News in Thurrock

A SCHOOL in Stanford-le-Hope is to get a major expansion that will boost pupil numbers by more than 200.

The council has granted planning permission for a new three-storey teaching block at St Clere's School, on Butts Lane.

A 100 metre exclusion zone was set up this evening (Monday,, 6 January) as teams of emergency workers dealt with an incident following what appears to be a chemical leak from an industrial cylinder in West Thurrock.

Essex Fire and Rescue Servicves have now added some detail to the incident, which was originally reported to have been at Oliver Road, but has now been confirmed as the adjacent to Stoness Road.

RESIDENTS in Aveley are being urged to attend a workshop session next week which will contribute to the creation of a blueprint for the local community's future.

On Monday (13 January) between 2 and 8pm a 'drop in' session will take place at St Michael's Church on Aveley High Street.

RESIDENTS in West Thurrock have been told to close all their windows and doors and motorists advised to stay away from the area after a hazardous materials spill.

It happened on Oliver Road and Essex Fire and Rescue Service say a 'large incident' is currently ongoing and have issued their warnings.

EMERGENCY workers closed a Thurrock road this evening after a van hit a post holding up power cables.

The incident happened soon after 4pm on Muckingford Road at its junction with Blue Anchor Lane.

A MEETING will take place in Aveley tomorrow (Tuesday, 7 January) where information will be shared with people who would like to volunteer at the new community hub which is due to open later this month.

There will be many opportunities for people to volunteer at the purpose-built hub, with opportunities in 'meeting and greeting', providing IT assistance and detailing community services.

THURROCK Mind will be restarting a number of courses from later this month, helping local people deal with issues connected with their mental health.

Counselling group session will begin with a meeting dealing with depression and anxiety on Tuesday, 28 January from 10.30am to noon.

A RECORD number of journeys have been made on the Gravesend to Tilbury ferry in the past year.

On the second anniversary of the contract with ferry operator Jetstream Tours, Thurrock Council and Kent County Council have revealed that 150,000 journeys a year are being made, a 40 per cent increase since the start of the contract.

CHARITIES and local community groups across Thurrock have benefitted thanks to the efforts of staff at the borough's IKEA store.

Representatives of many organisations attended a presentation at the West Thurrock store at the weekend to receive vouchers to spend on a wide range of goods stocked there.

THURROCK'S community policy team got busy yesterday (Sunday) working across the borough on an Operation codenamed 'Ceaser'.

Their aim was to tackle vehicles used for anti-social behaviour and crime.