HAVING stood by and watched and done nothing practical to stop the devastation of a natural habitat, Thurrock Council today moved in to issue a 'stop notice' on land between Tilbury and Chadwell St Mary.

Over recent weeks Thurrock Nub News has been highlighting the illegal work being carried out on the site adjacent to Biggin Lane as birds' nesting grounds, animals' habitat and trees, bushes and plants were relentless dug up.

Responding to complaints by residents, we first contacted Thurrock Council on Tuesday, 14 April and informed them what was happening at the site.

The council did not respond to our information – nor to complaints made by residents. And the digging continued!

As the severity of the devastation grew we continued to seek a response from the council. We recognised the situation might require legal advice and a little time and so waited until May before we felt we had to bring the matter into the public domain.

On Wednesday, 6 May at the request of residents and after consulting local councillors who were also being blanked by officers, we published a story about the site. And forwarded our film and pictures taken that day of the work being undertaken. The council did not respond and the digging continued.

8 May: Live broadcast as calls for action go unheeded.

10 May: Diggers bring cables down.

12 May: Council pledges to act.

Yesterday (Tuesday, 14, May) we reported live from the site which had been abandoned by contractors. The work had ceased and the minerals had been excavated. We contacted the council – and again they did not respond.

And today we reported on the fact that the Essex Wildlife Trust have called on the council to take action and ensure that the site is restored.

Not once have Thurrock Council acknowledged Thurrock Nub News' pursuit of the truth and our concern about what has happened on this site. The council has done nothing to respond to the work being carried out.

Yet late this afternoon (4.27pm to be precise) – long after the diggers have gone and the site has been destroyed, the council issued a boastful press release claiming it had taken 'decisive action' to 'halt' unapproved work which was taking place in 'Grays'.

The council claimed it has taken part in a 'multi-agency action' to tackle issues. Yet Thurrock Nub News has spoken to the police and to wildlife conservation groups and they knew nothing of the situation at Biggin Lane.

Thurrock Nub News editor Neil Speight, who has led reporting on this issue with personal live broadcasts from the site and who has pursued the council relentlessly on the matter, says: "In more than 40 years as a journalist, I have never seen a more shameful and dishonest press release from a local council.

Stop notice was ripped down

"Thurrock Council and in particular Cllr Mark Coxshall, who name is attributed to this – and with whom I spoke on the matter several days ago when he knew little about it (he was however, very rightly concerned about another botched enforcement operation at Buckles Lane) - should hang their heads in shame. This is a total and utter distortion of the truth.

"However, Thurrock Nub News is pleased the council has finally acknowledged there is a problem on the record.

"From what I can ascertain, the enforcement action took the form of a visit by enforcement officers accompanied by police to the Travellers' site. What was said, or who it was said to, we don't know.

"It is strange that only 48 hours ago Cllr John Allen was told the work to prepare the documentation would take up to two weeks. One supposes that his response to that, pressure from other councillors and the continued highlighted of the problem somehow prompted things to be speeded up.

"Not that I am sure it makes any difference now. The council's presence has already been treated with contempt. Several pages of a notice were posted on a telegraph pole in Biggin Lane, however, most of its has since been ripped down by residents from the site, some of whom were named on the document.

"It is too little, far too late, and it is also shocking that council makes no mention of any plans to ensure this site is restored. They only jumped in to act several days after work finished. The work has stopped and the material excavated has been moved away from the embankment. So what actually has the council done?

"And what does it plan to do by way of punitive action and restoration? We have no idea – I wonder if the council does either!"

The full statement issued this afternoon says: "Thurrock Council has taken decisive action to halt unapproved work which was taking place in Biggin Lane, Grays, with officers issuing a Temporary Stop Notice to site operators today (Friday, 15 May). It follows a multi-agency investigation which has been ongoing since early March to tackle issues at the site and prevent operators removing sand without permission.

"Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Strategic Planning, Cllr Mark Coxshall, said: 'Once again Thurrock Council has been resolute in its actions to stamp out works taking place without proper permission. This has followed a multi-agency investigation which has been ongoing for several weeks.

'We are now in a position to speak publicly about this matter for the first time and serve a notice on site operators which means that any work taking place in Biggin Lane must stop immediately.

'When critical enforcement action is being taken which requires evidence to be presented over a period of time in line with legal requirements, the council understandably will not comment in the public domain.

'I want to reassure the public again that we take all reports of such unauthorised activity very seriously and will take appropriate action to deal with those acting inappropriately. We will not tolerate this sort of activity in the borough and will use all means at our disposal to ensure that unapproved works do not continue.'

"Officers have served the site operators with a Temporary Stop Notice (TSN) which requires those responsible to "Immediately cease all works, which include the engineering works, excavation works and the removal of materials from the embankment."

"There is no right of appeal to a TSN and a failure to comply with a TSN can result in prosecution in the Magistrates' Court and a fine. The TSN takes immediate effect once served and remains in place for 28 days.

"The council will be monitoring the site for compliance with the notice and will take action if the notice is breached in any way."