Government reject Ship Lane call-in - local opponents speak of their disappointment while Grays Athletic can get ready to move in

By Nub News Reporter

6th Dec 2023 | Local News

MANY residents in Aveley have spoken of their anger and disappointment today (Wednesday, 6 December) after learning that the government has declined to 'call-in' a plan for a new car preparation on the former ground of Thurrock FC.

In contrast the news will come as a delight to supporters of Grays Athletic who should now be ready to start the transition to their new home at the ground.

Today's breaking news is likely to bring an end to years of wrangling over the future of the ground and the planned car preparation plant to be operated by Group 1 Automotive.

As part of their application Group 1 will gift the existing the homeless Grays Athletic.

It took four planning applications for the scheme to finally win approval from Thurrock Council's planning committee and even then - because the site is in the green belt and Thurrock planning officers opposed it – the Planning Inspectorate had to be given the opportunity to 'call in' and re-examine the approval granted on 21 September this year.

The area to be developed as a car preparation plant.

Now campaigners against the scheme have been told the 'call-in' will not happen.

This morning Grays Athletic said they were still awaiting official confirmation and would not comment until they had been officially informed.

However, the objectors say they have had that confirmation and they are feeling devastated.

Leading campaigner Cathy Sisterston told Thurrock Nub News: "On behalf of the residents of Aveley, who have fought against the PDI plan since 2019, we are absolutely gutted that this has been allowed through.

"We are sacrificing a large area of Green Belt land, plus all the extra traffic and pollution, for no more than 30 jobs.

"It is sending out the message that literally anything goes when it comes to Thurrock's green belt and setting a terrible precedent for future planning decisions.

"It was on the vote of just two members of the planning committee, Cllrs Kelly and Polley, and it took Group 1 four attempts to get it through.

"Cllr Polley made a complete u-turn after the first two votes, and seemingly no longer cares to protect the what she had described as the 'green lungs' of Thurrock.

"We remain to find out how the s106 money that comes with this application will help our community, and hope that there will be a public consultation on this issue."

A view of the ground and former training pitches adjacent to the Mar Dyke river.

Opponents to the scheme received the following from Karen Partridge at Planning Casework Unit of the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

She said: "The Government remains committed to giving more power to councils and communities to make their own decisions on planning issues and believe that planning decisions should be made at the local level wherever possible.

"The call-in policy makes it clear that the power to call in a case will only be used very selectively.

"The Secretary of State has decided, having had regard to this policy, not to call in this application. "He is satisfied that the application should be determined at a local level.

"I appreciate that this is not the preferred outcome for you, and I understand that there will be great disappointment as a result. It is however, now for the Council to determine this application."

A statement from Thurrock council today says: "The Council has now received confirmation that the application will not be called in and will now proceed to agree the Section 106 Agreement prior to issuing the consent, in accordance with the decision of Planning Committee."

The plan for development of the Fire Brigade Club site.

When the plan was put before Thurrock Council, it was accompanied by a separate proposal to develop the playing fields at Belhus adjacent to the Impulse Leisure Centre. However, that has since been withdrawn by Group 1 and Grays..

But a different scheme for another plot of land adjacent to the playing fields has been proposed as part of another local scheme, the plan to redevelop the green fields of the former Fire Brigade Club, again on the border of Aveley.