SHOCKED campaigners who believed they were close to securing the future of Thurrock's much-loved Thameside Theatre and other facilities with the complex in the heart of Grays have been rocked by news of new plans for the site.

The council's plan to close the Thameside Complex was first confirmed on Thurrock Nub News in June last year.

Since then, a campaign has been launched to save the building and theatre and it appeared that the council had conceded that handing over the building to a locally-based group was the best option. The door was opened to local involvement in November last year.

And in January it looked as if the council was ready to hand over the asset to locals as a scheme came forward for consideration.

That proposal was largely endorsed at a council meeting in March and residents were told that a decision was likely in July, prompting huge optimism that the theatre and complex would be saved.

However, today (Wednesday, 6 July) campaigners' hopes nosedived as a decision on the theatre's future has been delayed.

A statement from the Save Your Thameside campaign said: "Last month we told you that we were "nearly there"! We were, but now we're not!

"We asked you to write to councillors to urge them to vote for our takeover of the Thameside Complex. Now there is no point.

"Suddenly, some other organisation has shown an interest in the building. The council is duty bound to give them time to submit an alternative business plan.

"The date for submission to council has been moved from July 13th to September.

"It could be good news? This unknown organisation might have wonderful plans for the complex. We have no way of telling as this secretive council will not release any details. In the meantime, the complex will continue to operate normally.

"Now that we are facing competition, it is going to become even more important that we lobby local councillors. But not now. Most of them do not know what is happening. We may even need to call on you for further action.

"For the time being, all we can do is sit tight and wait. As soon as we know more details, we will, of course, share them with you.

"Our battle has lasted a year. It has been hard work, but our energy is not diminished. Our determination to bring the Thameside complex into the control of the community is even stronger."

Thurrock Council, which has issued no recent statement about what is happening at the Thameside to the media, has been asked by Nub News for an update on the situation. Sources close to the council and the bid to take over the Thameside Complex say their requests for information about a new bidder remain unanswered.