THE State cinema is Grays has a new owner, though it is not yet known who it is.

And while mystery surrounds the buyer who pre-empted a sale at auction to take over the Grade-II listed property, mystery also surrounds what action, if any, Thurrock Council has taken to protect the building through enforcement action against its previous owners, the Wetherspoons pub chain.

The council has declined to give out information on what action it has taken, despite a pledge from its communications team on Thursday, 26 January to update Thurrock Nub News, and the borough public, about why the council appears to have absolved itself of responsibility for ensuring the safety of the building.

At a full meeting of the council on Wednesday, 25 January, Cllr John Kent asked Council leader and 'growth' portfolio holder Cllr Mark Coxshall: "Will the portfolio holder set out the measures the council is taking to fulfil its obligations to protect the State Cinema? "

The question mirrored one asked previously by Thurrock Nub News.

We contacted the council to ask: "Several weeks ago it was brought to the council's attention that there is a gaping hole in the roof of the State cinema.

"The council confirmed it was its responsibility to undertake enforcement action to ensure the building was made watertight and safe.

"What enforcement action has taken place and can the council confirm that the building is now repaired to an extent that it is watertight?"

At the council meeting, Cllr Coxshall responded to Cllr Kent's question, saying: "The council has been in discussion with the owner about the current condition of the building and advised the owner to take steps considered necessary to secure the land in the short term and protect the building.

Cllr Mark Coxshall gave assurances about the State that have been overtaken by circumstance

"Unfortunately, I am sorry to say, at this time the owner has not taken any steps to carry out any remedial work.

"The council is looking at what options it is able to take to protect the short term future of the building.

Cllr Kent responded: "We have all see pictures of the State - of the holes in the roof. The building is clearly deteriorating.

"It's becoming a matter of real urgency to force the owners to fulfil their obligations as the owners of a Grade-II listed building and the council has obligations as well.

"The council has a statutory duty to ensure the safety of that building.

"So can I ask the portfolio holder to redouble the efforts and to report back to us soon as to progress on securing the building?"

Cllr Coxshall responded: "I thank Cllr Kent for bringing this here so there is a public recognition. The council and the council officers understand how imperative this is to the future of the town centre,

"It's upsetting the owners haven't taken action and I will be pursuing that through my portfolio."

In the wake of Cllr Coxshall's public recognition of the authority's failure to bring about action, Nub News immediately asked why we had not received a response, given it was clear the matter was high on Cllr Coxshall's agenda.

The shocking state of Thurrock's Grade-II listed cinema building.

That prompted a response to Nub News from the council's acting strategic lead on communications, Marc Mageean, who said (on 26 January): "Just to assure you, I have asked the relevant people internally and am trying to get a straight answer. hopefully today."

Fourteen days later, we are still waiting....

But today's news that the building has now been sold, announced on the web pages of auctioneers Allsop who had placed a guide price of £500,000 on the site, appears to mean the council has missed its opportunity.

The baton of responsibility for the building's maintenance will pass to the new owners and it seems likely that Wetherspoons will go unpunished for years of neglect and abuse of their responsibilities due to the enforcement apathy of Thurrock Council.