THURROCK Council is inviting residents to join its officers and consultants on a series of local walkabouts, when the subject will be Thurrock's housing design.

The Council has commissioned an independent not-for-profit organisation, Design South East, to run a series of walking tours in Thurrock to understand:

• What parts of your home and street do you value?
• What changes would you like to see?

A statement from the council says: "With your help we will create a shared vision for home improvements in Thurrock and develop ways to support the delivery of this, including updates to council guidance (Thurrock Council - Design guide: residential alterations and extensions).

Each walkabout will last two hours maximum, split into one hour walking and one hour of discussion at the meeting venue.

The council adds: "Please come along prepared to share your ideas about the design of homes and streets with those who join you on the walks. For example, what's your favourite house in your local area? Although we cannot cover the whole area in two hours, we hope to see enough of the area in this time to get an insight into the issues that matter to you.

"This is a chance to help shape the future of your neighbourhood, and we are keen to get as many people to get involved as possible – all ages and families are welcome, and there is a pair of tickets to Snow White – this year's panto at Thameside - on offer as a prize draw for attendees at each event!

"In case of bad weather, the event will go ahead in the form of a focus group, to be held indoors in the venue as listed for each event."

The first two walks take place next Saturday (19 October) and will start at 10am from South Ockendon Library, on Derry Avenue, taking in the local area and running until 12 noon. Sign up via this link.

That will be followed by a similar event starting at the Thameside Theatre on Orsett Road in Grays at 1pm.  Sign up here.

The second pair of events will take place on Saturday, 16 November, with the Corringham Residential Design Walkabout convening at Corringham Library on St John's Way at 10am.

It will be followed by the Tilbury walkabout, meeting at 2pm at Tilbury Library on Civic Square.