News in Thurrock

EVEN though it has given in to public pressure and now organised public consultation events, the government's Highways England agency still seems oblivious to the potential impact of the proposed Lower Thames Crossing on two borough communities.

Last week Thurrock Nub News was able to report that the agency had wilted in the face of criticism and agreed to hold the two physical consultation events in Stanford-le-Hope and Chadwell St Mary.

AFTER criticism from members of Thurrock's Lower Thames Crossing Task Force and residents

A THURROCK family, who are still grieving over the death of a much-loved 21-year-old woman earlier this year have highlighted her story by way of a tribute to her bravery and memory and to highlight the work of the local hospice that cared for her through her final months and gave support to them.

In December 2019, when she was just 20, Becca Ridley from Chadwell St Mary, where she lived with mum and dad Vicky and Jim, was diagnosed with stage three bowel cancer.

RESIDENTS in Stanford-le-Hope and Corringham, who were hoping that the blight of truck noise on a busy local road would be ended by renovation work, have spoken of their disappointment.

Earlier this year a large stretch of the Manorway which runs between Stanford and Corringham and links the A13 with the London Gateway port and the proposed new Thames Enterprise Park, was resurfaced in a bid to eliminate noise caused by HGV traffic.

KEYNOTE retail and business sites in Grays High Street including Lloyds Bank, Barclays and Greggs bakery could be bought by Thurrock Council - and demolished as parts of its plans to regenerate the town centre.

In total the council plans to spend £6,876,725 buying up land and buildings in the High Street and surrounding areas according to a report which details the authority's future plans for the area as it bids to find more investment in the town.

BOTH Tilbury and Grays are set to benefit from substantial government handouts after it was announced who will get what in the national Towns Fund scheme.

Both towns were selected to participate in the scheme which supports an initial 101 places across England asked to develop proposals to drive economic regeneration and deliver long-term economic and productivity growth.

A HEAVY early morning downpour and the forecast for more rain has meant the cancellation of a planned funday at the Morrisons store in Grays today (Saturday, 7 August).

The event, which was to feature live performances by a local dance school, was planned as a fundraiser for the Young Lives v Cancer (formerly known as Clic Sargent) charity but it was deemed to dangerous to set up in the wet.

A CRASH on he approaches to the QEII bridge has caused more significant traffic problems in the area this afternoon (Friday, 6 August).

Two vehicles were involved in a collision just after 2pm on the approach to the bridge and though emergency services attended to deal with he incident traffic quickly built up with long queues tailing back on the M25 to the north (past junction 28 at Brentwood) and on adjacent roads in Grays and Purfleet.

THURROCK Council leader Cllr Rob Gledhill has welcomed news that Covid-19 cases are continuing to fall in he borough - and has repeated a message that it is now key that younger people get vaccinated.

That was a message flagged up by one of the youngster generation of Thurrock councillors, Adam Carter, in an online message to residents earlier this week.

POLICE who believe a misguided friendship may be stopping a missing boy from being found have renewed a plea for information.

Officers are continuing the search for Druie Price, who is missing from his home in St Leonards in Sussex.