THE morning after a remarkable meeting of Thurrock Council's planning, transport and regeneration overview and scrutiny committee the authority has confirmed the departure of its

assistant director for project delivery Anna Eastgate.

She has been at the eye of the storm of concern over the much delayed and over budget A13 widening and Stanford rail station projects – and as the lead on the council's response to the lower Thames crossing was also involved in a spat with a councillor.

Ms Eastgate, who earned around £100,000 a year at Thurrock, was the person brought in to solve the problems on both the A13 and Stanford rail station projects.

She quickly gained a degree of notoriety for her actions on camera at a virtual council meeting when [L]https://thurrock.nub.news/n/a13-scrutiny-meeting-is-marked-by-comedy-moment-as-directors-differ---but-it-it39s-no-laughing-matter-as-residents-face-more-than-30-million-bill-which--could-still-go-up L+]she appeared to be mocking the statements of director of place Andrew Millard about the projects.[.L]

Thurrock Nub News has known of Ms Eastgate's intended departure for some time – and that of other senior members of its officer cohort including Mr Millard – but today (Wednesday, 10 February), just a few hours after another series of fractious debates about her projects, the council broke its previously tight-lipped stance and made a formal announcement confirming her departure from the council.

It said: "Anna Eastgate will be leaving Thurrock Council to take up a more senior role at another local authority.

"Since joining Thurrock in 2018 to lead on the council's response to the Lower Thames Crossing, Anna's role expanded to include responsibility for highly complex major infrastructure projects including the redevelopment of Stanford-le-Hope station.

"Anna's new role is executive director of neighbourhoods and environment at Southend-on-Sea Borough Council."

Thurrock's cabinet member for regeneration and strategic planning Cllr Mark Coxshall, , said: "While at Thurrock, Anna has led on the development of the council's consultation response on Highways England's proposals for the Lower Thames Crossing, and has successfully directed the reintroduction of the Grays town centre two-way system on Orsett Road ahead of schedule.

"Anna has been a valued member of the team at Thurrock and her experience and knowledge have brought great benefits to the borough. We are sorry that she is leaving, but congratulate her and wish her well in her future career and her move to a more senior executive director position at Southend-on-Sea Borough Council.

"I know all at Thurrock Council wish her every success in her new role."