News in Thurrock

THURROCK Council wants to press ahead with the redevelopment of Stanford-le-Hope rail station – but without the adjacent car park and bus turning circle for the moment.

Planning councillors were asked to approve a revised scheme to restart the rebuild of the station, which has been paused for almost two years, in February this year but refused to do so and told the council they would only consider a planning application which involved both parts of the project as they were inseparable.

PLANNING councillors in Thurrock are being asked to discuss an appeal against the refusal of a major planning application in secret next week.

The plan for 92 new homes, most flats, on land formerly occupied by the Ford Motor Company on Arisdale Avenue in South Ockendon was rejected by the council earlier this year following several meetings.

A FORMER Essex Police officer drove an unmarked police car at high speed and activated blue lights, despite not being trained to do so, on a dash to see a relative in hospital.

Phillip Cooper was found to have committed gross misconduct following a hearing at Essex Police Headquarters.

POLICE have arrested and charged a teenage boy with 25 offences following a monitoring operation and investigation into anti-social behaviour in a Thurrock park.

A statement from Essex Police says: "Over the last few months we've been investigating complaints from residents about motorbikes being ridden dangerously and in an anti-social manner in Hardie Park in Stanford-le-Hope.

THE Tilbury Bridge Walkway of Memories exhibition at the Tilbury Cruise Terminal, which commemorates the arrival of the MV Windrush at the Thurrock port on 22 June 1948 and the following generations is now open to the public.

The exhibition by artist Everton Wright (known as EVEWRIGHT) was officially opened at a celebration event last month attended by dignitaries including mayor Cllr Sue Shinnick and Thurrock MP Jackie Doyle-Price.

IN a clear rebuttal to the council's many critics, Cllr Shane Hebb - Thurrock Council's finance portfolio holder - delivered a valedictory statement.

A MAN has been arrested in connection with a burglary at a shop in East Tilbury.

It was reported the Co-op in Princess Margaret Road had been broken into at around 3.50am on Wednesday 7 July. A large amount of alcohol was taken.

WHILE work forges ahead on the extension to Thurrock Council's civic offices, at a cost of at least £10 million, staff inside the existing building have contacted Thurrock Nub News to tell us they have been told to clear their personal effects from the building and they say are being forced to work from home.

The council has confirmed personal belongings will not be allowed to be kept in the building other than what people bring with them on a daily basis, but have denied that workers are being 'forced' to work from home, saying what is happening is simply an extension of previous practice.

COUNCILLORS expressed their disappointment at a lack of information about the cost of the proposed underpass development to link Grays rail station with the High Street.

At last night's (Tuesday, 6 July) meeting of Thurrock Council's planning, transport, regeneration overview and scrutiny committee members were presented with two reports about progress on the scheme, which is currently estimated to cost around £37 million.

THURROCK Council has once again been left red-faced after technology gaffes, allied to its officers' reluctance to leave their homes and attend meetings, meant two important topics could not be debated at last night's meeting of the authority's planning, transport and regeneration overview & scrutiny committee.

The absence of leading officers from taking physical part in meetings since councillors began meeting in person again following the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions has been notable. At Monday's general services committee, for example, one of the most important policy-setting bodies, chief executive Lyn Carpenter failed to attend or even appear by video.