THURROCK Council’s planning boss demanded that the authroity pushes hard for major improvements to the level crossing in East Tilbury after plans for 50 homes were approved.

Terry Hipsey, the Labour chairman of the planning committee, asked council officers to press Network Rail to get something done, even if it meant building a new road in and out of the town.

The move to build the homes, which will beamix of two, three and four-bedroom properties located opposite the school and war memorial in Princess Margaret Road, was made despite impassioned opposition from East Tilbury ward councillor and committee member Barry Palmer.

He argued that the roads and junctions would not be able to cope, that the proposed access site was prone to flooding and again raised concerns that the number of people “trapped” at the crossing would increase.

But the plans were given the gro-ahead and the developer will now contribute more than £100,000 for the upkeep and maintenance of the Bata factory buildings.

It means the number of homes in East Tilbury is likely to pass the 2,000 mark.

Permission was granted three years ago for 350 homes on Bata land, north of this site.

The majority of houses in the town can only be easily accessed via Princess Margaret Road, which is cut in half by the level crossing.

Mr Hipsey said: “I reallydo feel we need to be speaking to our planning department about getting this problem with the crossing sorted.

“Perhaps this western bypass that has been drawn up needs to be moved on a bit quicker. We need to be talking to Network Rail.”

“It’s coming up to 2,000 properties there now. That’s almost 4,000 people that will be cut off.”

Fielding questions on the plans for the 50 homes, one council official outlined the work being done to improve infrastructure in the area.

He said ground was being made with NetworkRail and c2c on the crossing problem and added that the council was looking at improving the Buckingham Road and Stanford Road junction, where rush-hour traffic often backs up as far the Linford tip site.

But Mr Palmer responded: “I admire your optimism on this, but I don’t see it all working.”