News in Thurrock

A THURROCK woman who killed her mother while suffering severe depression has walked from a court today (Friday, 1 April), released by a compassionate judge into the care of her family because she has 'been punished enough already'.

Judge Samantha Leigh, presided at a five day trial at Basildon Court Court earlier this year when Cheryl Banks, 60, was cleared of murdering her 89-year-old mother Winifred Grover by a jury, having earlier admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility. Judge Leigh said she bore in mind all the 'tragic and exceptional' circumstances of the killing.

IT has been confirmed that a child was injured following a collision in a congested part of Grays yesterday (Thursday, 31 March) at the end of the school day.

There has been considerable concern locally about the problems of traffic at school opening and closing times on Bradleigh avenue and Ward Avenue in Grays where there are a number of schools in close proximity.

ENVIRONMENT protesters have targeted an oil terminal in West Thurrock this morning (Friday, 1 April) climbing on top of storage tanks. They have also targetted two other sites within the borough.

Police have reported that six people have been arrested in the initial stages of the protests.

A JURY is likely to be asked make a decision today (Thursday, 24 February) in the murder trial of a Grays woman who has admitted killing her mother.

They will have to make that decision after balancing conflicting opinions from psychiatrists who have examined Cheryl Banks, of Lenmore Avenue where the killing happened in June last year.

TW0 police officers were assaulted and injured while making arrests in Purfleet in the early hours of this morning (Thursday, 31 March).

Four men were arrested after items worth about £18,000 were stolen from a lorry parked in a service station close to the M11.

IN the latest of her occasional history features for Nub News, Susan Yates – the chair of Thurrock Local History Society – has been looking back at how the poor were helped across the borough over recent centuries and how and where workhouses were established.

She also gives some insight into the history of the site that currently houses Orsett Hospital, which is set for closure and demolition.

AS part of its hopes to build bridges with the local community after winning the right to build homes in South Ockendon via a planning appeal, overriding local objections to their scheme, housebuilders St Modwen Homes have created a climbing wall at a local primary school.

St Modwen's controversial plans for 92 new homes on the site of the former Ford plant off Arisdale Avenue, a development known as Bennett's Field.

RESIDENTS have criticised Thurrock Council for not responding quicker to reports of a dumped caravan, which was set on fire last night (Wednesday, 30 March).

They say the incident, which happened on Heath Field, Chadwell St Mary in the alley behind Templer, unnecessarily put people at risk of injury, including firefighters and police who attended the blaze.

Young people and adults from Thurrock with learning difficulties could get the opportunity to perform at big venues under a project soon to commence in the borough.

The Music Man Project (MMP) is a musical education programme started by David Stanley, who became the UK Government's Disability and Access Ambassador for Arts and Culture in 2021.

AN online meeting will be discussing opportunities for the development of the Grays Riverside area and residents are being invited to contribute their thoughts – particularly about community engagement activity.

On Thursday, 31 March, from 5.30 to 7pm a Zoom meeting will feature representatives of organisations asked to take part in the area's regeneration.