A POSSIBLE stand-off between bailiffs and a members of a local family firm was averted this morning and it appears they have been given breathing space to relocate their business.

Fast Tracks is a business buying, repairing and selling Mercedes vans based on part of the Old Cornwall House site adjacent to Purfleet Rail station. They have been there for more than four years.

The site has been earmarked as the first phase of Purfleet's regeneration programme and in January work is expected to start on the first building project from Purfleet Centre Regeneration Limited (PCRL), the partnership of organisations including Thurrock council that is spearheading Purfleet's regeneration.

Outline planning permission for the creation of up to 2,850 new homes, shops, a new retail centre, improved health facilities and a new station was granted by Thurrock Council in April 2019. The plans also include a new film and TV studios.

The first phase will see the construction of 61 family homes on the old Cornwall House site and work was scheduled to begin in the summer. However, that was delayed.

But now things are moving forward at pace and it appears some businesses may have been caught up the rush, with the council coming under criticism for moving them off the site in haste and without proper consultation.

One of a couple of small businesses the businesses on the Cornwall House site is Fast Tracks which claims it was told as late as last month that it had to be off the site, removing its workshop, offices and all its vehicles.

Simran Singh, who runs Fast Tracks with her mother and father, says that is not enough time and because of lockdown the family say they have not been able to move for a variety of reasons, not least the fact that trade has been limited during the past year because of coronavirus.

She contacted Thurrock Nub News early this morning saying that the family had been told bailiffs would be on site today to move them on – something they are not prepared for.

She said: "We've been given our notice during lockdown on 19 of November, demanding for us to leave on the 20 of December. The worst part is, we were given this notice during lockdown and again, now we are back in lockdown.

"The council have tried to show us more expensive yards, which are out of our budget and also which are a lot smaller and something we can't move into. As a business have nowhere to go. Being an established local Thurrock business, we've always supported our council and will continue to do so.

"However, we've begged them to listen/support us as a local business and we have been told that Thurrock Council have no need to support us, we should support ourselves. This has left us in the dark, especially during such a time where we've lost out on money and business during this year to Covid.

"Being a family-run business, we are distraught and continue to beg the council to listen to us and help. We cannot afford to physically move, we can't afford land at the moment. We tried to explain that and no one seems to be listening to us.

"We have begged the council to extend our stay at where we are, but they have said this can't happen. All we want is enough time to prepare and move, but the council have said that tomorrow (the date we are meant to leave) the bailiffs will be there and that electric and water will be turned off. Now things have turned into Tier Four we are stuck and cannot do anything - as businesses are closing and many are out of business, which means we have no real man power.

"We have begged the council to listen to us, but no one has. It is a positive that the Purfleet regeneration will begin, but we are begging for the council to not forget us. We have asked for the council to support us and we've been ignored."

Thurrock Nub News attended the site this morning, where a representative of PCRL and Thurrock Council's assets manager Michelle Duke, were present. They would not go on the record to speak to Nub News, but assurances were given to the Singh family that they will still be given time to move on – but they will have to go quickly.

And for some local residents that will be good news. While the family believe they have a genuine grievance with the council, Thurrock Nub News can also highlight that they are regarded as a local nuisance by some nearby residents. A number of complaints have been lodged with the council about noise and pollution by burning rubbish on site.

As D-Day dawned this morning without the arrival of bailiffs and a breather for the Singh family, one permanent change was made today as the adjacent car park was sealed off and will no longer be available for people wishing to park there and use the nearby station.

Large concrete blocks have been put across the entrance and it is expected work will begin on preparatory works for new homes on the site almost immediately.

Thurrock Council has been formally asked to comment but has not, as yet, responded.