News in Thurrock

THURROCK Council is continuing its drive to attract more foster carers to make a difference to the lives of borough children and young people by opening their homes and family to care for children who need to live away from their families.

An online event will take place on Thursday, 10 February, Orsett Hall Hotel is to play host to a session later in the month.

THURROCK Council is continuing to invite contributions from residents as it works to finally bring together a new local plan - which is key to many redevelopment projects across the borough as the area's blueprint for regeneration of the region.

The council is continuing to host a series of virtual events as part of its Local Plan Consultation, inviting residents and people who work in the borough to come along and tell the authority what they feel is important in their local area now, and in the future.

UPBEAT words have followed a visit to the first development which has marked the beginning of a proposed £1.4 billion regeneration of Purfleet-on-Thames.

Almost a year since work began on the site of the former Cromwell House car park, a community leader, chair of the company behind the scheme and a local artistic director donned hi-viz jackets and safety helmets to inspect progress of the building of 61 new homes.

THURROCK Council has today (Monday, 7 February) published an upbeat press release promoting the success of its 'innovative' jet pack programme to patch the borough's potholes.

Cllr Ben Maney has eulogised the council's 'eight week pilot programme' which he says has seen a record number of repairs completed at almost 'half the cost' across Thurrock's roads and highways.

A MEETING of Thurrock's senior ruling councillors this week will focus on plans to introduce parking charges at a number of recreational sites across the borough.

And the spotlight will be on Conservative councillors who make up the authority's cabinet who are seeking to bail out the cash-strapped council with a number of unpopular measures, including the car park changes.

THE Grays Beachcombers litter pickers braved inclement weather today (Sunday, 6 February) for their latest action day by the side of the River Thames.

Seven volunteers collected 20 sacks of rubbish, including 104 single use plastic drink bottles, that would otherwise have ended up in the River Thames.

RESIDENTS have spoken of their concern after the latest incident of stone throwing on a local estate built in former quarry.

Many houses in the Caspian Way area of Purfleet-on-Thames sit adjacent to cliffs and a path that runs from Tank Hill.

A THURROCK hairdresser received an unexpected gift of thanks after her alertness helped save a life.

About three months ago Danielle Smith, who works at The Classic Hair Company on Montreal Road, Tilbury, was about to colour a client's hair when she noticed a nasty looking spot on her scalp.

MEMBERS of the Rotary Club of Mar Dyke Valley have presented the money raised during their Christmas sleigh collections to a range of local charities.

The club spent many evenings in december touring the area with their sleigh, often accompanies by members of the charities that they support.

A PROGRAMME of events has been drawn up stretching from Rainham to Tilbury as members of the local communities along the Thames are invited to help clean up their areas.

Steve Catchpole is a River Action Clean-Up Facilitator and co-ordinator with the Thames21 River Action Group and he has become synonymous with environmental action in the area, particularly through the Grays Beachcombers group which has gathered tens of thousands of items, including plastic, from the shoreline of the Thames.