THURROCK Council is seeking more powers so it can control additional traffic enforcement in the borough.

The government recently approved changes which allow local authorities to have more responsibility for enforcing moving traffic offences.

Thurrock Council intends to apply to the Secretary of State for powers to enforce some moving traffic breaches such as blocking yellow box junctions. Under current legislation, moving traffic violations can only be enforced by the police under criminal law.

Cllr Ben Maney, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, said: "I'm delighted that the government has made this decision and we will be applying for these new powers as soon as the legislation has been updated.

"We have been lobbying the Department for Transport for years to give us these powers so we can have more influence on keeping traffic moving around the borough, particularly around junction 31 of the M25 where motorists obstructing the box junctions have previously caused considerable congestion affecting the whole of the borough.

"This welcome change will help us to keep traffic moving and benefit all of our residents and road users throughout Thurrock greatly."