At 9.50pm, Councillor J Kent raised a standing order to allow the meeting to continue for a further 30 minutes. All members agreed.

The Motion, as printed in the agenda was proposed by Councillor Speight and seconded by Councillor Massey. The Motion read as follows:

This chamber has previously welcomed creation of the Thames Freeport and the benefits it may bring. Freeport comes with a commitment to improve quality of life and opportunities for Thurrock residents and a budget to back up its intentions. A project that would help quality of life of residents in Stanford-le-Hope would be the creation of a relief road to mediate impact of Stanhope Industrial Estate. A route was envisioned by Thurrock Thames Gateway DC. It was not taken forward in 2011’s Thurrock Core Strategy created when council took back planning. Nor is it in the emerging Local Plan process. I have established senior figures at Freeport including chair, Ruth Kelly, and DP World representatives have tacit support for the relief road if possible, subject to the council's view. It is a complex issue, not least because it’s in Green Belt. Freeport, and DPW would be reticent to commit without TBC support in principle. This road is the only way to solve all the problems.

Would members of this council join me in calling on the appropriate and requisite TBC to revisit the possibility of the relief road linking up with the Manorway and produce a timely outline project plan.

Councillor Speight presented the motion by stating the relief road would change Stanford Le Hope massively, this was a serious matter and required the engagement of Thurrock Council. The plan would fundamentally change the Manorway, London Road, Wharf Road and Corringham Road.

An amendment to this motion had been received from Councillor Piccolo and seconded by Councillor Anderson and read as follows:

The chamber welcomes the fact that much work has been done in recent years regarding a relief road to mediate impact of Stanhope Industrial Estate, from lobbying the freeport process and work between councillors and cabinet members on the local plan. This chamber has previously welcomed creation of the Thames Freeport and the benefits it may bring. Freeport comes with a commitment to improve quality of life and opportunities for Thurrock residents and a budget to back up its intentions. A project that would help quality of life of residents in Stanford-le-Hope would be the creation of a relief road to mediate impact of Stanhope Industrial Estate. A route was envisioned by Thurrock Thames Gateway DC. It was not taken forward in 2011’s Thurrock Core Strategy created when council took back planning. Council has already put views to Ruth Kelly, and DP World representatives and others. It is a complex issue. This road is the only way to solve all the problems. Would members of this council join me in calling on the appropriate and requisite TBC to continue to support the possibility of the relief road linking up with the Manorway and produce a timely outline project plan.

Councillor Piccolo presented the amended motion by stating the importance of the relief road to residents of Stanford Le Hope and asked for all members to support the amendment.

Councillor J Kent stated that Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation needed to revisit plans and requested that old paperwork of the Development Corporation on the Manorway relief road be found and supplied to all members.

Councillor Speight agreed to withdraw his motion and recommended members to vote in favour of the amended motion.

The Mayor called a vote on the amended Motion, to which members voted unanimously in favour; the Mayor announced the amended motion, now the substantive motion carried.

The recording of this meeting can be found from the following link:

Council - Wednesday 26 July 2023, 7:00pm - Thurrock Council committee meeting webcasts (public-i.tv)