The quality of life for many people living in south Grays should be improved following decisions taken by Thurrock councillors.

Members of the community services committee agreed that a multi-storey car park close to flats in the area is to be demolished.

Residents from the Lionel Oxley, Arthur Toft and George Crooks flats handed Thurrock Council's deputy leader and ward representative John Kent a petition asking for the demolition.

Coun Kent said: "Thurrock Council believes all residents are entitled to live peaceably without harassment and without fear.

"For too long the people living in these flats -- and in nearby Seabrooke Rise -- have not been able to do this. It has been truly dreadful."

He said that in the car park cars had been burnt out and moved to block entrances; the building has been in poor repair enabling vandals to rip off bricks and use them as missiles; there has been much drug abuse there, especially on the lower floors and "gangs of up to 40 youths have gathered, regularly causing a noise nuisance".

He added: "For too long residents have not felt secure in their own neighbourhood -- their quality of life has been really atrocious."

The committee was told that work on demolishing the multi-storey was expected to start "no later than July."

Later the committee heard that work on installing closed-circuit television security systems at all six blocks of flats in south Grays should start next month.

Mr Gerry Calder, representing the Thurrock Residents Action Group on the committee, welcomed the CCTV plan saying it was especially necessary if the multi-storey car park was to be demolished.

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