THURROCK Council has responded to residents' concerns about a possible misuse of time and resources in Chadwell St Mary.

On Thursday (23 July) a council tractor with grass mowers in tow spent several hours working on Orsett Heath, even though the field is 'bone dry', sun-baked and brown with very little grass on it.

Because of the recent hot weather the top of the soil was also very dusty and covered in dead grass, both of which ballooned into the air and drifted off the park into nearby homes and gardens, prompting a raft of adverse comment on social media.

Later in the day a team of other environment department workers were seen working on hedgerows that are between the heath and Chadwell cemetery.

Noramlly green - but brown and subaked at the moment. Part of Orsett Heath and Chadwell St Mary cemetery.

Thurrock Nub News asked the council why the grass was being cut when it has not grown in recent weeks and received the following response: "The council's cleaning and greening team were working on Orsett Heath on Thursday carrying out essential work creating fire breaks to help slow and stop the spread of any field fire on the Heath that might start as a result of the hot weather during summer.

"While they were working on the Heath it made sense that they managed other overgrowth and cutting, this way teams will not have to return to the heath for three weeks and can focus work on other parts of the borough."

In previous weeks there has also been some adverse comment about the state of borough cemeteries, so Nub News visited two in the wake of the council's comments.

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Though sun-baked, Chadwell cemetery is kept neat and tidy.

The adjoining Chadwell cemetery is in a very good condition and, in contrast to previous years, is now well-maintained with the grass well-kept.

However, Grays is less well-maintained.

However, Grays cemetery off Chadwell Road, just a mile or so away, is not in such a good state with lots of weeds and overgrown grass and may well now be subject to a clean-up given workers 'can focus work on other parts of the borough'.