THURROCK Council leader, Cllr Rob Gledhill has welcomed today's announcement by Prime Minister Boris Johnson outlining a roadmap to the end of Covid-19 lockdown.

Mr Johnson addressed Parliament this afternoon (Monday, 22 February) and will speak to the nation on TV this evening (approximately 7pm) and confirmed schools will be reopened next month - which will be a year since the UK went into the first national lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic - plus a raft of other scheduled measures.

This evening Cllr Gledhill told Thurrock Nub News: "It was good to hear the Prime Minister announce the road map out of lockdown.

"The light at the end of the tunnel is becoming more clear and I hope, like everyone else, that each of the earliest dates outlined in his speech will be achieved. This will see schools opening in early March, non essential shops, gyms and pub beer gardens opening in April, for pubs and restaurants in mid May and hopefully everything back to as near normal by the middle of the year.

"The council will of course issue the new guidance as it becomes available and will continue to support residents and businesses as we navigate the road map out of lockdown."