A COMPANY that has blighted the lives of its new neighbours as it built a huge new distribution centre in the west of the borough has offered to help three Thurrock-based charities as it gets ready to go live with its operations.

Residents living close to the site of new distribution site at a development called SEGRO Park in Purfleet have had to put up with noise and discomfort during the building process at the 304,255 sq ft project when the contractors Winvic disregarded the planning conditions imposed by Thurrock Council.

Work carried on overnight and through weekends despite conditions laid down when the planning permission that residents would get relief from the noise nuisance.

By and large the council, much to the annoyance of residents, turned a blind eye to the problems but eventually, after many complaints finally said they will prosecute the company.

However, work carried on regardless and the noise nuisance continued for residents. Thurrock Council took no further action, despite requests from local ward councillors and pressure to implement either a stop or an injunction. It declined to respond to further questions from Thurrock Nub News.

Today (Tuesday, 15 December), as the site is handed over to tenants and perhaps in a bid to build bridges after contractors have left the scene, the company that owns and built out the site, SEGRO, has announced that it will be supporting three local charities as part of its Centenary Fund.

The company says it has been working with Essex Community Foundation – who will administer the funding – to identify three local charities that support vulnerable and disadvantaged people into education and skills programmes that will help them find and succeed at work.

The three community projects that have been allocated support are:

• Open Door Thurrock – providing support services for young people, families and vulnerable adults in Thurrock. The grant will be used to provide group life skills and employment activities for care leavers who are digitally excluded during COVID-19.
• One Community – inspiring and developing the capacity and skills of local people to work actively together to achieve the best for themselves and the community. The grant will be used to provide a work club as well as one-to-one employment support to local residents.
• Thurrock Centre for Independent living – delivering services to vulnerable people with any form of disability. The grant will be used to provide employment support to people with a mental or physical illness in Thurrock.

Partnership Development Director at SEGRO, Neil Impiazzi,said: "We are delighted to announce that we will be funding three charities in Thurrock to provide the community with the support they need to develop themselves and flourish in the world of work.

"Community engagement and charitable activity is at the heart of SEGRO. We work hard to support local charities, so that together, we can improve the lives of vulnerable members of the

local community."

The announcement comes as SEGRO hands over a modern industrial facility at SEGRO Park Purfleet to online grocer, Ocado Retail. Once fully operational, SERGO says the distribution centre will employ up to 1,500 people.