THE chairman of Tilbury's Community Forum has released a considered and evidenced opinion on recent matters surrounding the granting of planning permission for a new multi-million pontoon at the International Cruise terminal in the town.

Its building will be financed by around £7m of government money supposedly ringfenced for the benefit of Tilbury residents.

Mr Austin points out that there will be some benefit to residents in terms of the possibility of an increased river traffic service that might even facilitate, at some point, the return of the Tilbury to Gravesend ferry service.

However, he points out that a bed of misinformation spread over a number of years has led to serious inaccuracies that question the validity of the planning committee's decision, and he questions the disingenuous presentation to the committee by the council's head of regeneration, a director-level officer, George McCullough.

Mr Austin, who was invited to join the Tilbury Town Funds' board after consistently questioning some of its decision-making and bemoaning the lack of genuine local representation, says on behalf of the forum he has been raising concerns about the pontoon project over the past 12 months.

After attending last week's planning meeting, and then reviewing evidence given to council members, he says: "I personally feel some of the information given and the answer to the questions were inaccurate, and, to be honest, some of the committee's decision was heavily weighted on incorrect statements.

Craig Austin challenges 'factual inaccuracies' in presentation by top council officer

He immediately questions the role of Mr Cullough, saying: "This isn't a 'public speaker', this is actually the head of regeneration at Thurrock council who are the applicants, and as such they have more than a vested interest in this being approved.

Mr McCullough told members: "The current pontoon cannot be used when the cruise ship is in the port and was also 'bespoke' for the former ferry vessel."

Mr Austin, with evidence to the contrary at his fingertips 'begs to differ' saying: "They operated side by side for years and tourists used to get off a cruise ship and onto the ferry to go to Gravesend.

The pontoon at Tilbury has a history going back many decades and has coped with liners and ferries of all sizes, including from time to time when on ferry replacement duties, the much-loved large Thames cruiser Princess Pocahontas, pictured (inset) as she approaches Tilbury to dock.

"It's not bespoke, that pontoon has been host to several types of vessels over years, it's definitely, definitely not bespoke."

Mr Austin also challenged further 'facts' presented by Mr McCullough, who told the meeting: "The prior point (ie the existing one) is portside so when a cruise ship is in, that prevents the pontoon from being used."

Mr Auston retorts: "This isn't true. You can get a cruise liner and a ferry-sized boat in quite comfortably and they have done it on many occasions over the years.

"In March 2022 the biggest cruise liner ever to visit the London Cruise Terminal, the Valiant Lady, docked alongside a Thames Clipper - and also the ferry.

"The Clipper was actually here, bringing people down from London to get on the cruise ship."

He illustrates the point with photographic evidence, produced from the Port's own press releases, of the cruise ship, a clipper and the ferry ' all working comfortably together'."

The Valiant Lady docked at Tilbury with (also shown in inset) a Thames Clipper and Tilbury ferry berthed at the pontoon.

Mr Austin then mounts serious challenges to the financial presentation from Mr McCullough and the details he gave of potential operating arrangements.

He says: "When I first started critiquing the towns fund project a few years back I was 'a troublemaker and some of my claims were myths'

"One of the 'myths' I raised was that we were using Tilbury money to build the pontoon that we will then give to the port, which is a private entity that will make profit off of it.

"At the 'clear the air' meeting, the previous chair asked where I was getting my information from and I pointed out that it was actually from the minutes on the council's website.

"I was told those minutes are 'inaccurate' and it would be the council that would own the pontoon.

"That came as news to the council, and I left that meeting that day, not knowing who was going to own it.

Thurrock Council records of operational plans and its role in the future of the pontoon, which Mr Austin has been told are 'inaccurate'.

"It wasn't ' myth', I was right. Sixteen months later we still don't know who is going to own it."

Mr Austin then questioned operation details, in particular the costs of running the pontoon, including its river licence fee.

"This is approximately £50,000 a year."

Mr Austin believes Mr McCullough's presentation was the latest in a serious of statements by the council, linking the new pontoon and the return of the ferry together - 'as if you can't have one without the other'.

He adds: "As recently as July this year I raised it at a towns fund meeting that the reason we don't have a ferry is a funding issue, it's nothing to do with the capability of the existing structure."

Mr Austin's presentation, which goes on to question more 'inaccuracies' in the presentation to the committee can be viewed here:

Thurrock Nub News has asked the council – and members o the planning committee who made the decision – if they wish to comment on the latest turn of events. 

Tilbury Town Forum will meet next Tuesday (28 October) at Tilbury Community Centre, Civic Square, RM18 8AA, when the pontoon situation will be discussed. It is an open, public meeting, starting at 7pm.