LABOUR councillors in Thurrock have claimed they have gained a further assurance that new social housing being built on a borough site will only go to local residents.

A statement by the Labour Group on Thurrock Council says their concerns have been sparked by reports that the Home Office has put a number of refugees into the homes.

However, while it appears correct that refugees have been placed in the borough – it is not into the news homes.

And the council has been steadfast that the homes are for local people since rumours and social media gossip spread last Spring when work started on the project. Thurrock Nub News' sister publication the Thurrock Independent reported on the issue last April when the council said: "The development at Claudian Way is a Thurrock Council Housing Revenue Account scheme and all of the units being built are for people on the Thurrock housing register."

You can read the full report via the red button below.

And in May last year Chadwell's three Labour councillors visited the site and were assured then that the 53 homes were for affordable rent for people on the borough's housing register.

The development, which is being constructed by United Living, includes 22 flats, 10 houses and 21 bungalows – three of which will be wheelchair accessible.

Today's Labour press release says its members Cllrs Sara Muldowney and Lynn Worrall have 'won assurances' from Thurrock Council that the new houses in Claudian Way will still be available to Thurrock residents.

The statement said: "Speculation has been rife following reports that the Home Office placed a number of refugees in these properties."

Cllr Muldowney added: "Thurrock Council have now assured me that all the Claudian Way properties will be going, as planned, to Thurrock residents on the Housing waiting list. Most will be offered to current Chadwell council tenants.

"The first properties allocated, have gone to long-standing Thurrock council tenants, who should move in some time in early Spring.

"I will continue to keep a close eye on allocations and hold Thurrock Council to their word on this."

According to the Labour statement Thurrock Council have confirmed a number of placements were recently made in Thurrock by the Home Office without prior notice; but none of these placements were in council properties.

Cllr Lyn Worrall, Labour's shadow portfolio holder for housing said: "It's really a concern that the Home Office have placed vulnerable people in Thurrock without talking to the Council.

"We need more joined up thinking to ensure that placements are appropriate and that people are not just dumped in an area without local authorities being made aware.

"The council still aren't sure how many placements have been made, so I will be raising this in my portfolio briefings and monitoring this issue closely."