A THURROCK mum has blasted Thurrock Council and says it should be ashamed of the way it has treated her and her family as they try desperately to get a council home.

Sam Reeves has been on the council's housing waiting list since 2012 and after a nine year wait finally looked as if she and her children would get a home the council decided she didn't have a 'local enough connection' and scrubbed her name from a successful listings application.

Shocked mum Sam told her story, saying: "I work in Thurrock, my children are at school in Thurrock and I have lived in Thurrock since October 2012 apart from three months where we went to Cornwall and came back. I had very personal reason for it not working out in Cornwall.

"I have been on the council waiting list since 2012 so nearly nine years.

"Finally this week we finally finished first on a property. I have no rent arrears, I work full time, I'm a single parent on a low income and we are classed as overcrowded but now Thurrock Council are saying I will default on the property and I will be taken off of the list as I don't have local connections.

"My children's grandparents and aunts and uncles are in Thurrock but even that doesn't class as a local connection.

"Thurrock Council you should be ashamed. Aren't you meant to be helping local people?

"I'm not a bum that doesn't work and we genuinely need help. You seem to make people feel like they have done something wrong, rather than help your residents.

"I have also been short listed for properties on several occasions and no one has ever picked it out before!"

Thurrock Council, and housing portfolio holder Cllr Luke Spillman, have been made aware of Sam's situation by Thurrock Nub News and of her comments but as yet the council has not responded.