LEADING Thurrock councillor Barry Johnson has come under fire from a campaign group for allegedly being 'the incompetent gift that keeps on giving'.

Cllr Johnson, portfolio holder for housing, has found himself at the eye of a storm over a list drawn up that showed 20 possible council-owned sites that might be suitable for social housing development.

Already, after considerable public protest, he has scrapped schemes proposed for Corringham and South Ockendon - and he is poised to veto another after attending an emotive meeting with residents in Orsett on Sunday which was exclusively reported by Thurrock Nub News. Read here

In the wake of his words at Orsett a campaign group opposing possible developments in South Ockendon has condemned his level of performance.

Ruth Clapham, a leading Save Our Green Spaces campaigner, reacted to news that Cllr Johnson told Orsett residents he would scrap further consultation plans and the scheme wouldn't happen if they wrote to him to say they don't want the plans to go head.

She said: "Councillor Johnson is the incompetent gift that keeps on giving. You couldn't make up his level of ineptitude. 

"On a more serious note what a way to run a process. There seems one rule for Orsett and another for the rest of us. 

"At a residents meeting in Orsett he promised the residents of Ridgewell Avenue, Orsett if they simply responded to a letter from him saying they didn't want their homes demolished for brand new houses, 'it will not happen'.

"But just a week earlier in Ockendon he said residents would have to wait for the consultation to open and arrange local petitions to have any chance of halting plans to build all over their green spaces.

"All this before an official consultation has even opened. It's clear this so-called consultation is a sham – a cynic may say it's rigged. 

"As there is such widespread and total opposition to woeful Cllr Johnson's plans, he should save time and public money and do the right thing - scrap them. He would do well to remember the political adage - when you're in a hole, stop digging.

"But we're not banking of common sense prevailing any time soon.  Our fight goes on, if you haven't already signed the petition and would like copies please email us [email protected]".

However, Cllr Johnson is pressing on undaunted and today (Tuesday, 10 March) the council's communications team delivered a message focussed on the situation in South Ockendon.

It said: "Following a number of public consultation events for housing developments in South Ockendon, Thurrock Council is now inviting residents back to see how proposals have been revised in response to their feedback.

"The proposed housing developments are on the site of the former Culver Centre and Culver Field off Daiglen Drive, and Callan Grove.

"Several changes have been made in response to comments provided during consultation. Most notably, the decision not to proceed with proposals for a potential development on Callan Grove.  In addition, the number of new homes proposed on the Culver Field site has been reduced as a result of residents requesting that more green space be retained.

"The site is in Thurrock Council ownership and if successful, could be developed by Thurrock Regeneration Ltd (TRL)."

Cllr Johnson said: "We asked South Ockendon residents to provide feedback on our early-stage designs last October. The comments we received were very useful in helping us to understand which priorities are most important to local people, and it was clear that many felt strongly about retaining the green spaces that are so valuable to the community.

"In response to this, we have amended our proposals to ensure that both new and existing residents would have access to safe, high-quality public open spaces, with opportunities provided to enhance biodiversity and create better habitats for wildlife.

"We are confident that our plans will help to address the housing need in South Ockendon, while also improving and enhancing the spaces that are available for residents to use and enjoy." 

Resident feedback events are taking place at All Saints Parish Church and Hall on Thursday 12 March from 10.30am to 2pm, Friday 13 March from 11.30am to 4pm and Saturday 14 March from 3pm to 8pm.