FOLLOWING on from what at times teetered on angry exchanges in Thurrock's Council chamber, the authority has explained its renewed plans for the redevelopment of Grays Town Beach, after winning a court battle to oust tenants of the site's café.

Cllr Lee Watson, Thurrock Council cabinet member of good growth, explained what the council's plans were, saying:  "As residents know from last year's consultation, we have exciting plans for the Grays Riverside, including a new café with views of the river.

"We are trying to work with the current Lightship Café managers so we can take the building back, which is vital to allow works to get underway.

"We went to court to try to progress this process."

Thurrock councillor Qaisar Abbas has focused attention on the issue through public pronouncements and questions in council debate.

He has taken up the cause of followers of Thurrock Hindu Temple Ltd, a company that was dissolved and struck off the Companies House' register in July this year.

Cllr Lee Watson has detailed plans for Grays Beach.

The company was run by Rajesh Kumari and Amita Sharma. Ms Sharma was a member of the tenant partnership that ran café – and who contested the council's legal action.

Both sides put their case in this Thurrock  Nub News story in June ahead of the court action.

However, Ms Sharma said the council was treating her and her partner, and other members of the café community unfairly.

Ms Sharma told Nub News: "We have been unfairly treated and have not been supported by the council despite myself and my partner investing £38,000 of our own money here.

"We renovated and opened the coffee shop, for example. We support the splash pad which opens in the summer by hosting birthday parties for children using it.

"How does the council justify us disappointing those children? We wanted to include the splash pad in the lease but the council will not allow us.

"We are being unfairly manipulated and mistreated' by the authority. If they want us out to 'improve' the park, so be it. We will work with them and work it out but the way they have gone about this is all wrong."

She went on to make a number of allegations against the authority, saying: "What the council is doing is to harass and racially discriminate those that have worked so hard to make this place 'special' for everyone in the community."

Those allegations of racial harassment have been echoed by Cllr Qaisar Abbas, who has recently been accused of attempting to weaponise religion and race issues in his battles with the council's leadership.

And he raised them in the council chamber at this week's full council meeting (Wednesday, 22 October).

Recently he took a front seat in criticism of the council over its decision not to sell a small plot of land directly to the Grays Sikh community's Gurdwara (temple), but instead to take it to the open market. It was sold last week for almost £200,000.

Cllr Abbas raised that issue, and the Grays Beach café, in exchanges with senior cabinet members.

He asked Cllr Watson to outline its plans for Grays beach and the café, which mirrored those in answer given to Thurrock Nub News, which asked a similar question on Monday, 20 October. The response is in full, later in this story.

Cllr Watson summarised that response and said plans included creating a new multi-use building on the site of the existing café.

She added the council would be looking to appoint an operator for the building in 'early 2026' and said the process would be open and transparent.

He questioned Cllr Valarie Morris-Cook, the cabinet member for resources. He accused the council of not acting properly and transparently about the sale of the land in Grays.

He said: "I have several emails, messages and team meetings with council officers from 2024 onwards from which I now know myself and the Gurdwara was given evidence which was wrong, conflicting, misleading and flawed."

He then referenced a petition accepted by the council, which contained 1,200 signatures calling for sale of the land, a designated community asset, to the Gurdwara.

And asked Cllr Morris-Cook how and why the council had not honoured a six month moratorium on selling the land.

Cllr Valerie Morris-Cook responds to questions from Cllr Qaisar Abbas

Cllr Morris Cook responded by saying: "The correct process was followed. I believe the petition was to ensure that the area in question was put under a community asset.

"Everything was done in line. I have been copied into numerous emails, as have you, where you have been given full and transparent details of the process and what has happened.

"Also I do need to make it quite clear that we did receive legal documentation from the Gurdwara that I can only discuss the business of that (the Gurdwara) with the registered and authorised representative and, sadly, you are not classed as one of them, so I can't discuss it any further.

Cllr Abbas responded: "I'm not asking you questions about the Gurdwara, I'm asking you questions as an elected member on a community asset and a petition that was presented in this very chamber.

He went on to quote Cllr Morris-Cook as saying last year: 'We have engaged with Gurwara on this issue, and we were very pleased with the outcome. It is the right thing to do, and we are looking forward to strengthening our relations with the Gurwara and the Sikh and other communities that use our facilities in the months to come.

"You sold this land without following the due process. Will you apologise for making this factually incorrect statement"?

Cllr Morris-Cook retorted: "Can a council justify selling off an asset of community value (ACV) to support the community empowerment? That is what you are asking, yes?

"The ACV regime gives communities the right to bid, not a guarantee of right to buy. And the council's approach ensures that legal compliance, fairness, and a prudent use of public resources has been used."

Earlier in the council meeting, Cllr Abbas went head-to-head with Cllr Watson, asking her: "Can the portfolio holder tell us what the regeneration plans for the Lightship Cafe and building are and what consultation has been undertaken to relocate Hindu Prayer service in the building."

Cllr Watson's reactions are mentioned earlier in this story.

However, the council has backed them up with an official statement.

It says: "The Council successfully secured funding through the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) Towns Fund to regenerate Grays Riverside for the benefit of Thurrock residents.

"From the outset, this has included the redevelopment of the Lightship Café site to improve facilities for visitors to Grays Beach Riverside Park.

"The redevelopment of this building forms part of the wider public realm works, and obtaining possession of the site is essential to allow these works to proceed.

"The Council sought to negotiate with the tenants to secure vacant possession voluntarily; however, this was not achieved, and the Council was therefore required to obtain possession through the courts.

"At a hearing on 18 September 2025, the County Court dismissed the Lightship Café's application to set aside the possession order (dated 11 April 2025) and awarded the Council costs of £3,000. The Council has applied for a Bailiff warrant and is currently awaiting a date for eviction.

As part of the Grays Riverside (Town Deal) Programme, the Council is progressing plans to:

·       Enhance the public realm and create improved public spaces along the riverside;

·       Install new flood defences to protect the area; and

·       Develop a new multi-use building within Grays Beach Riverside Park on the site currently occupied by the Lightship Café.

"These improvements form a key part of the Council's long-term commitment to revitalising Grays Riverside and delivering high-quality facilities for the community."

Cllr Qaisar Abbas (holding trophy) picked up an award at the Civic Hall recently.

Cllr Abbas has become associated with representing minority ethnic groups across the council, a policy that has brough him some recognition.

Last week it was announced Cllr Qaisar Abbas has been awarded the Bridge Builder Award by NASFAT UK & Ireland,  a [art of the Nasr ul-Lahi-l-Fatih Society of Nigeria, a Muslim organization. It serves as an Islamic community centre with an address listed in Dartford.

He received the award from NASFAT UK & Ireland during the 10th anniversary celebration of its Thurrock Branch held on 18 October 2025 in the Civic Hall, Grays.

The award recognises Cllr Abbas's work to fostering unity, understanding, and positive relationships among diverse communities and faith groups across Thurrock and beyond.

Cllr Abbas said: "I am honoured and humbled to receive this award. Building bridges between communities and promoting mutual respect and understanding are values I hold very close to my heart."

NASFAT commended Cllr Abbas for his long-standing commitment to promoting collaboration, dialogue, and shared values among people of all backgrounds.