Thurrock lies on the River Thames immediately to the east of London, and is home to some of the most exciting opportunities in the country. Thurrock hosts two international ports which are at the heart of global trade and logistics and is strategically positioned on the M25 and A13 corridors, with excellent transport links west into London, north and east into Essex and south into Kent.
"Thurrock: A place of opportunity, enterprise and excellence,
where individuals, communities and businesses flourish"
There are five strategic priorities to achieve this vision:
The first priority is to ensure that every educational setting or place of learning is rated as "Good" or better. This means improving all schools, pre-schools and adult education institutions so that Thurrock becomes a great place for lifelong learning. Partners will support schools and colleges to raise levels of aspirations and attainment so that local residents can take advantage of job opportunities locally and nationally. All children should have the best possible start in life to equip them with the necessary skills needed to compete on a world stage. To do this, places of learning must be made accessible to all, by removing barriers to achievement, offering a diverse range of educational opportunities, and creating an environment where people want to learn. Housing provision and decent homes impact on the ability to learn and will be considered to improve learning prospects. Similarly, partners will support parents to ensure children are supported at home as well as at school.
Education standards are improving rapidly in Thurrock and the aim is to build on this progress by: helping students to develop an appetite for learning; encouraging students to reach their full potential; using opportunities such as arts, sports and culture to expand and promote lifelong learning. Opportunities must be available at all levels of education for both academic and vocational studies:
With a number of major development projects, including London Gateway and Lakeside, Thurrock has a fantastic opportunity to secure greater economic prosperity for its communities and residents. To realise these opportunities, significant investment is needed in infrastructure both to sustain economic growth and improve the well-being of communities. To do this will mean: a supply of adequate sites and premises for new and existing businesses; improving transport infrastructure and reducing congestion; and supporting the creation and development of new and existing businesses. Partners will collaborate to promote Thurrock as a great place to visit, do business and to start a new business.
Delivering growth and regeneration in Thurrock will be a key objective over the next decade and the five growth hubs will be central to that. Businesses will be supported to offer all employees a healthy workplace where their wellbeing is important. The approach will integrate economic, social and environmental regeneration to create a place where businesses choose to locate and people want to live and work. Community engagement, social value and sustainable, well designed high quality development will underpin all our programmes and regeneration will be delivered for the benefit and in partnership with local people and partners.
Partners will work with local businesses to: bring back into use empty shops and derelict sites within town centres; attract inward investment by promoting and celebrating what Thurrock has to offer; and ensure there is a range of housing provision to meet current and future needs.
Local people must have the best possible chance of being recruited into the new jobs when they become available. This will mean: connecting local people with job opportunities; using apprenticeships and on the job training to improve skill levels; and understanding what local skills are needed and matching these to education and training. Doing so will help to narrow current economic inequalities within communities.
When asked about their views on doing business in Thurrock, local businesses said Thurrock is:
There are many positive aspects about Thurrock that should be harnessed and promoted to help create a strong sense of pride. Promoting equalities will build confidence in diverse communities and develop a greater sense of belonging. Citizens will be empowered to: take responsibility for their environment; influence decisions that affect the area where they live; and encouraged to make healthy choices around their lifestyles and behaviours. People will be listened to and responses made to their ideas, needs and concerns, particularly those views that are seldom heard, including residents who live on our council estates. Heritage, culture and other assets will be celebrated and promoted, making Thurrock a destination, a place to travel to and not just through.
Community safety is important to all residents particularly the most vulnerable groups. Partners will develop actions to reduce crime and anti social behaviour, whilst also supporting and protecting those most at risk. Partners will work with other agencies to develop solutions to: improve the quality of life for troubled families; protect women and girls from violence; monitor hate crime (crime based on race, sexual orientation and disability) and provide support for vulnerable groups.
When asked their views on involvement and participation, local residents said:
Inequalities will be reduced by improving the health and well-being of all Thurrock residents, particularly inequalities in health, housing and education. The Health and Well-being Board will develop actions to ensure that: every child has the best possible start in life; people make better lifestyle choices and take more responsibility for their own health and well-being; people stay healthy longer, adding years to life and life to years; and the health and well-being of communities in Thurrock are more equal.
Partners will work with the community to promote healthy weight and control the use of tobacco which are the two immediate health priorities in Thurrock. There is a higher prevalence of obese adults (16+) in Thurrock compared to our geographical neighbours. In the last four years, the rate of childhood obesity in Thurrock has been increasing.
The prevalence of smoking amongst adults in Thurrock is significantly greater than the national and regional comparators. There will be targeted programmes to promote healthy weight and reduce smoking.
There will be drug and alcohol reduction services at a local level giving an opportunity to achieve the cultural and system change needed to engage substance users and the communities in which they reside.
Residents and partners said they want to see improvements in health:
Protecting the environment and creating clean open spaces for leisure will be a priority for Thurrock. This will mean maintaining programmes for green spaces, monitoring air pollution, reducing carbon emissions, planning for climate change pressures and improving access to open spaces. Thurrock has more than 18 miles of river front which can be opened up to improve pedestrian access in places such as Grays and Purfleet, and improve the thoroughfares between the cruise terminal riverside and Tilbury Town. Thurrock also contains two significant sites of nature conservation and a number of smaller sites which add up to a valuable contribution to conservation.
The streets of Thurrock are noticeably cleaner. Partners wish to maintain this visual improvement to promote Thurrock as a clean and green environment, ensuring that: the streets are cleaned and regularly maintained to a high standard; air pollution and congestion is monitored; and sports and active leisure is at the heart of healthy lifestyles.
Communities will be supported to participate in sports and activities using green and open spaces as part of the legacy of the Olympic Games.
The five strategic priorities in the Community Strategy are interlinked and in many ways dependent on each other.
Thurrock the place has an exciting and challenging agenda, Thurrock, the Council, is ambitious to lead its delivery. To realistically achieve the shared vision and priorities the Council needs to work with key partners to maximise the opportunities and delivery potential for its residents and businesses. The Council will work with partners to shape strategy; agree priorities and make a joint commitment to delivery.
The figure below illustrates how the Community Strategy relates to other strategies that will help deliver the strategic priorities and objectives.
These strategies and their action plans will be the mechanisms to deliver the strategic priorities and objectives in this Community Strategy.
Please follow the link below to see the most recent version of the Thurrock profile: www.thurrock.gov.uk/i-know/profile
Please see how to access PDF files.
Research findings from the public consultation that informed this strategy are also available to download:
