THE future of special needs education in the borough is still in limbo two weeks after Thurrock councillors vetoed plans to build two schools on greenbelt land in Grays.

Thurrock Council last week withdrew the plans to re-locate the Treetops School, in Grays and Beacon Hill School, South Ockendon, to land next to the Gateway Community College's north site after councillors rejected the proposals in a shambolic full council meeting.

But, despite calls from opposition councillors for an extraordinary council meeting to discuss the issue further, the council is still deliberating about what to do next and is locked in discussions with education and planning officers about how the plans can be revived.

A Thurrock Council spokesperson said: "Thurrock Council is currently reviewing all the options - with education and planning officers evaluating a range of alternative scenarios. The council will be sharing its initial thoughts with the parents and teachers from the special needs schools and with residents living close to the former Torells School as soon as the review is concluded.

"The council will be in a position to share these ideas more widely following the conclusion of these discussions. As ever, the council's top priority remains securing the future special needs school provision that is so desperately required in the borough."

The ruling-Tory party found themselves in a tricky situation after the council meeting on 26 October when a back bench revolt from their own members ensured the plans collapsed amid shambolic scenes in the council chamber.

The cabinet had hoped that the plans would be passed through the council's planning committee but an administrative cock-up meant the item couldn't be decided in planning and was instead forwarded to the full council meeting where it was vetoed because of the current administration's first public back bench revolt.

This has put Labour in a strong position and their leader, coun John Kent, has moved to apply the pressure on his opponents by demanding an extraordinary council meeting to find out where and when the council intend to build the two new schools.

He said: "The Tories have had eighteen months to sort this out. It was on the first cabinet agenda of the new Tory administration in June 2004. They've had a secret site visit, they've sacked one cabinet member because of the lack of progress and still we're no nearer seeing these schools built; if it weren't so serious for our special needs children it would be a joke.

"Given the controversy surrounding these proposals and how important the greenbelt is to the people of Thurrock, any competent council would have a 'Plan B' and it's in the public interest to know what it is. That's why we will be seeking an extraordinary meeting of the council because we want to see urgent progress to provide these schools."

The council would not be drawn on whether an extraordinary council meeting is on the agenda.