CONCERNS over the safety of a rail crossing next to a potential new development of 168 houses in the east of the borough were raised at this evening's meeting of Thurrock Council planning committee.

However, despite calls for approval to be deferred in a bid to force developers Bellway and Network Rail to make a commitment to change gates at the Fobbing crossing, a majority of councillors gave approval to the scheme.

Now councillors have instructed their officers to heap pressure on Network Rail to put full gates in place rather than the half gates currently there.

Members had deferred a decision on the plan for the new homes on the site of the former Waterworks at High Road, Fobbing, for a site visit which took place last month.

That meeting flagged up real concerns from members that the existing gates will be dangerous given the significant increase in traffic that will come when the 168 new homes are occupied.

The principle of building a new estate on the site was generally welcomed and approved - safety at the crossing was the only significant sticking point.

Cllr Angela Lawrence was a strong advocate for the council digging its heels in and insisting the crossing be changed, but in the end a motion to defer to put pressure on Network Rail was lost on chairman Cllr Tom Kelly's casting vote.

Members were told that Bellway had agreed to move the entrance to the new estate further away from the crossing, which prompted Cllr Lawrence to say: "I'm glad the entrance has been moved but I am still concerned that it is near the bend.

"My main concern is that I think the barrier is dangerous. I am sure the applicant could dig in an put some money towards it.

"I know Network Rail say they are happy with it, of course they are, they don't want to pay for it. It's going to be quite dangerous."

Cllr Lawrence also raised her disappointment with Bellway over the placement of affordable homes on the site, saying: "I really like the buildings and the houses but I am disappointed with the affordable housing, they have got the rough end of the stick next to the railway lines."

She was a strong advocate for deferment, saying: "There is no rush, if we give them the go-ahead tonight they don't need to do anything."

Cllr Mike Fletcher also called on the council to ask Network Rail to think again, saying he didn't want Network Rail to agree they had been wrong only after someone was killed.

"I would like to see Network Rail thinking about investing properly in that crossing," he said, adding that he believed the company should be asked to give guarantees of safety. "We asked them if they had any objections to the existing crossing, that was the wrong question.

"The question should be can they reassure us that what they have in place will remain sufficient. I want to know from Network Rail they can give us that assurance. We need to know they can assure us they are convinced it will be safe," he said.

Cllr Kelly asked for the officers to look up how pressure could be brought on Network Rail saying: "We don't want to give them any wriggle room if something did happen at that crossing."

Officers said it would be difficult to put pressure on Network Rail and the developers.

Cllr Gary Byrne was all for going ahead with the scheme as presented and said: "I'm fully on board with this, it's a great location and great for SS17."

Cllr Lawrence wouldn't be swayed and reiterated her concern, saying: "It's obvious we have to take responsibility for this crossing as the applicant and the railways don't want to take responsibility.

"We need to make sure it's in place and happening before we give the go-ahead. If lives are lost it will be down to us.

"The applicants are jumping up and down on this site. We need to get the developer and Network Rail to work together to make this safe for people. Defer until we get this done."

Cllr Potter echoed the fear, saying: "The crossing is a major issue with us. Why don't we and the developer get together and offer the money to make it safe."

However, in the end it was agreed that while moral pressure would be brought to bear, the council had no leverage on either the developer and Network Rail to force them to make a change and the scheme was approved.

Basildon Council had opposed the building of the scheme, which is, however, outside their jurisdiction as it is right on the Thurrock border.