THURROCK Council has courted waves of criticism after claiming credit for cleaning up a notorious 'fly-tipping' hotspot in the heart of Grays town centre.

Council leader Richard Bingley today (Monday, 3 August) praised the council. under his leadership, and environmental services teams for dealing with a blot on the borough's landscape and citing an 'exceptional response' from Thurrock Council's cleaning and greening team.

He said the authority had dealt with a major fly-tip on 'private land' saying the 'clearance shows the pride our teams have in their work and the effort they put into their jobs to make sure our towns are clean and tidy'.

However, far from new, the dump of rubbish in an alleyway off George Street, is a long-running sore that has frequently been brought to the council's attention.

Thurrock Nub News has highlighted the problem of the alleyway, between the derelict State cinema and the High Street on a number of occasions.

The longstanding problem with dumping of rubbish in the alley has been brought to the council's attention over recent years, and the simmering discontent of local traders and residents was highlighted in a report in February this year.

It featured piles of rubbish stacked up in the alleyway which was cleared, soon after our report, by council environment teams. Thurrock Council acknowledged that, among the detritus and discarded rubbish. were its own bins and commercial service bins that should have been cleared.

The council announced it had taken decisive action, cleared the site and launched an investigation.

However, the problem continued to be a recurring one – with no enforcement action from the council.

And in May Nub News returned to readdress the issue in this video report.

Within hours of its publication the council acknowledged the site of the tipping was on its land, saying: "As is the case with all fly-tips on council-owned land once the investigation has been completed and any evidence identified and logged the waste will be removed and disposed of properly."

A report on the council's action and response was published on Thursday, 14 May. The council's statement appeared to show there was no doubt who was responsible for upkeep of the alley.

Yet today the council backed down from that position in an apparent glorification of ruling group Reform UK's commitment to cleaning up the borough.

It said the council had produced and 'outstanding response to such a major fly-tip on private land' - though it declined to name the site.

However, the council's own photographs with the following release showed it was the same alley.

The release says: "A significant fly-tipping incident in Grays has been cleared following an exceptional response from Thurrock Council's Clean & Green Team.

"Last week, despite the land being privately owned, council officers attended the site outside of normal working hours to ensure the waste was removed promptly, preventing further environmental damage and restoring the area for the local community.

"The operation involved the removal of a substantial quantity of illegally dumped waste, with crews working efficiently to clear the site and dispose of the material safely.

"The council is continuing to investigate the incident as evidence was collected relating to the potential offenders. A specialist contractor was also called to remove the remaining material due to concerns about its content.

"Cllr Richard Bingley, Leader of Thurrock Council, said:

'I am incredibly proud of our Clean & Green Team for their outstanding response to such a major fly-tip. Although this was on private land, the team still responded outside of normal working hours, which was an exception due to the significant impact on the local area.

'Civic pride and making sure we have a borough that we are all proud to be part of, is at the heart of what we are doing here in Thurrock. This clearance shows the pride our teams have in their work and the effort they put into their jobs to make sure our towns are clean and tidy.

Pictured posted on social media today by Thurrock Council

"Fly-tipping is a criminal offence that blights communities and places an unnecessary financial burden on public services. We are cracking down on everyone involved in such illegal activities as we all have a legal duty when disposing of waste. I urge residents to ensure their waste is disposed of responsibly. Anyone arranging for rubbish to be removed should always check that the person collecting it is a registered waste carrier.'

"For more information about safe and secure waste removal services, visit: https://www.thurrock.gov.uk/waste-and-recycling".,

Today's council announcement has been decried by traders in the town and the authority and its leadership have been accused of not being truthful.

One angry trader told Nub News today: "Those of us who pay rates and have contracts for waste collection are utterly disgusted by Thurrock Council, which shows little knowledge of its responsibilities.

"This alley has been a public throughfare for decades managed by the council. Even if actual ownership of the land ultimately is in doubt, the council has agreed contracts to take away commercial waste, which it then fails to fulfil. It has previously admitted responsibility for the land. Look at some of the waste bins, they are branded Thurrock Council. How clear does it need to be? They cannot deny knowedge or responsibility.

"And aside from that, the council has a social and environmental responsibility to keep this area clean and safe. Rats the size of cats have been reported over many months, as has the stench and damaging effect of the filth and rubbish on public health - and our businesses.

"The statement by Cllr Bingley is shocking. It shows no awareness of the problem, its history and its depth and who should bear responsibility. He needs to go back and ask some better questions rather than glorify his party!"