News in Thurrock

THURROCK Police can now boast an international footballer in its ranks.

Olivia Smith won 16 England caps at Under-16 to Under-19 levels and has played for Chelsea and West Ham.

APPRENTICESHIPS are on offer at the Port of Tilbury.

A statement from Fort Ports, operator of the port, says: "We are looking for enthusiastic, ambitious people who wish to undertake high quality training on a wide range of mechanical plant and equipment whilst gaining real work experiences across all of our operating assets.

RECENTLY installed play equipment in Tilbury, placed at the Daisy Field as part of the Tilbury Town Fund's regeneration efforts has been destroyed by an arson attack.

Residents gave spoken of their anger at the vandalism. Fire crews who attended were unable to save the equipment.

RESIDENTS in the Parsonage Road area of Grays have expressed concern after what appears to be oil started bubbling up through the ground.

Fire service crews attended the scene at an adjacent oil storage site.

RESIDENTS and motorists in the South Essex area are reminded to avoid the Orsett Cock roundabout junction for the whole of this weekend as major works take place.

From 9pm this evening (Friday, 18 June) to 5am on Monday (21 June) the roundabout will be closed after the A13 westbound entry slip road, to the A128 Brentwood Road southbound junction. The following will also be closed:

POLICE who appealed for information about a man they believe is connected to an attempted robbery in Tilbury have found him.

Thurrock Nub News carried a picture of the man with a statement saying: "Do you recognise this man? We're appealing for information or witnesses following a report of an attempted burglary at a property in Wellington Road, Tilbury, on Tuesday 25 May at around 8.05am.

IN the wake of widespread publicity about the issue and a debate last night (Thursday, 17 June) by Thurrock Council's health and wellbeing overview and scrutiny committee, the authority's portfolio holder for adult social care, Cll Deb Huelin, has spoken exclusively to Nub News about why she thinks the plans are exciting and innovative - and how the media has got things wrong.

Thurrock Nub News broke the story about planned cuts to services including closing two day care centres in the east and west of the borough - and closing the existing meals on wheels service.

DESPITE concerns from residents Thurrock councillors gave a relatively positive response when briefed on plans for a shake-up of Thurrock's adult social care provision, even though it will mean the closure of two day centres and, in all probability, the ending of the borough's Meals on Wheel service.

The changes – which may mean staff redundancies – will save the council approach half a million pounds a year.

COUNCILLORS across Thurrock's political spectrum have delivered a critical assessment on plans for Thurrock's new four integrated medical centres and expressed deep concern – and no little shock and anger – after being told they are likely to fall well short of expectations!

The Conservative councillor chairing this evening's (Thursday, 17 June) meeting of Thurrock Council's health and well-being overview and scrutiny committee, that debated an update on the plans, even went as far as describing officer comments about the scheme as "a load of rubbish."

NATIONAL Crime Agency officers have arrested a man wanted in connection with the smuggling of migrants found dead in a lorry in West Thurrock in October 2019.

The Vietnamese national, who at this stage is not being named, was detained at a supermarket petrol station just of the A66 in Middlesbrough around 1pm this afternoon (17 June).