RESIDENTS and councillors have spoken up following a film posted by Thurrock Nub News Editor Neil Speight today that once again highlighted the savage butchery of a piece of the borough's natural heritage and a lack of action by Thurrock Council – despite a welter of public protest.

Earlier this week we reported on renewed public concern about the degradation of land close to mobile homes site between Tilbury and Chadwell St Mary on Biggin Lane which is predominantly occupied by traveller families.

Homes on the site have planning permission for residential use but many of the people living there operate landscaping or paving businesses and it appears they have been ripping out a free natural resource for an adjacent hill and operating businesses from their homes – all without planning permission.

The issue has been a running sore with neighbours for several years, but despite complaints and submissions of evidence, the council have refused to take enforcement action.

The council has declined to respond to enquiries from Thurrock Nub News about current activities on the site – and it has ignored questions and concern from its own local councillors.

"I raised this. To date I have had no answer"

Among them is Chadwell St Mary councillor Gerard Rice who told us: "I raised this several weeks ago with the Director of Planning, Andrew Millard. To date I have had no answer.

"Local residents have raised concerns about this illegal land movement and I informed Mr Millard that I was very concerned but officers have taken no action. I do not know why they have not put a stop to this, the evidence seems pretty clear to everyone but council officials.

"This area of natural land has all but been destroyed. I will be renewing my pressure for action."

And Tilbury councillor John Allen is another who is bitterly aggrieved by what is happening.

He has visited the site and take photographs of the activities which he says he will be submitting to officers and calling for immediate action. He says: "For some reason they are turning a blind eye. This has got to stop. Thank-you to Thurrock Nub News for raising the profile of this problem again."

And residents are no less angry. Today Thurrock Nub News editor Neil Speight broadcast live on Facebook from Chadwell Hill. As 8.20 this morning a large digger was busy on the site, lifting minerals which had been extracted from the site onto a small dumper truck which took it away to a larger vehicle and it was them driven from the site.

It is a scene nearby residents see and hear all the time. One, who asked to remain anonymous, spoke to Mr Speight saying: "As you can see, it's pretty blatant. Where they have been digging away used to be a lovely natural area. A gentle slope down towards Tilbury that was full on animal life, particularly bats, birds and badgers.

"It is totally outrageous"

"Now it has been devastated. They are worked day and into the early night. The noise disturbs us constantly and it just goes on and on. I have complained several times but nothing is done.

"It is totally outrageous. Why is this being allowed? There is no planning permission, it's in the green belt and it is clearly an industrial sized operation. Why is it allowed? Why are our lives being disturbed? There is no turning this back. This lovely natural area is now gone forever."

And in the wake of our live social media broadcast, a resident from Feenan Highway in Tilbury contacted us from her back garden and described the 'destruction' being wreaked in front of her eyes.

She said: "We have watched this site being destroyed and nothing has been done despite our complaints. It did stop for a while but resumed some months ago and now they are going hell for leather. It's as if they know at some point they are going to be stopped so they are working night and day now to remove the gravel and sand from the site.

"They will be making a lot of money and what will happen when it's all done. I doubt they will get a slap on the wrist, never mind fines. And they will have made millions! It is absolutely disgusting. I would love to know why the council is letting this happen."

"It beggars belief"

In his broadcast, Mr Speight drew comparisons with the vigorous campaign mounted by Thurrock Council to stop people dropping cigarette butts. He says: "I don't condone that in any way shape or form but there are scales of injustice here that beggar belief.

"I reported yesterday on 17 lorry drivers being fined for dropping cigarettes in a co-ordinated enforcement action by five council officers. That action has been rigorously defended by the council leader and the portfolio holder for environment. Yet the same people appear to condone what is going on in Biggin Lane.

"They can't hide. I have been reporting on this for at least two years and residents and councillors have raised this with officers. But no questions are asked by these two councillors with absolute responsibility for the local environment.

"If they can get their knickers in a twist over 17 fag butts getting dropped on a litter-strewn industrial estate, the wholesale destruction of a swathe of natural habitat and the illegal extraction of tonnes of minerals should send them apoplectic. But all we hear is the sound of silence – unless you happen to be a resident nearby – then all you hear is the sound of diggers and trucks!"

Thurrock Nub News has made the council and Essex Police aware of the latest activity, residents' complaints and pictures and video featured in this report.