News in Thurrock

LEADING Thurrock councillors have thrown their weight behind a call for the borough council to create committee to combat extremism, radicalisation and terrorism.

The idea, which would see Thurrock replicate a number of other councils who have already created 'Prevent' committees, was the subject of a successful motion by Conservative councillor Alex Anderson at January's meeting of the full council earlier this year.

THE Railway Tavern pub in Stanford-le-Hope has been forced to close when England are playing football matches in the Euro championships with immediate effect for breaching Covid-19 rules.

A statement from Thurrock Council says the pub in the town centre will be closed on 22 and 29 June during all England Euro 2020 football matches after ignoring COVID-19 safety rules.

ELEVEN of Thurrock's elected 49 councillors banked more than £20,000 in the last civic year.

The latest figures detailing the payment of allowances to council members shows that Conservative leader of the council, Cllr Rob Gledhill was rewarded with the highest allowance, a total of £42,159 made up of his basic allowance of £9,368.67 and the leader's allowance of £32,790.33.

THURROCK Council has announced that work on improvements to the Manorway in Stanford-le-Hope and Corringham have been completed early - and within budget.

A statement issued today (Tuesday, 22 June) says: "Works to improve The Manorway in Stanford-le-Hope have now been completed, two days ahead of schedule.

AHEAD of a meeting this evening when there is expected to be close scrutiny of Thurrock Council's standard of housing repairs and the problems of damp and mould, the authority's new lead councillor for housing has issued a statement outlining his thoughts.

Cllr Luke Spillman, whose council career has never veered far from the controversial as he was first elected as a UKIP stalwart, then switched to the Thurrock Independent Group, has covered a number of topics in what is almost a valedictory pronouncement on his days as a rebel and he is now very much at the forefront of the Conservative Cabinet after his after his recent election win in South Ockendon.

A NEW retail outlet at the Lakeside shopping centre due to open next month will be a UK first and will bring a taste of summer to the borough say its operators.

Ice cream and frozen yogurt brand Yolé is bringing the Spanish flavours to the UK this July with a branch in Lakeside.

THURROCK Council have confirmed that its children's department is currently undergoing an Ofsted inspection but has played down reports that the visit could be problematic for the authority.

There has been local speculation that the visit by inspectors is linked to the council's track record of children going 'missing' from its records.

A YOUNG sports-loving photographer from Stanford-le-Hope who first turned his lens on the action at East Thurrock United's ground has secured a sponsorship deal with Canon and is also working as a stringer for Getty Images, one of the most recognised visual media companies around the world.

Eighteen-year-old, Jacques Feeney, who studies at South Essex College's Southend campus, has already seen some of his work published in a number of UK national publications and also some abroad, including the Washington Post in the USA.

A COMPETITION has been organised in the hope of capturing the essence of the local landscapes.

Behind the project is The Land of the Fanns Landscape Partnership, which is aimed at engaging the local communities of Havering, Barking & Dagenham, Thurrock, Brentwood and south-west Essex with the natural, geological, archaeological and built heritage of their area.

CHILDREN from Thuruuck schools have been visiting the International Cruise Terminal at ilbury today to mark the anniversray of the docking of the SS Empire Windrush on 22 June, 1948.

On this day each year, the Tilbury on the Thames Trust in partnership with Port of Tilbury hold a celebration in the London Cruise Terminal to mark National Windrush Day where 73 years ago, the port played a significant role for the Windrush generation as their arrival point into the UK from their long voyage on board the SS Empire Windrush.