News in Thurrock

WITH focus once again turned on a busy Thurrock road which has often been at the centre of controversy, Thurrock Council is warning HGV and lorry drivers that out-of-hours movements on it will not be tolerated.

As exclusively reported by Thurrock Nub News earlier this month a planning application – which has been widely opposed by residents – has been submitted to the council by a local firm who wish to relocate their scrap metal business to the Stanhope industrial site at the end of Wharf Road in Stanford-le-Hope (see story via the red button below).

TWO of the borough's leading independent councillors will be leaving their roles next year.

Aveley ward councillor Luke Spillman has announced that is to stand down as Thurrock Independents leader in the spring, though it is unclear at this point if he will seek re-election. Thurrock Nub News believes he is 'considering' his options as he tries to re-balance his work and family life commitments.

LONG time Thurrock councillor and now twice-beaten general election candidate John Kent looks back on recent days in an exclusive reflection on the election and its postscript with Thurrock Nub News.

He writes:

A BOROUGH charity has expressed its thanks after a successful sleigh run in Belhus.

Supporters of ReEngage (formerly Contact The Elderly) joined the Rotary Club of Mar Dyke Valley for their festive tour of the South Ockendon community last night.

TWO men are set to appear in court following an incident involving an offensive weapon in Corringham.

Essex Police have confirmed that officers responded to an emergency call in the town regarding a report of a fight on Tuesday, 17 December.

AN 'angry and frustrated' campaigner is calling on fellow residents to lobby Thurrock council's chief executive in a bid to bring an end to long-running concerns over the building of a new community hub.

Community activist Teresa Webster, who has been joined on the warpath by ward councillor Colin Churchman, says the council is failing in its duty of care to residents while it builds a new community hub in Aveley.

GRAYS-based John F Hunt Group has just donated over 800 items of food, toiletries and other household essentials to the Thurrock FoodBank. Fifteen boxes of several different products were collected by FoodBank volunteers yesterday (Wednesday, 18 December).

The collection was done during the past two weeks, across all companies and divisions that are part of the John F Hunt Group, which is administered from offices in London Road, Grays. More than half of these donations were bought from a local supermarket after a joint money collection of the Concrete Cutting and Environmental Divisions.

MORE cash is being made available for arts and cultural sector in Thurrock – but it is to be hoped it is more successful than another borough council scheme launched earlier this year.

This week the authority has announced a new £25,000 grant programme which it says is aimed at supporting projects that use arts and culture to "help build strong and well-connected communities has opened for expressions of interest".

A CONCERNED borough resident has stepped up her call for a response from Thurrock Council after her tiny pet dog had to have its leg amputated.

And she has provided evidence from a vet which she says shows that a worker in her home was responsible for the injury.

A LONGSTANDING volunteer at St Luke's Hospice has won an award for his commitment to the charity.

Mick Allen was announced the winner of the Fundraising Champion Award at this year's Basildon Volunteer Awards in November. Unfortunately, Mick was unable to attend the ceremony but was presented the award last week.