THE leader of Thurrock Council – and one of his leading opponents – have joined forces to pay tribute to community-minded residents in Grays who have been cleaning up their area.

Council leader Cllr Rob Gledhill, who is also cabinet member for public protection and anti-social behaviour has highlighted the role of residents in an operation mounted by the council's street cleaning team and community safety officer, in collaboration with Essex Police.

On Saturday, 22 January, the second stage of a clean-up operation in Grays addressing residents' concerns of anti-social behavior was focused on two areas – Orsett Road, behind Grays Baptist Church, and Bedford Road alleyway – which had been targeted by fly-tippers and other anti-social behaviour.

A clean-up of Milton Road alleyway, just off Cromwell Road in Grays, will be completed in late February.

The operation is being funded by the Safer Streets fund – which comprises a government grant of £625,000 awarded to Thurrock Council, Essex Police and the Fire and Crime Commission in August of last year.

Cllr Gledhill say: "Our teams began this operation on 14 December 2021. Not only were these three identified areas an eyesore for residents, but it was also becoming a breeding ground for more anti-social behaviour.

"Our officers have worked hard to organise the much needed clean-up which will benefit our residents, whose wellbeing is at the heart of everything we do.

"Residents should feel proud of where they live and continue to enjoy and feel safe in Thurrock without nuisances caused by those that wish to disturb the peace of others.

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"If you witness anti-social behaviour, I urge you to report it, not only for your benefit but for the benefit of your community, so that we can stamp out anti-social behaviour for good."

While the intervention of police and council is relatively recent, the areas in questions have been the subject of residents' own initiatives – led by the Orchards Community Forum.

Thurrock Nub News has frequently featured their work, including this report in July last year and this report, complete with video, which we published last April.

Opposition leader on Thurrock Council is Cllr John Kent, who has frequently taken part in the clean-up work himself, which has also been supported by members of the Grays Beachcombers group, led by local co-ordinator Steve Catchpole.

Cllr Kent says he is delighted to see the latest support from the council and police, and mentioned that the council have previously been on hand to help take away rubbish gathered in by the volunteers.

"It is always pleasing to see residents take action to support their communities and I cannot praise the work of the Orchards Forum enough," said Cllr Kent, who is a Grays Thurrock ward councillor.

"Members of the forum work tirelessly to improve the quality of the local community and their work in cleaning up alleyways has been going on for a long time. So too do Steve and the beachcombers and other local residents. And we are grateful for the support of council workers who have mucked in and helped take the rubbish away.

"The real sadness is that we have the other side of our community that are only too willing to step in and dump again after a community effort has cleaned up an area. I very much hope the Safer Streets fund can stretch to some real preventative work, rather than just mopping up problems after they have happened."

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Thurrock Council has an online site where you can gain more information about anti-social behaviour and action to combat it and report it. Visit this link.