GRAYS Athletic FC has become part of a fourth formal application to build a car preparation plant on the site of the former Thurrock FC ground and training pitches at Ship Lane, Aveley – and the fan-owned club would the make use of the existing stadium.

Two previous applications on behalf of initial applicant Group One Automotive have been rejected and last year Thurrock Council declined to accept a third attempt to gain planning permission.

However, a fourth application has now landed on the desks of council planners – this time with Grays Athletic as a formal partner in the application.

A submission from JMS Planning and Development, representing the car company and Grays Athletic, says: "The applicant has taken legal advice and made changes to the application.

"Rather than making a number of minor changes to the schemed to try and create points of difference, the applicant has now focussed on certain key matters to address the council's previous concerns.

"In addition the applicant has responded directly to advice from officers and now made Frays Athletic Football Club a joint applicant."

Another change is that plans to make a contribution to sporting facilities by allocating half a million pounds to developing facilities at the Belhus Park, a separate application has been made to create a new 3G artificial pitch at the park to be operated by Impulse Leisure as a community facility.

Mr Julian Sutton, who has presented previous applications to the council on behalf of Group One Automotive, adds: "It is requested that the two applications be presented to the planning committee in tandem and the development of the application proposals at Ship Lane be legally tied to the creation of the new 3G football pitch at Belhus Golf and Country Park."

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The latest full application for the Thurrock FC site can be viewed via this link - and it also offers the opportunity for local people to comment on the application.

The plan was first mooted in 2020 but was rejected by Thurrock Council in February 2021 because of the adverse impact on traffic the scheme would have on road in neighbouring Aveley and its impact on the green belt. A second bid was also rejected and the third didn't even make it to the debate stage.