RESIDENTS in Tilbury's high rise towers have been assured by Thurrock Council that concerns over continuance of the concierge system in place at the three blocks are misplaced.

On Monday Thurrock Nub News reported on the fears of many residents who were suddenly confronted by new notices posted in the tower block entrances suggesting the concierge system would be closed.

The concern was sufficient to prompt an immediate response from leading local councillors saying they were unaware of any proposed changes and they would be taking up the matter with officers.

Tilbury Riverside and Thurrock Park Conservative councillor Allen Mayes assured residents in the blocks that no discussion had taken place with councillors about ending the concierge service and he, and council leader Cllr Rob Gledhill would be asking pertinent questions.

This afternoon (Wednesday, 6 July) Thurrock Council issued a statement saying that the notices were old ones and appeared to suggest residents had misinterpreted the situation by looking at notices posted two years ago.

In response to that, Nub News has checked again with residents and local councillors and we have been assured that the notices posted over the weekend were new! Indeed the statement issued by the council was described by one highly informed local commentator as 'complete claptrap!'

However, the outcome – however it has been achieved – appears to be an assurance that the concierge system is staying.

The statement given to Nub News today says: "We can reassure residents in these blocks that there are no plans to remove the concierge service, these signs were created over two years ago and should no longer be posted.

"They were first posted sometime around April 2020, during the first lockdown, and reflected the situation as it was then when we had to limit the number of staff in the CCTV and concierge rooms, that is why they include a reference to 'current government restrictions', and the possibility of closure it refers to were temporary closures forced by the pandemic and social distancing rules in place at that time.

"We apologise if anyone got the wrong impression from these signs and have now taken them down to be replaced by signs explaining what has happened here along with a letter being posted to each flat to explain the truth of the situation."