News

These last two weeks, thousands of young people across Thurrock have received their exam results and are taking their next steps into further education, training or employment. I want to congratulate every student for their hard work, determination and resilience. I know this can be a worrying time, but it is also a time to reflect on the hard work that I am sure everyone has put in as students worked towards their exams.

More than 5,000 residents helped make this year’s Big Lunches a record-breaking success. 

The five events, in East Tilbury, South Ockendon, Chadwell St Mary, Corringham and Blackshots, saw thousands of residents coming together for afternoons of activities, entertainment, sport and community connection. 

When Ros retired from a long career in education, she knew she wasn't ready to slow down completely.

Having worked as an assistant headteacher in schools in London and Abu Dhabi, retirement initially felt like a welcome change of pace. But after a few months, she found herself looking for a new challenge.

"I was having a great time at first," she said. "But after a while I started thinking there must be more to life than this. I'd had a really intense career and I knew I wanted to do something meaningful."

Students across Thurrock are marking a major milestone in their educational journey after receiving their GCSE results today (Thursday 20 August).

Schools across Thurrock, including The Gateway Academy and Thames Park Secondary School, welcomed students, families and teachers to receive their results and celebrate their achievements.

As students consider their next steps, careers support will continue to be available throughout the summer for anyone who would like advice or guidance about their options.

Thurrock Council has successfully convicted a former contractor after she admitted thirteen fraud offences and one offence of misconduct in a public office, relating to food safety inspections carried out while engaged by the council.

Lily Yirenkyi was appointed as a temporary Environmental Health Officer in 2020. Within weeks of her appointment, concerns about her work were identified by members of the council's Environmental Health Team and immediately referred to the council's Counter Fraud Team for investigation.

Proposals to keep up momentum on plans to create a new town centre and thousands of homes in Purfleet-on-Thames will go to Thurrock Council’s Cabinet next week.

The development, which is a priority for the council, will see 2,850 new homes, a new town centre, railway station, a primary school, medical facilities and other infrastructure developed in Purfleet-on-Thames.

The project previously faltered when the development agreement with Purfleet Centre Regeneration Limited was terminated as it became obvious that they were not in a position to fund the project.

Thurrock’s draft local plan has been published, ahead of a meeting on Wednesday 26 August, when the Cabinet will be asked to give the green light for the draft plan to go out to public consultation.

The draft plan sets out where future homes, jobs, infrastructure and community facilities should be located over the next two decades, with only small numbers of new homes built in the first few years of the plan.

Improved bus connections to train stations and shopping facilities are coming to some of the Council’s supported routes later this month. 

Route 33 will be merged with route 88 creating a new 88 service providing direct links between Chafford Hundred, Thurrock Community Hospital, Stifford Clays and Orsett Hospital.

There will be a new Monday to Friday off peak and Saturday link to Lakeside on route 88, and Route 73 will be extended, to and from Tilbury Asda at all times.

The perfect way to discover the natural wonders and amazing history of the Coalhouse Fort is on one of our free guided walks.

The next walk at the fort and its park is on Wednesday, 19 August at 11am.

This free guided tour will cover the fascinating military history of the site as well as an exploration of the local wildlife.

The Tilbury Pride in Place Neighbourhood Board is looking for local people who can help shape how £20m of funding is used to improve neighbourhoods and lives in Tilbury.

The Tilbury Pride in Place Neighbourhood Board will help empower local people to shape the future of their neighbourhood. They will work with the Tilbury community to develop a Pride in Place Plan setting out how £2m per year will be spent over the course of a decade.