News in Thurrock

STUDENTS from Harris Academy Chafford Hundred have been working on modern foreign languages challenges during the pandemic.

This half term the students have been completing a cooking and baking challenge. The challenge has taken place over the last three weeks:

LEADING Thurrock councillors have spoken about the importance of this week's National Apprenticeship Week which runs until Sunday, 14 February, promoting the many benefits apprenticeships offer to people of all ages through valuable qualifications and work experience.

Cllr Andrew Jefferies, cabinet member for education, said "Apprenticeships are a fantastic way for young people to earn while they learn and progress towards developing a rewarding career.

FOR a third day running Thurrock Council has suspended bin collections.

A statement from the council issued at 1.38pm said: "While crews were able to complete some collections during the morning, dangerous conditions have forced the teams to cancel their routes.

THE morning after a remarkable meeting of Thurrock Council's planning, transport and regeneration overview and scrutiny committee the authority has confirmed the departure of its

MEMBERS of Thurrock Council's Standards and Audit Committee hoping to get an informed opinion on the cost overrun and timescale of delays on the A13 road widening project may well be disappointed when they meet next week.

The committee has called on the council to give it updates on progress of the work but there is little new being brought to them in next week's report by Anna Eastgate, Assistant Director for Transport Infrastructure.

A TERSE atmosphere between Thurrock Council's assistant director of transport infrastructure and the Lower Thames Crossing and some councillors during Tuesday evening's (9 February) meeting of the authority's transport scrutiny committee caused some comment from online observers.

Ms Eastgate appeared irritated at some lines of questioning as the committee discussed the botched A13 widening and Stanford rail station projects that she has been responsible for. And on more than one occasion she appeared to snap at councillors.

A MAN has been charged as part of an investigation into drugs supply in Thurrock relating to the notorious C17 gang.

Marcel Zawolski, 19, of Dell Road, Grays, was arrested on Saturday (6 February) and was charged with being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine and heroin and possession with intent to supply heroin, and acquiring, using or possessing criminal property.

The much delayed and overspent A13 widening project has been something of a disaster for the council.

THURROCK councillors failed to get answers to questions about how much the final overspend on the controversial A13 widening project will be – and a call for an independent review into the project was rejected by Conservative members.

That was the outcome of tonight's (Tuesday, 9 February) meeting of the council's planning, transport and regeneration overview and scrutiny committee when requests for information and guarantees by councillors were blanked by senior officers.

A MEETING of Thurrock Council's planning, transport, regeneration overview and scrutiny committee this evening (Tuesday, 9 February) discussed the planned redesign of Stanford-le-Hope rail station when a remarkable drawing of the proposed new car park and bus turning circle was brought into the public domain.

The artist's impression of the redesign showed a level surface where there are currently drops of up to 15 feet, green grass and trees running alongside the River Hope where there are currently industrial buildings, a bus turning circle that looks impractical at first sight and what appears to be less parking spaces than the people of the town have been promised.