News in Thurrock

SOME bus services in the west of Thurrock have been suspended - for the foreseeable future - following vandalism and anti-social behaviour that has seen at least two buses suffer smashed windows.

The Ensign Bus Company announced this afternoon (Tuesday, 31 August), just an hour or so after the first of the incidents that it was suspending parts of the 22, Z1 & 77/77A routes.

RESIDENTS and motorists in Thurrock - and those drivers who use the A13 to travel east and west - are preparing for a weekend of significant disruption due to the latest weekend closures of the A13 as part of Thurrock Council's road-widening scheme.

There will be a complete closure of the A13 between 10pm on Friday, 3 September and 5am on Monday, 6 September and it is further west than previous closures.

MEMBERS of the Bata Heritage Centre in East Tilbury are preparing for a two centre open day next month.

It will take place on Saturday, 4 September and the event will start at 10am primarily from the old administration block (building 13) in the former factory site – opposite the Bata Memorial Park.

Belhus 3rd XI 262-4

BELHUS Cricket Club commemorated the life of the late Stewart Farr at North Stifford and helped raise funds for 'Help for Heroes' charity with a keenly fought Hundred ball cricket match between a Joe Joyce XI and a Liam Waters XI.

The highlight of the game was when Stewart's father bowled a five ball over and took a wicket.

NHS beds in the community – intended to ease pressure on hospitals – are already full across mid and south Essex ahead of the winter season as medics brace themselves for potential surge in Covid cases and flu.

The Mid and South Essex Clinical Commissioning Group joint committee, which funds frontline healthcare, was told of the worrying position as they grapple with a rise in demand with additional concern over staffing.

RESIDENTS of Orsett now have a permanent reminder of the efforts of essential workers from the NHS and other emergency teams, to shopkeepers and delivery drivers during the darkest days of the Covid-19 pandemic.

And at the same time they can remember the residents that lost their lives during that time.

A CONFERENCE is to take place in Grays in the early days of September to discuss plans to create a tram network in the town – which could link to Kent and eventually spread across the borough.

The conference, which has been delayed because of Covid-19, will take place at South Essex College in the heart of the town and is open to all interested parties.

GRAYS Athletic grabbed the derby bragging rights, the points and a place at the top of the Isthmian North after beating their landlords Aveley 2-1 at Parkside this afternoon.

After the game though, it was announced that manager Jim Cooper is leaving the Blues, retiring after a long career in the police force and managing in non-League.

IN-form Grays Athletic and Aveley clash in one of the Isthmian League's bank holiday matches of the day at Parkside this afternoon (Monday, 30 August).

Both go into the derby at Parkside on the back of impressive wins at the weekend.