News in Thurrock

UPSET parents and grandparents have contacted Nub News asking us to call on Thurrock Council to take some action to improve safety at a children's play area in Grays.

Following on from yesterday's (Friday, 7 August report) about the council taking action to close down and then attempt repairs on Balstonia Park in Corringham, the lack of action over Hathaway Park has also been highlighted.

AN opportunity for residents of Tilbury to take a step on the career ladder at the town's port has been highlighted.

The next course offered by the 'Routes to Logistics' programme, a free training scheme for the local Tilbury community delivered by the Port of Tilbury which offers back-to-work training and support, starts in November and local residents are being encouraged to sign up now.

THURROCK Council's chief executive has shared an embarrassing moment with staff colleagues, admitting she came close to losing her bearings and knocking her top off when entering the authority's civic offices.

Top officer Lyn Carpenter – who along with several other senior officers have come in for criticism for a propensity for working from home during the Covid crisis while front-line staff were out exposing themselves to risk – says a recent appearance for work at the New Road offices of the council nearly ended in disaster.

AN area of Grays town centre was cordoned off this morning awaiting further forensic investigation after a man was arrested following an an assault late last night ( Tuesday, 22 September).

It happened overnight outside the former magistrates' court building at the end of Grays High Street, ironically the subject of an upbeat Thurrock Council release yesterday (Tuesday, 21 September) about how its Safer Streets programme had improved the area.

Needham Market 2, East Thurrock United 3

A DRAMATIC match at Needham Market's Bloomfields ground in Suffolk saw East Thurrock progress to the third qualifying round of the FA Cup and a meeting later this month with Boston United.

A MEDICAL emergency caused significant delays on the anti-clockwise section of the M25 and Dartford Crossing area earlier this morning, though it is reported the backlog - which is in both directions - is now clearing.

The road and Dartford tunnels were blocked for just over an hour until 6am to deal with the incident on the exit of the tunnels and the build up traffic caused delays on the access roads to Lakeside on the A1306.

A GRAYS woman remains in custody as the court proceedings following the death of an elderly Grays resident continue.

In June Cheryl Ann Banks 60, of Lemore Avenue, Grays, was charged with the murder of 89-year-old Winfred Grover, also of Lenmore Avenue who was found dead at her home.

AN area of Grays town centre remains cordoned off this morning awaiting further forensic investigation after what officers have confirmed was a serious assault.

It happened overnight outside the former magistrates' court building at the end of Grays High Street, ironically the subject of an upbeat Thurrock Council release yesterday about how its Safer Streets programme had improved the area.

ANGRY Conservative councillors in the east of the borough launched a pre-emptive attack on developers' plans for a block of flats in Stanford-le-Hope – but the meeting they were targeting may not be taking place.

Following news that a water leak has caused the postponement of meetings at Thurrock Council's Civic Offices, including tomorrow's scheduled full council meeting which has now been switched to a double header in October – it is not yet known if Thursday's planning committee will be going ahead.

TWO local students who won the opportunity to start a career in engineering following a competition run by The Port of Tilbury and Gateway Academy, are now ready to take up apprenticeships at the port.

In 2019 the port teamed up with Tilbury's Gateway academy to run a competition that opened up the prospects of a career in engineering to young students.