A VETERAN volunteer has opened his heart up to Thurrock Nub News after the closure of the Coalhouse Fort Project – which he described as his life's work.

Ken Levy has been a volunteer at the East Tilbury Fort for 20 years and played a leading role in the site's open days and in assembling collections of militaria.

However, he says his view of the way forward for the historic site differed to that of owners Thurrock Council and other volunteers and together with a number of volunteers he says he found himself 'out in the cold'.

Yesterday Thurrock Nub News reported exclusively on the closure of the charity project (see report via red button below) and there is widespread optimism from some of the people connected with the fort that the future is bright and that a 'new beginning' will be beneficial.

However, that cuts little ice with Ken who says he feels badly let down by the council, some of his colleagues and – in particular the council's representative on the Project, Cllr Shane Ralph.

He was particularly scathing of Cllr Ralph who only came onto the project last year, replacing former councillor Roy Jones, who Mr Levy says was notable by his regular absence.

"Cllr Ralph has got delusions of grandeur, he's come in and wants to take over and use the place for his interest in the paranormal. Cllr Ralph is an unbalanced character and I don't trust him and I have lost faith in others.

"Together with Georgette Polley who serves as trustee he is a puppet of the council who under the responsible officer Camille James (the council's Regeneration Programme Manager) have plans for the site but I don't think they will deliver. They haven't done in the past so what's going to change now?

"They have bright ideas about turning it into a wedding venue and converting part of the building into bedrooms but they have been talking about that for years without doing anything so what's going to change? I don't think they know what they are doing, they just seem to want us older people out of there.

"After 20 years I honestly and truly feel really dejected about this. We now have to dispose of the military collections we have assembled and we have been dumped and pushed aside. This is a military site with a military history but the things we have collected to reflect that history aren't wanted it seems. I'm heartbroken about it. There will be no more open days and I am not sure how people will get to see the fort now."

While Mr Levy is left dejected and despondent by what has happened, others on the Project believe the future is bright.

Among them is Peter Appleton who says: "Following several weeks of talks, the decision was made to begin the process of dissolving the Coalhouse Fort Project registered charity.

"This has been done for many reasons, but it was felt this was the only way the fort will move on. It is hoped an alternative organisation will be set up in time to carry on the work started by the project.

"It was inevitable but hopefully not the end. Volunteers will always be needed to keep this great building open."

Thurrock Council have been asked to comment but to date Thurrock Nub News has had no response or acknowledgement of our request for an update.