WORRIED residents have voiced fears that plans for a biomass plant in West Thurrock are a “done deal” after reporting workmen have been seen on the site.

A number of residents in Wouldham Road, where the plant is proposed, have said they’ve seen workmen on site painting the road and putting up work signs.

Residents say when they spoke to the workmen, they were told they were working for the biomass plant.

Procter and Gamble, which has submitted a planning application to Thurrock Council for the plant – which will generate electricity – along with partners Balfour Beatty and Nextera, said the work was not related to the proposed plant.

Residents are against the proposals, fearing pollution and the effect it will have on house prices.

Sherell Brown, 47, of Hastings Close, Grays, said: “It’s outrageous.

We have had a lot of sudden noises in the night and it all feels totally underhand.

“It’s absolutely not OK for a company to do this. The idea was that it was supposed to be waiting till the planning meeting for approval.”

Structural engineer Ian Sage, 43, also of Hastings Close, said: “What’s happened is that there seems to be lots of people and activity, often quite early in the morning.

“My neighbour went out and confronted men and asked them if they were working on the biomass site – and they said ‘yes’.”

He added: “To me, having worked on projects like these, it just seems very suspicious and underhand.”

It's 'due dilligence'

PROCTER and Gamble insisted the work had nothing to do with the proposed biomass plant and the company was instead carrying out due dilligence.

A spokesman for the company said: “We have been establishing land boundaries on Fiddlers Reach, and carrying out due diligence to identify and map underground services on the land, such as gas and electricity.

“This due diligence is not related to the biomass work or to the planning application, which will be decided by Thurrock Council in due course. The work was being carried out by a contractor under P&G supervision.”

Thurrock Council confirmed an applicant can undertake investigation works without requiring the consent of the council