THURROCK Council says it is moving 'in the right direction' as it tackles the blight of damp and mould in its properties.

The issue has been a running sore in the borough for many years and has frequently been featured on Thurrock Nub News and in other media.

Previously the council has sought to down play the problem and even accused the media of exaggerating the problem.

Nub News editor Neil Speight has asked the council to mount an independent investigation into the state of its properties - and if it is now time to pull some of the properties down, a question echoes by councillors including Cllr Joy Redsell and Ben Maney, whose Blackshots ward includes some of the borough's worst blocks.

Cllr Maney welcomed news that the council was planning to consult with residents in the area about the flats, saying: "In welcoming the consultation, Cllr Maney said "I have never wavered in my view that the three high rise blocks in Blackshots are no longer fit for purpose and should be brought down.

"Conditions in many individual flats are appalling with mould and damp being rife. I have never in 20 years of being a Blackshots councillor found a single resident of the flats who likes living in them."

A report on the state of council properties will be heard next Tuesday (9 November) by the council's housing overview and scrutiny committee. Members will be told the authority is moving in the right direction in tackling mouldy properties but still has almost 600 affected homes.

The report follows the committee's request in June for an update on the situation. It shows overall by 2020/21 the council had reduced incidences by 42 per cent since 2015/16 but that still meant 584 individual properties were affected by damp and mould.

In her report, Susan Cardozo, Strategic Lead Assets, Repairs and Compliance, said: "Since reporting in June 2021 the time frames for attendance, when a report of damp and mould is received from a resident, have been reduced.

"Our responsive repairs contactor will now attend on the initial inspection within five working days with required works completed within a 15 working day time frame. This is to ensure that the length of time a resident is living with damp and or mould within their property is reduced."

Councillors had also raised concerns tenants themselves were sometimes blamed for damp properties but Ms Cardozo added: "In June 2021 members of this committee raised the matter of how advice was delivered to residents. We are seeking to assure members that the messages and advice that we give to residents is not given in a manner that is seeking to appoint accountability, but in a supportive manner that will help them in preventing condensation related mould where applicable.

"Consideration is given to the cost of heating a home. It is recognised that a significant number of residents experience fuel poverty and resident liaison officers are now trained in fuel poverty assessments and have been talking to residents about how to manage their energy bills."

Cllr Redsell, says she welcomed the assurance that the issue was improving. She said: "Covid has had a bit to do with this problem and we haven't moved as far forward as we should be but its moving in the right direction.

"We have some buildings that really need to come down. As we are landlords we should be on top of it and I will be asking questions at the next meeting."