RESIDENTS are to be given the opportunity to learn more about a local football club’s proposals to relocate.
East Thurrock United FC, who play senior football in the Ryman Premier League and run a number of junior clubs, are seeking to move from their current Rookery Hill ground in Corringham, which its owners hope to develop for housing.
A planning application is currently being prepared for the site in discussion with Thurrock Council, who have previously earmarked the land as a potential development opportunity for quality family homes.
That would leave East Thurrock homeless but they will get a share of revenues generated from the sale of Rookery Hill to fund relocation and a deal has already been brokered with Thurrock Council to take over the Billet Playing Field in Stanford-le-Hope.
The plan has raised some concerns among local residents which have been raised with the club by local ward councillor Shane Hebb.
Now he will host a meeting next Wednesday at East Thurrock Community Association on Corringham Road, Stanford-le-Hope, where representatives of the club will be ready to answer questions about their hopes and aspirations for a new community sports hub at the Billet.
Cllr Hebb, who has invited local residents to attend, said: “There are a number of issues of concern and the football club have recognised that consultation with local residents is very important so I have arranged the meeting to help ensure that everyone involved is aware of what is planned, its scale and the possible pros and cons to our local community.”
The word “stadium” used in your headline can hardly help the situation. … Quite understandably, people will always associate the word with a large capacity monstrosity, which is most definately NOT the community facility the Rocks have in mind for the site.
Did Labour mention in any of their election leaflets that they would be selling off several chunks of Thurrock’s Public Parks to football clubs to build new stadiums? Meanwhile the clubs old grounds get turned into housing estates so a double whammy for residents where a sports facility is lost and yet more houses are built and a chunk of public park vanishes forever.
Completley agree with Ed, we are losing more and more of the counties park land and public open space to private companies, TBC will not be content until they have sold off the silverware and concreted over the whole county.