RESIDENTS and councillors opposed to the granting of planning permission for a new primary school on green belt land in Aveley have asked the planning minister to 'call in' the decision and hold a public inquiry.

Last month, after several meetings and considerable debate at the council's planning committee, councillors succumbed to the argument put forward by education and planning officers that the pressing need for new school places overrode all the legitimate objections to building on the site near Love Lane. They gave approval to the scheme, much to the disappointment of a large number of residents who attended - and Conservative ward councillor Cllr Maureen Pearce who gave an impassioned plea for the plan's rejection.

That was despite a number of presentations, led initially by former education portfolio holder and now borough mayor Cllr James Halden, that the figures presented to justify the argument did not stand up under examination. That was an argument repeated in detail at last month's meeting by local campaigner Cathy Sisterson. You can read her presentation and other arguments via this link.

The application has always been contentious. In April the committee came close to throwing it out (https://thurrock.nub.news/news/local-news/avelely-primary-school-plan-fails-to-win-favour-with-councillors-129866 ) and it was deferred to come back before members in June. They narrowly granted permission but the decision had to be reconsidered at July's meeting because officers had not put all the relevant information, including details of objection from residents, before the councillors.

However the decision stood after July's meeting - at which objectors described the move to grant permission for the new Harrier Primary School as a 'Trojan Horse' to open the door for a possible 2,000 homes development. Thurrock Nub News highlighted plans for the huge new development in a story you can read via this link.

Now Labour ward councillor Srikanth Panjala, after consultation with cross party fellow councillors and residents, has written to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities calling on the minister to open a public inquiry into the decision.

Cllr Panjala's letter says: "On Thursday, 14 July, Thurrock Council's planning committee approved this application – subject to your assessment and potential call-in. 

"I am writing to you as the local ward councillor to ask that you use your power of call-in to allow greater public scrutiny of this proposal. 

"The site at present forms an area of open agricultural land and unused open land between Love Lane and the A13. 

"The site is within the Green Belt where NPPF chapter 13 and Core Strategy policies CSSP4 (Sustainable Green Belt), PMD6 (Development in the Green Belt) apply.  

"Thurrock Council's Core Strategy policy CSTP21 (Productive Land) seeks to preserve the best and most versatile agricultural land (under DEFRA grades 1, 2 and 3) and this policy states the Council will not support development of such land "except in exceptional circumstances".  

"Paragraph no. 174 of the NPPF is also relevant and states that: 

"Planning policies and decisions should contribute to and enhance the natural and local environment by: 

• (a)protecting and enhancing valued landscapes, sites of biodiversity or geological value and soils ... 
• (b) recognising the intrinsic character and beauty of the countryside, and the wider benefits from natural capital and ecosystem services – including the economic and other benefits of the best and most versatile agricultural land ..." 

"Land within the site is classed within Agricultural Land Classification 1 (excellent quality) 

"The applicant claims the need for school places demonstrates "exceptional circumstances", however, the figures from Thurrock's Pupil Place Plan show that by 2025, Aveley will be short of 27 primary school places and two reception places.

Residents have attended planning meetings in numbers to object to the proposal.

"In nearby Kenningtons the need is greater, being short of 59 primary school places, 12 at reception level, while Purfleet will be undersubscribed by 99, 30 at reception age. 

"The Kennington's Community is separated from Aveley by a busy by-pass. The distance from the centre of The Kenningtons Estate to Love Lane is 1.4 miles - approximately a thirty-minute walk for an adult.

"The shortfall of places, in Aveley, does not, in my view, demonstrate the "exceptional circumstances" that would allow a 420-capacity new school to be built. 

"The building itself does not meet the 'outstanding' environmental standards required by law for building on green belt, simply 'very good'. 

"The applicant claims a 20% reduction in carbon emissions compared with traditional buildings. Surely, that must be zero carbon, or even carbon negative?

"If the school is allowed it will, undoubtedly, open the door for the entire site to be developed and it is understood the Local Authority is in discussions with developers over the building of 2,000 homes in this location. 

"There is currently a right of way through the application site and any development will take away the well-used green belt that serves not just walkers but also horses that graze on the land. 

The contentious site is on prime agricultural land.

"The location of the site will mean more cars will be used with more congestion in the area leading to more pollution, along with tail back of traffic down Love Lane (which is not designed for heavy car usage). 

"To summarise, I do not think that sufficient weight has been given to the fact that the school will be an 'inappropriate development' within the Green Belt.

"It will harm the openness of the site and conflict with green belt purposes and would also mean that we have lost Grade 1 agricultural land - this is particularly significant at this time of increased awareness of the importance of food security and the need to produce food here in this country. 

"The argument that 'very special circumstances' for allowing this development just doesn't hold water.

"I hope that you will be able to support my request for this application to be called-in for a public enquiry."