A Labour councillor who represents Grays has joined the growing opposition to the redevelopment of the Civic Centre.

Councillor Jane Pothecary, of the Grays Riverside ward, said she does not understand why the project is moving forward when most councillors oppose it and branded it a “vanity project”.

“Local businesses don’t want it, local people don’t want it, and the majority of local councillors don’t want it,” she said.

“I don’t need a shiny new office to sit in but there are lots of things I can think of that really matter to our residents that we could spend that money on.”

Her comments come a week after the Local Democracy Reporting Service revealed that the £10million scheme would include the demolition of a building on the corner of New Road, Grays, which houses at least four businesses.

The owner of one of those businesses said the council has not communicated with them at all despite being located next door and if the plans go ahead jobs will be lost.

The expansion will also mean building on Mulberry Square, a park that has been dedicated to Thurrock’s role in the construction of Mulberry harbours during World War Two.

The leader of the council, Councillor Rob Gledhill, has hit back at critics explaining that the building will set an example to businesses in Grays and will offer a range of benefits to residents, ranging from rooms that can be hired, a new registry office and confidential meeting areas.

Under the proposals, the existing building will be split in half with one section continuing to be part of the civic centre and expanded, and the other half converted into 120 new flats. Income from the flats is expected to contribute £2.8million towards the project’s £9.78million price tag.

Councillor Jane Pothecary will be standing for re-election in the Local Elections taking place on May 2.

Other candidates vying for the seat will be Kevin McNamara for the Liberal Democrats, Kanlayani Sisasima for the Thurrock Independents and Gurjit Thandi for the Conservative Party