A CHANGE of mind by Thurrock Cabinet members not to rush into selling an open space in East Tilbury has been welcomed.

However, the authority is to sell off four ither patches of open space in residential areas – and the freehold of the South Essex College site in Grays.

Earlier this week Nub News reported on the planned sales – which were due to be approved at the council's cabinet on Wednesday evening (19 November). And also on the plan to sell of the site of the former Culver Centre and adjacent playing field. See separate story.

Resources portfolio holder Cllr Valerie Morris-Cook had told the meeting that the parcels of land proposed for sale offered 'no strategic or operational need'.

Cllr Val Morris-Cook (right) delivers a verdict on the value of open spaces

She added: "Amenity land provides no income, no strategic benefit and creates on-going costs and liabilities for the council.

"Disposal removes the maintenance and the insurance burdens.

"Over-aged and restrictive covenants will be applied where appropriate to protect the council's financial interest if redevelopment occurs in future use.

"Any alternative use would be subject to planning policy and statutory process.

On the market: South Essex College freehold.

"The land at the South Essex College. The college holds the freehold of the site with a long lease to serve Essex College. The buildings are not owned by Thurrock Council. The disposal is financially advantageous. The college will be invited to express an interest as a special purchaser."

All the sales, bar one, were approved. At the request of the portfolio holder for good growth, Cllr Lee Watson, the sale of a plot of land off Coronation Avenue in East Tilbury was deferred.

Cllr Watson: "I am concerned with the land on the north side of Coronation Avenue.  Currently we are speaking with developers and there is actually quite a substantive amount of work that is going in there and I feel that until those plans have come forward I would like to ask cabinet to defer this piece of land for the investigation of how the impact with plans that are currently in place mean for the bigger side of East Tilbury.

News of the cabinet's change of heart has been welcomed by East Tilbury councillor Fraser Massey, who said: "Myself and Cllr Sue Sammons along with the chair of the WELCOM community forum really welcome the news that Thurrock cabinet have chosen to not to rush through putting the land North of Coronation Ave (Bure Park) in the list to be sold.

"Although it may return to the cabinet in the future, the cabinet member for place Cllr Lee Watson made some really good points last night. There are a lot of plans which are not submitted, and this land could be pivotal in those plans.

"This land is a green amenity area enjoyed for many decades by residents and to rush through a sale and plough a road through it to allow more greenbelt building around East Tilbury is not in the best interests of the residents.

"We welcome the pause and reflect, and lets hope with more dialogue we can be more creative than just selling off more of the councils land just for the benefit of developers."

Cllr Morris-Cook welcomed Cllr Watson's intervention and said: "It is absolutely right to do this as we want to make sure there are no conflicts or no other burdens that are going to East Tilbury. It's absolutely the right thing. I'm happy to withdraw that piece.

There was no further discussion and cabinet members agreed to proceeding with the selling of its assets and to delegate authority to senior officers and the cabinet member of finance and resources to carry out the sales.