CHADWELL St Mary has lost out on more than £20,000 of money earmarked for a community project in the area after cash-strapped Thurrock Council reallocated it to help plug the gap in borough-wide finances.

That's the claim of Chadwell St Mary councillor Sara Muldowney and Community Forum chairman Peter Saunders who are angry the local community has been denied what is is due.

The money originates from a 2014 application to knock down the former Greyhound pub at Orsett Heath and replace it with four new houses. The project was granted permission and carried out, and though the only mention of money in the Section 106 agreement which was drawn up was £20,000 to go towards education, Cllr Muldowney and Mr Saunders have documentation showing the cash was to be allocated community play and sports projects on the Heath.

That decision was made after consultation with the local community and the forum. But now Cllr Muldowney has been told that the money is needed elsewhere.

She told Thurrock Nub News: "The new builds that replaced the Greyhound Pub are opposite the Heath. There couldn't be a closer link between this money and where the community wants the money spent."

"We are disappointed to learn this money is now being used to help plug the black hole in Thurrock Council's finances and will go towards paying for a new borough wide strategy which makes little mention of Chadwell St Mary.

"We discussed these monies with the Chadwell Community Forum, and other local groups, who were very clear they wanted to see it spent on community play and sports projects on the Heath

"However, I am now told this money had been earmarked for a new borough-wide strategy instead! This money was, clearly, earmarked for the Heath and I can find no public consultation or discussion anywhere that has led to this about turn.

"It's completely unacceptable! This £20,000 was awarded for the benefit of the local Chadwell community and where and how it is spent should be led by them.

"I now call upon the council to engage with myself and local community groups to make sure that all of this money is spent on community priorities."

Mr Saunders added: "It is concerning that this tranche of funds, together with two others from developments elsewhere in Chadwell St Mary, should have vanished into what appears to be a "black hole" in Thurrock Council's accounts."

"Under the terms of the scheme these funds were designated for use within Chadwell St Mary ward and were not intended for general purposes."

"Residents of Chadwell St Mary are entitled to feel that the council has short-changed them, and to ask that these monies be "re-discovered" and made available to the local community as they should have been in the first place."

"The ward is crying out for youth provision, and also for some adult fitness equipment on Orsett Heath."

Thurrock Council and senior portfolio holders have been asked to comment.