News in Thurrock

VOLUNTEERS who support the work of the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex have been celebrated at a special event.

The achievements of almost 60 volunteers who give their time as Restorative Justice, Independent Custody Visitors and Dog Welfare volunteers were highlighted at the Commissioner's annual Volunteers Appreciation Event which took place at the Essex Police Sports Association Pavilion in Chelmsford.

VANDALS have returned for a second time to damage a memorial bench placed by a local cricket pitch in tribute to a much-loved resident.

In July Thurrock Nub News reported on the first attack on the bench, erected in tribute to Charlie Dowsett, and the positive response of the community as it was repaired.

MORE than 150 jobs are expected to be created when online sakes company Amazon opens a new delivery station in West Thurrock.

The site is expected to create 50 permanent jobs and more than 100 driver roles when it opens later this year.

COUNCILLORS have given unanimous approval to 173 new homes to be built in the heart of South Ockendon.

The decision was made at this evening's (Thursday, 23 September) meeting of Thurrock Council's planning committee.

Thurrock Council's planning committee has this evening (Thursday, 23 September) given approval to a large solar farm on the edge of Bulphan. .

TONIGHT'S meeting of Thurrock Council's planning committee is to go ahead at a replacement venue.

There were fears that the meeting, which has a packed agenda and several significant local applications to deal with looked in doubt because of the water leak that forced the postponement of last night's full council meeting.

YET again there is major traffic disruption around the approach to the QEII bridge Dartford Crossing this morning (Thursday, 23 September).

The M25 was closed just after 10am while services dealt with a broken down lorry between Junction31 for the A1306 and Junction 1A for the A206 at Dartford.

FRIENDS and fellow members of Grays Townswomen's Guild paid tribute to the service of a longstanding servant for the club at this week's meeting.

For more than three decades Joan Slocombe has turned up at the group's meetings, currently held at the Grays Methodist Church Hall on Hathaway Road, and made the tea for members.

YOUNG people from local music and dance groups, including Stanford-le-Hope's renowned Youth Creation dance group who starred on TV's Britain's Got Talent turned out for the latest protest against Thurrock Council's plans to close the Thameside Complex, including its theatre.

They marched from and back to the Thameside via Grays High Street and the council's Civic Offices last night. On arrival at the offices there were a number of speakers, including local highly renowned theatre director and Thameside veteran Vic Gray, who had previously made his views known in a scathing attack on the council via Nub News.

MORE than a month after Thurrock Nub News highlighted concerns of Grays residents about safety issues in a play area in the town the authority has now acted to reduce risk to children playing in it.

In August we reported on the fears of people in the Hathaway road area that their park was being ignored by the council and a children's play area, in particular, was becoming a health risk.