THURROCK Council leader Cllr Lynn Worrall has expressed her thanks to all who have supported residents evacuated from their homes in Tilbury following flooding at a tower block in the town.

Last Wednesday (12 November) residents were evacuated from the 64 flats that make up Brisbane House and currently remain in accommodation provided at hotels by the council or with relatives and friends.

Speaking at the council's cabinet meeting last night (Wednesday, 19 November) Cllr Worrall started proceedings by speaking about what has happened.

She said: "I know that block really well. I lived in those flats for over nine years, so it has a really special place in my heart.

"A week ago, I was shocked to get a call to say that there had been a huge flood coming from a pipe at the top of the building that then cascaded all the way through the flats below, causing a great deal of damage as it went by.

"We had to quickly switch off the power and evacuate all the residents.

Brisbane House, flanked by the neighbouring Freemantle and Tasmani House tower blocks.

"Emergencies rarely go smoothly but I am hugely grateful to the council officers and emergency services who did everything that they could to help residents to get out of the building and set up at the rest centre nearby.

"I would like to thank the Tilbury Community centre for the role that they played that night and they have continued to play over the last week.

"Since then, we have been working day and night to make sure all the people living in the blocks have a safe, warm and dry place to stay while we assess the damage to their homes and put a plan in place to make it right.

"We have had officers on hand at Tilbury library and hub each day since this happened to offer support and advice to anyone who needs it and each household has been given a named officer who is looking after their needs.

"I was down the library the following day and over the weekend and was so pleased to see the community, as well as the council staff, rallying around to support the families in what must be the most difficult of circumstances.

Council says its priority is to get residents back into their homes, some of which had already been decorated for Christmas.

"We know that the council's first objective must be to get the people home - and as soon as possible - but we can't yet say when that will be.

"The affected residents will be the first to know when our surveys are completed and are clearer on timescales.

"I just want to end up by saying a huge thank-you to all those affected residents for their understanding and patience.

"I can't imagine anything worse than having to leave your home unexpectedly in this way but I want to assure them that we will do everything we can to work quickly and get their homes ready for them to return as soon as possible."

Despite the 'upbeat' message from Cllr Worrall, others have been less entusiastic about paying tribute to the council.

Yesterday Nub News reported on the concerns and criticisms of Tilbury Riverside ward member Cllr John Allen who was angry about a lack of communiction and added: "I don't think anyone is surprised this has happened. There has been so little investment in these properties it was an incident waiting to happen."

Tilbury Community Centre manager Danny Pyman-Brickwood also feels aggrieved that Tilbury has not been given the priority it deserves from Thurrock Council, saying: "People in Tilbury have got no faith in the people higher above because money is spent on things it doesn't need to be spent on and there's no priorities that are in place.

"There's nothing for the residents of Tilbury, especially these people who have come out of Brisbane now.

"They've gone from having a roof over their heads and starting to prepare themselves for Christmas with their families to now nothing.

It is not known when families will be able to return to their water-soaked homes.

"Christmas is not going to be Christmas for these families because they don't know what's going to happen. They have got no facility to know where they will be or what they will be doing.

"I just think, at the minute, it's only that the people of Tilbury and everyone else around organisations that have pulled together.

"No matter what people's opinions of the people of Tilbury may be, or the reputation of Tilbury as a while, one think nobody can say is that we don't stick together as a big group."