road, adjacent to the Sikh Temple (Gurdwara) and community hall. It sits next to the former Greenline Club.

After the Sikh community expressed an interest in purchasing the site to gain permanent access to the temple and additional parking – and petition backing their cause – in 2024, Thurrock Council classified the land as and Asset of Community Value.

However, no deal was forthcoming from that and, as it seeks to maximise and realise assets to combat its billion pound debt, the council, after giving the statutory six months to give the site users a preferential opportunity, announced it was going back to the open market.

And last Thursday the land was sold – massively climbing from the guide price of around £18,000 to sell at £199,750.

Cllr Abbas, who has been advising the Gurdwara on procedures, was furious afterwards and said: "We do not understand why the council is so anxious and, in a hurry, to sell this particular tiny community registered asset while ignoring community's numerous calls and knowingly creating problems for Thurrock's peaceful Sikh community.

"The council gave wrong and contradictory information to complete the moratorium period. This is an outrageous decision, and I strongly condemn it."

However, the council insists it was fair to the Gurdwara and its leaders, giving them ample time to get a bid in place.

A statement from the council says: "The land in question was sold by open auction and the sale followed all Asset of Community Value rules and processes.

"As an Asset of Community Value the community group was entitled to call for a moratorium to hold the sale back for six months to give them time to prepare a bid for the asset in question. For this site that period came to an end in January 2025.

"Asset of Community Value legislation provides community groups with a right to bid on assets, but not a right to buy or a right of first refusal on sale of an asset. Information explaining the position and process were sent to Grays Gurdwara, which acknowledged receipt.

"The council has a duty to achieve best value for the land. In the end it was sold at open auction for £199,750."

• More information about the Community asset process can be found in the Assets of Community Value House of Commons Library research briefing paper found at: https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/sn06366/. It says "There is no community right to buy the asset, just to bid. This means that the local community bid may not be the successful one. The owner can, at the end of the moratorium, sell to whomever they choose for whatever price they choose."