THURROCK people are to be asked their thoughts on the council’s proposals for development across the borough.
Cllr Andy Smith, portfolio holder for regeneration, presented two papers to Wednesday (28 November) evening’s meeting of the council regarding consultation proposals for the Local Development Plan.
He told the meeting the plan protects Green Belt land and endeavours to target development on “previously development land” to provide “huge community benefits”.
Cllr Smith picked out the Lakeside area – and especially land between the A13 and A1306 – where “there will be 30 acres of pubic land, a really exciting proposal with a school, probably shops and top-quality housing as well as lots of jobs”.
He also highlighted Tilbury – where there could be a new sports stadium, to help “kick-start” regeneration there; the Pegasus Club land at Corringham and the Coryton oil refinery where land could be put back in the Green Belt.
Cllr Smith also pointed out the plan’s proposal for a hospice – as requested by a previous unanimous council resolution – and housing on the Lower Dunton Road.
Cllr Garry Hague seconded the recommendations, describing it as “the final stage of the planning framework for our regeneration vision”.
Members unanimously agreed that consultations on the “the Further Issues and Options Site Allocations and Policies Local Plan” and the “Issues And Options for the Core Strategy and Policies for Management of Development Local Plan Focused Review – Broad Locations and Strategic Sites” should go ahead.
They will be launched in January and both Cllr Smith and Hague called on their colleagues and the public to have a look and join in the discussion.
Speaking afterwards, Cllr Smith said: “These documents will help create the future for our borough and we need as many local people as possible to buy into that vision.
“I would urge people to have a look at the consultation documents when they go live, the chances are that somewhere they will impact on where you live, where you shop, where you work or where your children go to school.
“They will have an impact on every man, woman and child in Thurrock.”
I hope Cllr Smith knows that the area north of Lakeside is a part of the green belt and should be left alone. It is also a major floodplain so the council would be foolish to think they could build on it. Only this week a flood warning was raised for the Mardyke Valley.