SUBJECT to approval from Thurrock Council, work could start soon on the removal of a large number of oil storage tanks on the site of the former refinery at Coryton.

The tanks are the last remnants of the huge refinery which sat between Shell Haven Creek and Hole Haven Creek, which separates Canvey Island from the mainland.

It was the last of the three major refineries on the Thames Estuary to remain in operation, following closure of Shell Haven, which is now the site of DP World London Gateway port and logistics park and BP Kent.

An aerial view of the tanks.

Originally operated by Mobil the refinery then ran for years under the BP flag before being taken over by a financial conglomerate and rebranded as Petroplus. In January 2012, Petroplus filed for bankruptcy and Coryton Refinery ceased production in June 2012.

The site is now being turned into an industrial and commercial hub to be called Thames Enterprise Park.

Huge areas of the site have already been cleared and now an application has been submitted outlined how the many redundant hazardous products storage tanks, of various sizes, will be cut up and disposed of.

The application is submitted by the DSM Group which says it will ensure safe movement around site and limit the amount of noise for the local community.