WORK must begin on the long-delayed new Stanford-le-Hope railway station to end a six-month “paralysis”, a councillor has insisted.

Revised plans for the scheme were published for consideration by Thurrock Council’s planning committee.

Shane Hebb, councillor responsible for finance, told a cabinet meeting there must be no further delays to the important project, even if it meant delivering the scheme in phases.

He said: “The administration is very clear, the current paralysis of the project for nearly six months has been unnecessary.

“Residents who live around the station and those who travel further do not deserve this project to be delayed any further. It is high time to get the station project done and the frustrations to achieving that are overcome.”

Speaking of the delivery plan for the scheme to redevelop the c2c station, he said: “The assertion that projects cannot be delivered in phases is flawed.

“A recent audit of the station phase of the project has verified clearly that even with changes to the north side of the wider project around the transport hub and phase  two, there will be no material impact on the new station being built. It is ready to go. It was ready to go six months ago.”

The application was deferred in February and since then efforts have been made to ensure that the design for the station is “economical and provides for all the key requirements of the design in terms of safety and operability”.

A detailed review of the Transport Hub concept has been undertaken, with “significant challenges and constraints identified that need to be properly addressed in the emerging design”.

Presenting his financial report to cabinet, Mr Hebb added: “The station design changed a number of months ago reflecting changes desired by the local community. That pause was regrettable but in the long run beneficial for that reason anyone should take solace in that.

“This report seeks to plough a further £10 million into the Stanford-le-Hope project getting the station done and helping design a new transport hub on the north side London Road.

“These projects are dear to this council as we are know they are dear to the residents and organisations across the borough who will benefit from and we want to enable our officials to see these projects through. By agreeing to this allocation of funding we accelerate the ability for officers to deliver these projects and get these projects done for the betterment of our borough.”