THURROCK Council workers battling to keep the borough free from litter and fly-tipping have been named Team of the Year at the prestigious Keep Britain Tidy Awards 2020.

The council's environmental enforcement officers named were Team of the Year at the Keep Britain Tidy Network Conference yesterday (Thursday, 6 February).

The nomination said: "This team has worked extensively with Essex Police in joint operations to tackle anti-social behaviour, worked all hours necessary to enforce on illegal activity particularly concerning fly-tipping and achieved one of the country's first interim injunctions to prevent unauthorised encampments anywhere on public or private land in Thurrock."

Cllr Rob Gledhill, Leader of Thurrock Council and Cabinet Member for Public Protection and Anti-Social Behaviour, said "This is a fantastic result for Thurrock and our partners in Essex Police and Kingdom Environmental Protection.

"The Environmental Enforcement team was only formed in 2018 and has gone from strength to strength issuing 185 £400 fixed penalty notices specifically for fly-tipping, 473 fixed penalty notices for offences including littering and anti-social behaviour, and has undertaken operations to tackle nitrous oxide misuse in our car parks over the past 10 months.

"I would like to thank every member of the council team as well as our partners in Essex Police for what they are doing to make Thurrock a cleaner borough to live in. This award justifies our extra investment to increase the size of the team and support joint operations with Essex Police, and shows that Thurrock is not an easy target for those intent in treating it as a rubbish tip."

The annual Keep Britain Tidy Awards celebrate councils that demonstrate best practice in improving the environment on its residents' doorsteps.

For more information about Thurrock Council's environmental work click on the red button below.