ESSEX Fire and Rescue Service has given details of the recent blaze at an illegal industrial site on the borders of Thurrock, downplaying the severity of the incident, but residents in the area remain concerned about their safety.

On Monday, 15 April, crews of firefighters spent around six hours at the incident on the former Greenwise nursery site on Vange Park Road, near the Five Bells Roundabout on the A13.

And in its wake, nearby residents whose homes were saved by the action of firefighters, spoke of their repeated concerns about the site, which does not have planning permission.

They have been critical of the inaction by Thurrock Council, with one telling Thurrock Nub News: "Ultimately the council allowed two companies to occupy a site illegally, and both in their own way are a fire disaster waiting to happen.

"If this had happened during the summer, the whole road and surrounding country park could have burnt down."

After dealing with the fire, Essex Fire and Rescue initially put the cause of the fire down to being accidental and said no more, but inquiries by Nub News have produced more detail about how it happened, and what crews encountered at the site.

An official report (Click here or download link below) has been published that says the fire was accidental, but was started by intentional burning going out of control.

Rubbish and waste material caught fire after flames spread from brazier that was being used to burn waste, but fire investigators say no hazardous material was involved.

Residents did report hearing 'loud bangs' akin to explosions and feared there might be cylinders of gas, but these have been attributed to tyres on vehicles that caught alight blowing up.

The official report says that no vehicles were involved, though reports from fire crews at the site on the day said: "Crews have extinguished the fire in the building and extinguished four lorry fires." 

The fire service says the blaze spread to an area they estimate between 200 and 500 hectares.

And it adds that the blaze took place on a site which 'is not normally occupied' even though two commercial businesses run from it.

The commercial site, former known as Greenwise Nurseries, is in the green belt and was subject to planning permission applications for homes. One, for a number of self-build eco homes, was approved but a larger one was rejected.

Since then there have been at least three applications for varied commercial uses, which have been rejected.

Pictures from the site show how it has been cleared and developed with hard standing and fencing.

However, the site has been developed and nearby residents have complained about a lack of enforcement action.

The site owners have turned it into a number of commercial unit spaces, with metal fencing around it and widespread hard standing. There are seven sites in all, two of which are currently occupied by companies Drainfast and TLM Skips.

A statement shortly after the fire from Thurrock Council said: "Thurrock Council is aware of the site and have been investigating for some time. We have been in communication with neighbours whilst carrying out the investigations of the site.

"The council was first made aware of possible planning issues in late 2022 and immediately launched an investigation into the activities of the site. 

"Our investigations included site visits and meeting with neighbours to understand how the operation of the site affects them. We have continued to have regular contact with them to this day either by phone or email.

"The council has also received complaints about noise from the site, which were acted on and resolved. The resident who made the noise complaint was informed of the outcome and told officers that the action taken had resolved the issue."

Nub News understands a senior council officer has visited the site, together with a leading councillor, and residents were promised an update and that enforcement and planning officers would also be in touch. However, today (Monday, 5 May) we were told by neighbours of the site that they had heard nothing since, and one added: "It seems we are still being kept completely in the dark."