EXCLUSIVE

EVEN though fire crews are still on site this evening (Monday, 27 June) – and they will be there all night – an early call has been made by the leader of Thurrock Council for an examination of the safety of having an industrial area in the middle of what has become a large residential zone.

Firefighters have battled a blaze on Tower Road on the Globe industrial estate in Grays since the alarm was raised at lunchtime.

The estate has become enveloped in residential development and its viability and issues of safety have previously been questioned.

Today's huge blaze, which saw some homes evacuated and an exclusion zone for workers and residents put in place by police, has brought the issue into sharp focus again. Scary news that burning debris was falling into the homes of nearby residents has put the danger of the site right at the forefront of local debate

Thurrock Nub News has followed the dramatic incident throughout the day, with updated reports and video and pictures posted on this link.

This evening, Essex Fire and Rescue, which has deployed many firefighters from across the county during the day, including using aerial platform ladders, said: "Firefighters are working to dismantle the building to tackle remaining hotspots. Crews will remain overnight to monitor the hotspots.

"An investigation will be carried out to determine the cause of the fire."

Incident commander Al Green, (who recently took charge of the dramatic flats fire at Chadwell St Mary)  said: "We had two priorities at this incident which were to stop the fire spreading to neighbouring units and to prevent it affecting local residents. Through the hard work of crews, we were able to achieve these two priorities. 

"We'd like to thank the public for their patience while we deal with this incident and we'd like to say a big thank you to our colleagues in Essex Police who were brilliant at the scene today."

This evening Thurrock Council's leader Cllr Rob Gledhill, whose Little Thurrock Rectory ward includes the industrial estate, spoke frankly and exclusively to Thurrock Nub News about his concerns.

He said: "I have raised the issues of the units in Towers Road repeatedly with officers with concerns from everything from access, 24 hours working to the regular fires to burn off rubbish on-site blighting lives of those who live nearby.

"Before the recent election I took our regeneration officers on a tour of the site showing the closeness to residents on Whitehall lane, Palmers Drive, Rectory Road, Overcliffe Road and the Newburgh Road estate and there was agreement that it is no longer the best place for an industrial estate. 

"Residents, my fellow ward councillor Tom Kelly and I have regularly fought against new planning permissions on the site with some success, but now is the time for a full review of the operations there and where they can be better suited elsewhere in the borough.

"With residents contacting me since this incident about debris falling into their gardens and their houses stinking of smoke this incident only strengthens our resolve that our calls for the estate to set aside for housing and the businesses relocsted somewhere more accessible and appropriate. 

"It is grossly unfair that Little Thurrock residents have to continue to put up with not just this serious incident but problems day in day out caused by this site's location."