THURROCK councillors have refused a plan to demolish shops in Grays to make way for seven new flats reports the Local Democracy Reporter.
Thurrock’s planning committee previously deferred a decision on a plan by CS Property Estates Ltd which wants to demolish kitchen and bathroom showroom, R G Cole at 1- 3 Broadway and build a three-storey development with one new commercial space. The committee raised concerns over a lack of parking and increased congestion on the busy road.
The committee met again last week but still felt the concerns had not been sufficiently addressed.
Speaking at the meeting on Tuesday, Tom Kelly, Conservative councillor for Little Thurrock Rectory, said: “I think the whole scheme looks like that the limits are being tested at every corner, the room size, the amenity size. I’m looking at the proposed layout there and you can see that it’s incredibly cramped but I also accept that there is within the parameters of the NPPF so we would be limited to reject the scheme on that on those grounds.
“I’ve still got concerns over parking. This idea in theory that we can just introduce a controlled parking zone we will we need to speak to local councillors about that and local residents to see if they think that’s a good idea. All in all I’d I still think parking is an issue.
Roy Jones, Independent councillor for Stanford East and Corringham Town said the site was “on a very dangerous bend”. He said: “I come through there many a time and that is absolutely horrendous there to get through. I came through here today to go to a Grays care home and it was it was a nightmare getting through. There was a lorry unloading material actually near the bend.
“We’re supposed to be making life a little bit easier and sensible for our residents not making things that’s overdevelopment in their area so I’ve got great concerns about this I really have.”
Russell Cherry, Reform UK councillor for Ockendon, suggested a compromise He said: “An alternative proposal would be to agree the motion if a pedestrian crossing is put in place first with double yellow lines to deal with the safety aspects of the development and that the commercial unit is of a low footfall, not another takeaway, maybe an office development.”
However, councillors were advised that those conditions wouldn’t be reasonable under planning guidelines.
Councillors consequently refused the application.
