IT WAS World Heavyweight Boxer Joe Louis who coined the phrase: “You can run but you can’t hide”. So it seemed appropriate that the members of “Parents Against Lorry Parks” met at the West Thurrock Boxing Club last night to quiz local ward councillor, Oliver Gerrish (Lab) about the ongoing controversy of the “unauthorised” Lorry Park in Oliver Road.
Residents were shocked to discover that a newspaper article (Aug 2008) from www.roadtransport.com where Thurrock Council Transportation Manager Ed Vokes is quoted as saying that the council wanted lorry drivers to use the Titan Lorry Park despite the fact that the owners did not have planning approval for the land as a lorry park.
Others expressed concerns at Aveley Councillor John Cowell’s comments, caught on camera recently that “We are working on by-passing planning permission” (http://www.yourthurrock.com/2010/08/12/im-being-blackmailed-claims-thurrock-tory-councillor).
Councillor Gerrish outlined to the audience what opportunities there were to discuss these matters at the council.
He said: “Your petition must be in by August 31st. The next council meeting will be on September 15th at 7pm where you will have an opportunity to hand in the petition. A representative and a ward councillor may speak on the matter for three minutes.
“There will be a meeting of the Planning Committee on Thursday September 25th when the question of enforcement in respect of the West Thurrock Lorry Park should be on the agenda.”
One resident, who did not wish to be named said:
“This has been going on for years but as you can see from this meeting, the net is closing in.
“Why despite continued requests for an enforcement order has this not been done? Are we running out of time? We are a solid group, we have over 1500 signatures and we will not let this rest”.
“There is a new school, now houses, an Opera House and a thriving community. We do not want thousands of lorries choking the life out of our community.”
Thurrock Council have so far refused to comment on why the Transportation Manager had wanted lorries to use the site.
Mr Vokes has since left Thurrock Council.
