News in Thurrock

A STORY of a violent and vicious machete attack carried out on a man in South Ockendon – that was then followed by a car chase and dramatic arrests by police officers – unfolded at Basildon Crown court today (Monday, 20 December).

Two men – one a 23-year old from South Ockendon – have been found guilty of trying to kill another man who was chased, hit by a car, and attacked with machetes.

COMMUTERS on c2c's rail link from London to the Essex coast have been raising a smile after their destinations were given a Christmas tweak by a smart signboard operator.

Venues on the line from London Fenchurch Street, particularly those in Thurrock, have been given a festive flavor this week.

THREE years after initially being submitted, plans for a new housing development off a busy Thurrock Road that prompted a number of objections from residents – and questions from the landlord of a nearby pub - have been withdrawn.

The project put to the council is to demolish existing buildings on a narrow finger of land off the Broadway in Little Thurrock and replace them with a development including 24 apartments in two blocks and seven houses.

THURROCK Council planning officers have rejected an application to build a new home by the side of an existing house in Tilbury on a local estate.

Last month Nub News reported on the application to build the two storey, three bedroom dwelling in the garden of a house on Church Road.

FIREFIGHTERS, police and ambulance teams responded to an accident on Southend Road in Stanford-le-Hope that happened around 5pm today (Tuesday, 21 December) and involved two vehicles, one that rolled onto its side.

The road was closed for about an hour and three quarters but was reopened at around 6.40pm.

THE Thurrock-based Complete Commedia Company is celebrating after its new production 'A Commedia Christmas Carol' played to packed houses in Orsett and Stifford Clays, bringing festive cheer and kicking off the season of goodwill.

The Complete Commedia Company's retelling of Dickens' best loved tale, A Christmas Carol, proved to be a great success with full houses for its performances at St Cedds Church, Stifford Clays, and St Giles and All Saints Church, Orsett.

THE magic of Christmas will unfold at a church in Thurrock on Christmas Eve.

Stanford-le-Hope's St Margaret's Church will be hosting a Christmas Eve Pyjama Service for young families.

A FORMER social club which has been derelict for 15 years could be demolished and replaced by 36 new apartments under plans submitted to Thurrock Council's planning department.

The former Calcutta Club in Tilbury has become a major eyesore on Calcutta Road close to the heart of the town. In recent times a number of new apartment blocks have replaced other old buildings – and the site is adjacent to a new block of council homes currently under construction.

PLANS have been submitted to Thurrock Council to build 37 new homes on land in Chadwell St Mary.

The site, which will be accessed via a new entry road off St Johns Road and a recently developed site to the east called Oak Grove where there are 20 recently completed houses adjoining the Coward Warehousing Ltd site, is on what the applicants describe as 'of a difficult brown field site'.

AS the school year drew to a close last week, enforcement officers from Thurrock Council – accompanied by a local ward councillor, targeted parents and carers outside a borough school.

The council's team attended Chafford Hundred's Harris Academy and Mayflower Primary School on Mayflower Road and during the visit issued four parking charge notices.