THURROCK Council is continuing to invite contributions from residents as it works to finally bring together a new local plan - which is key to many redevelopment projects across the borough as the area's blueprint for regeneration of the region.

The council is continuing to host a series of virtual events as part of its Local Plan Consultation, inviting residents and people who work in the borough to come along and tell the authority what they feel is important in their local area now, and in the future.

Local Plans are a guide to help decide what can be built where, what are the key infrastructure needs and what should future development look like to best support the people who live and work in the borough.

Events have already taken place in Aveley, South Ockendon, Horndon on the Hill, Stanford-le-Hope, Corringham, and Orsett, with further events to take place in East Tilbury, Bulphan, and Chadwell St Mary over the coming weeks.

Links to join the online conversations will be available shortly before each event via this link.

They include:

East Tilbury

Saturday, 12 February - 11.00 to 12.00, 12.30 to 13.30 and 14.00 to 15.00 Bulphan

Tuesday, 22 February- 18.00 to 19.00 and 19.30 to 20.30

Saturday, 26 February - 11.00 to 12.00, 12.30 to13.30 and 14.00 to 15.00 Chadwell St Mary

Monday, 28 February- 18.00 to 19.00 and 19.30 to 20.30

Saturday, 5 March- 11.00 to 12.00, 12.30 to 13.30 and 14.00 to 15.00 Cabinet member for regeneration, strategic planning, and external relationships Cllr Mark Coxshall, says: "We want to make sure that Thurrock is a borough that is a great place to live, work, play and learn. So far, we have collected valuable suggestions and ideas from lots of people, and we look forward to sharing that feedback and using it to develop a local plan that supports our residents' needs and helps Thurrock's economy thrive. "As a council, we really want to understand what matters most to you in your local area, so please get involved and have your say." You can also take part in the borough wide survey running on the Your Place Your Voice website. Residents who do not live in one of the identified growth areas can also have their say by visiting this link. Thurrock's new local plan is much delayed - it was first mooted in 2016 - and has also been the subject of much local bickering and concern over the number of new homes for the borough - and where they will be built. One of the fiercest critics of the Conservative administration's plans for the area has been local councillor Luke Spillman who has described the plans to build 32,000 homes in Thurrock as 'disastrous'. In 2018, when he was leader of the Thurrock Independents group, he clashed with council leader Cllr Rob Gledhill over housing plans He said: "We have been calling on them for months to get their plan in order but so far they have refused to meet any of our six tests. Hopefully now they have accepted that they are out of their depth that they will listen to the valid concerns of residents and councillors before proceeding." He was speaking after the council had instigated a delay in the local plan. prompting Cllr Gledhill to dismissed Cllr Spillman's opinions as "scaremongering and misrepresenting the truth." However, the rift appears to have been healed. Cllr Spillman defected to the Conservative ranks and was rewarded with an £11,000 a year appointment as portfolio holder for housing and the authority is now canvassing residents' opinions! The local plan delay and many controversial planning decisions, has prompted much criticism previously of the borough's planning strategy, including this damning verdict from a local developer in 2020.