TWO Thurrock Conservative councillors are to 'challenge' plans by the authority to start stripping cladding from more tower blocks in the borough.

Over recent weeks, following the breaking of the story by Thurrock Nub News, there has been growing concern about the state of six tower blocks in south Grays where the council has removed cladding – leaving residents in them subject to cold, mould and damp.

A blunder over replacement windows has meant that work has been delayed by months and is likely to cost substantially more than the budget put aside for the work. The scandal was revealed in this Nub News report- click link.

The story was featured on the BBC and recapped in a Nub News update.

The six towers in south Grays, close to the Thames, are similar to three in Blackshots which were also included in the council's overall £9 million refurbishment project.

Nub News has repeatedly reported on the state of the three blocks, Kier Hardie House, Morrison House and Bevan House, in Blackshots where many residents have spoken up about the poor conditions in which they have to live.

And their concern has been echoed by ward councillors Joy Redsell and Ben Maney, who have said that their preferred option would be for the tower blocks to be demolished.

In October last year the two welcomed a consultation on the future of the flats by the council which included demolition as an option.

At the time Cllr Maney said: ""I have never wavered in my view that the three high rise blocks in Blackshots are no longer fit for purpose and should be brought down. Conditions in many individual flats are appalling with mould and damp being rife. I have never in 20 years of being a Blackshots councillor found a single resident of the flats who likes living in them."

However, though results of the consultation have not been published, it appears the council is pressing ahead with its scheme to refurbish the flats, rather than pull them down. No other options have been detailed in public.

And that includes removing the cladding as a first stage.

A briefing from contractors Axis, just brought into the public domain, shows they planned to start work on Morrison House and Kier Hardie House this week.

However, Cllrs Maney and Redsell are hoping to intervene and today (Monday, 31 January) Cllr Maney told Nub News: "Joy and I have challenged officers and have asked for a meeting. It goes without saying we are seeking urgent reassurances."