News in Thurrock

A TATTOO artist has spoken of her pride in undertaking specialist training that helps her 'change the lives' of clients who have battled cancer and other illnesses.

Sophie Musson works at 'The Doll's House on Woodbrooke Way in Corringham, which has announced it will be offering free medical tattoos, such as areola tattoos for breast cancer patients.

AFTER issuing a warning that two children's nurseries in Tilbury might be closed as part of Thurrock Council's cash-saving attempts, the portfolio holder for children's services has now given a more upbeat message and says he expects the two centres to continue to operate under private management.

Last week Nub News reported on the words of caution from Cllr Barry Johnson in the run up to a meeting of the council's cabinet at which the issue of Little Pirates and Neptune Nurseries was to be discussed.

THE club manager at Thurrock RFC, Jane Burrows, has taken delivery of a new defibrillator donated by Oakfield Physiotherary and Sports Injury Clinic client, Fred Graham.

Mr Graham completed the 80 km Equinox endurance sponsored run up in Leicestershire to raise funds for a defibrillator.

SENIOR members of Thurrock Council will debate the future of two children's nurseries in Tilbury next week - and have been recommended to leave themselves the option of closing them.

The saga of the future of the Neptune and Little Pirates Nurseries has been running since September when Thurrock Nub News revealed the council was considering the nurseries' closure as a cost-saving measure.

TO mark the 50th anniversary of the threatened Thameside Complex in Grays an invitation has gone out to former staff members of its library to reunite.

The 'Save the Thameside' campaign has highlighted the event as part of its efforts to focus attention on a landmark year in the site's history and has planned an event for later this month.

DESPITE the objections of residents and a local councillor who described the scheme as a bid to 'cram more houses into plots and destroy the area's character', permission has been granted to demolish two homes in Stanford-le-Hope and build seven new ones in their place.

The development on Third Avenue, which will see two properties - a chalet style bungalow and a two storey dwelling – demolished has got the green light from planning officers.

THURROCK Council planning officers have rejected an application to demolish a derelict former scout hall, which is no longer in use, and replace it with three affordable homes because they consider the current site to be 'unjustified loss of a building that is in community use'.

An application was submitted to the council for the site off London Road, Grays, known as Foxton Hall to be cleared and in its place 'a modest three flat development' was proposed.

AFTER fighting for the right to retain its investment secrets, Thurrock Council has tonight revealed some of the details about where it has placed council taxpayers' cash – though many of the firms and projects it has invested in remain shrouded in mystery.

In March last year journalists from the Bureau for Investigative Journalism won an interim ruling from an information tribunal to require the council to disclose information about its investments in solar farms. The council protested that disclosure of this specific information would 'create prejudice in the council being able to conduct public affairs' and it announced it would be seeking a legal review of the decision.

POLICE have said they are powerless to act over consistent poor parking on a busy Grays street, where residents fear it is on a matter of time before there is a fatality.

Southend Road in Grays plays host to a parade of shops on one side and a petrol service station and two bust convenience stores on the other.

THE death of a much-loved man who was the victim of a stabbing attack in Tilbury has been announced.

Many tributes have been paid on social media following the passing of Craig 'Noggo' North who has been in hospital following the attack on Sunday, 2 January in which Mr North received multiple stab wounds.