AFTER a long, drawn out an ultimately fruitless campaign a community-based organisation based at the former Tilbury Fire Station shut its doors for a final time today.

The good news for the Martial Academy charity is that it has forged a new alliance with the town's football club and will continue in the future.

The academy has been running for the past seven years has offered a multitude of sporting activities for local families including martial arts, boxing, football and Futsal, netball and yoga in the former fire station which was converted into a community resource centre.

However, Thurrock Council's plans for a new integrated medical centre for Tilbury mean the building has been earmarked for demolition.

Local people campaigned for the council to provide alternative facilities but the plea fell on deaf ears and the academy's founder and manager Dean Turner has told of his disappointment as today (Sunday, 29 November) brought the end of an era.

He said: "Today marks a very sad day in the history of the Martial Academy charity. It is the last day clearing our assets from the old fire station due to the forced closure by Thurrock council.

"Unfortunately the council have offered no alternative for the charity but I am delighted to say that Tilbury Football Club have now offered us a lifeline.

"I am proud to say we will be forming a partnership with the Dockers due to the generosity of the chairman Daniel Nash and the club's board. Thanks to them we have been able to retain a large amount of our assets and hope to forge a strong alliance with the football club in the future.

"I am very proud to have achieved what we have at the fire station and hope for those residents and children most in need in the area it has given them some happy and joyful memories to treasure for the rest of their lives.

"Of course I must thank everybody that has been integral to the charity's success. Over the past seven years I hope we have all made some great friends and forever memories which nobody can take away.

"Hopefully we can regroup and make 2021 the beginning of more great memories for both staff and residents but most importantly those children that need us most to provide a safe welcoming sanctuary, to give them a pathway to being positive upstanding ladies and gentlemen in the future.

"Merry Christmas all, have a good one."