News | Thurrock Council

Free Parking in Thurrock this December

6 December 2019

Shoppers and businesses in Thurrock have received a welcome boost after Thurrock Council announced local parking will be free every Saturday in December for the third year running.
The initiative, which kicks off on Saturday, 7 December, includes all council-owned car parks, as well as its pay and display on-street parking.

Thurrock memorial flame to feature in Holocaust anniversary exhibition

5 December 2019

A memorial flame created by an East Tilbury stone masonry company in partnership with Thurrock Council will appear in a national art exhibition to mark 75 years of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau.
Madstone Ltd, which designed and installed the Holocaust Memorial in Palmers Rest Gardens, Grays, put together the successful submission chosen as one of 75 flames to represent each year since the liberation of Auschwitz. The flames will be displayed in an exhibition and unveiled at the UK ceremony for Holocaust Memorial Day in London on Monday 27 January 2020.

Costa Coffee joins in community litter pick under council plastic recycling campaign

2 December 2019

A local branch of a popular coffee chain has taken part in a community litter pick in support of Thurrock Council’s initiative to encourage recycling plastic in the borough.
On Sunday 1 December, staff from Costa Coffee in Grays High Street joined council staff at the Grays Beachcombers' last community litter pick of 2019 to collect discarded waste and plastic that had washed up on the shore at Grays Beach. Items collected during the morning session included plastic bottles, pens, cotton bud stems, lighters and wrappers.

Education Awards winners announced

2 December 2019

The winners of the annual Thurrock Education Awards were announced at a special ceremony on Friday 29 November.
Taking place at the Civic Hall, Grays, the ceremony brought together finalists from across 11 award categories to announce the winners and celebrate the amazing talents of colleagues across schools, early year settings and colleges in Thurrock.
More than 350 guests attended the black-tie event which is fully sponsored by local businesses across the borough, DP World London Gateway and Greenergy being the 2 main event sponsors this year.

Wildlife significance of Coalhouse Fort boosted by local award

29 November 2019

East Tilbury’s Coalhouse Fort has topped a countywide birdwatching survey for the most bird species recorded out of more than 100 different wildlife sites in Essex.
The Essex Birdwatching Society presented Thurrock Council’s Coalhouse Fort rangers team and park conservation volunteers with an award certificate after members of the public submitted sightings of 89 bird species during its Big County Birdwatch. The event was organised to mark the society’s 70th anniversary in September 2019.

Nomination period extended for Thurrock Civic Awards 2020

26 November 2019

The nomination period for the Civic Awards 2020 has been extended until midnight, Monday 9 December 2019.
By extending the nomination period by seven days, local people, partners and businesses across the borough will have more opportunity to nominate their community heroes for one of 8 awards:

New Lakeside night bus services to launch in time for Christmas

25 November 2019

Thurrock residents can soon benefit from additional late night bus services at intu Lakeside as part of its multi-million-pound leisure development ahead of the peak Christmas period.
The new evening bus services have been secured using Section 106 funding after Thurrock Council negotiated more local transport options as intu Lakeside begins its transformation. This agreement was approved by the Lakeside Travel Plan Committee, made up of the council, Highways England and intu Lakeside.

Give a Gift brings the Christmas cheer to Thurrock

25 November 2019

It’s official – the Christmas season is finally here as Thurrock Council opens Give a Gift.
Now in its fourth year, Give a Gift offers the opportunity for people to donate a Christmas present to a local child for whom Christmas can be a difficult time of year.
Open from Monday 25 November to Sunday 8 December 2019, the Give a Gift unit is located at intu Lakeside, with a special store on Level 1, next to HSBC at the House of Fraser end of the shopping centre.

Book of condolence to be closed 4 weeks after tragic incident

22 November 2019

The book of condolence opened to allow people to pay their respects to the 39 victims of the tragic incident discovered in Eastern Avenue, Grays, on Wednesday 23 October will be closed at 5:15pm on Monday 25 November.
The book was opened at Thurrock Council’s Civic Offices the same day the victims were discovered and has remained open for more than four weeks. In that time the book has been signed by hundreds of local residents and dignitaries. It will still be available to sign until 4:45pm today (Friday 22 November) and between 8am and 5:15pm on Monday.

Opportunity Thurrock a great success for Thurrock students

21 November 2019

On Wednesday 20 November, over 2,500 students from schools and colleges across Thurrock attended Opportunity Thurrock, the boroughs largest careers and further education exhibitions.
Students from years 8 to 13, who attended the event at the London Cruise Terminal, Tilbury, had the opportunity to meet over 100 exhibitors and learn about the different career opportunities available across the borough and in the immediate surrounding areas. Businesses exhibited from sectors including: