THE number of coronavirus cases confirmed in Thurrock has now topped 200.

For the second day running the tally has increased by six, to 201.

And, as reported earlier on Thurrock Nub News, the number of deaths of Thurrock residents continues to grow and includes the former vicar of Orsett and Queens Chaplain, Rev Canon Glyn Jones.

Across the country the UK death toll has risen by 761, bringing the total to 12,868. There are 98,476 confirmed Covid-19 virus infections nationwide.

While there has been no indication yet of an easing of UK lockdown restrictions, Thurrock Council has today announced that there will be a change in one local service cut back by the impact of coronavirus.

Following a two week suspension the council says it will re-introduce regular brown bin collections.

Cllr Aaron Watkins, cabinet member for environment said: "I am pleased to announce that we are able to introduce a limited return to garden waste collections.

"Our current resources have allowed us to bring this service back following a brief two-week suspension. We ask residents to try to minimise garden waste at this time and compact what they have to dispose of as much as possible to ensure it will fit in the bin.

A new four-weekly brown bin collection will come into effect from Monday, 20 April. This will ensure that every home has garden waste collected at least once a month.

Collections will take place in a different quarter of the borough each week. Residents will be asked to leave their brown bin out at the start of the week and then take it in again once their garden waste has been collected.

The new timetable of collections will be in the following four-weekly schedule:

Week One - commencing Monday 20 April

Corringham and Fobbing, The Homesteads, Stanford East and Corringham, Stanford-le-Hope West, Orsett

Week Two - commencing Monday 27 April

East Tilbury, Chadwell St Mary, Tilbury St Chads, Tilbury Riverside and Thurrock Park, Little Thurrock Rectory

Week Three commencing Monday 4 May

Little Thurrock Blackshots, Stifford Clays, Grays Thurrock, Chafford and North Stifford, Grays Riverside

Week Four commencing Monday 11 May

Ockendon, Belhus, Aveley and Uplands, South Chafford, West Thurrock

Residents are advised resources may be affected by varying circumstances and are asked to regularly check the council's website for any variations to the service.

The council says residents should continue to dispose of food waste in their green or grey bin during the weeks they are not expecting a brown bin collection.

And, with the civic tip and recyling centre at Linford still closed, the council is promoting its paid for bulky waste collection service.

A statement says: "The service has not been affected by social distancing measures as it does not require any face-to-face interaction: bookings are made online and residents can leave items out on the day the collection is due to take place and crews will remove them.

"To book a collection, visit thurrock.gov.uk/bulky-waste.

The service costs £30.90 for the first three items and £8.24 for each additional item.

Cllr Watkins added: "I highly recommend our bulky waste service. It is cheap, convenient and, as there is no need to meet the crews, there are no issues around social distancing."

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