News in Thurrock

APPROVAL has now been given by Thurrock Council's planning committee for revised plans for Stanford-le-Hope's much delayed and controversial rail station project.

At last night's meeting (Thursday, 15 July) of the committee, which has been reshaped in terms of members and political balance following May's election, phase one of the project – Continue Reading

PLANNING councillors in Thurrock have given the thumbs up to the latest plans by JD Wetherspoons who want to convert the derelict former State cinema into a new showcase pub.

The saga of the building and Wetherspoons' ambition for the building has dragged on and on for years but the company say they are now keen to press ahead and put forward a listing buildings application and a revised planning application to tonight's {Thursday, 15 July) meeting of the planning committee.

MOTORISTS and residents are reminded that there will be another major closure of the Orsett Cock roundabout this weekend as part of the ongoing A13 road widening project.

The closure starts at 9pm on Friday 16 July and will remain in place until 5am on Monday, 19 July to bring part of the new road alignment into use.

THE lack of transparency and a dearth of information about possible health risks from the planned Lower Thames Crossing is concerning a Chadwell St Mary councillor who feels that young people in the borough will be put at risk if the billion pound project gets the green light.

Cllr Sara Muldowney was scathing in her criticism and undaunted in her questioning of leading figures from project masterminds Highways England when the route of the planned crossing was discussed at Monday's meeting of Thurrock Council's Lower Thames Crossing Task Force.

RESIDENTS in Thurrock have expressed their concern following a latest bout of flytipping in their neighbourhood.

A large amount of rubbish, including plastic children's play equipment was flytipped from a truck, between Arkright Road and Stephenson Avenue in Tilbury.

A THURROCK mum who believes it was a miracle that she and her family were not caught up in a potential fire tragedy has warned fellow residents to be alert to the danger of faulty electrics in borough tower blocks.

Jade Palmer lives in Tasmania House in Tilbury and earlier this week she was roused from her sleep at around 4.30 on Sunday morning (11 June) by the sound of the smoke alarm in her flat going off – and the rooms becoming filled with smoke.

HISTORIC secrets that have been unearthed on a Thurrock golf course have been described as 'fantastic news'.

Historic England research published today (Thursday, 15 July) confirms that remains of Tudor and Jacobean gardens have been discovered at the Grade II registered Belhus Park.

THURROCK Council's lead member for the environment has apologised to residents whose brown waste bins were not collected for several weeks.

However, he has played down the severity of the missed collections, despite a resident's assertions that the problem has gone on for weeks and complaints have been ignored.

SIX young artists have been announced as winners of a competition organised by the Thurrock Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education (SACRE) called 'Spirited Arts'.

The competition asked primary school pupils in years one to six to create art around themes inspired by their learning in religious education which illustrate the relationship between God, Earth and all the people that live on it.

A THURROCK councillor has spoken of her fears that the authority may be abusing the legacy of a borough woman, who gifted land to the council to be used for the benefit of local children.

Chadwell St Mary's Cllr Sara Muldowney has raised questions about the sale of land off Cole Avenue in her ward, nodded through by the Conservative Cabinet last week.