Earlier this year the council consulted on renewing powers it has to clamp down on antisocial behaviour in Grays, and shared the consultation on social media. Residents did not hold back in telling the council what they think about Grays, and much of it was not complimentary! It’s still a great place to live, but it is definitely a part of the borough that has suffered from a lack of focused investment and a clear plan. I want to change that.
Like many residents, I remember when Grays was a destination. We came to Grays regularly for shopping, entertainment, birthday celebrations and family days out. Now, when I walk through the town, it’s a clear example of why we all need to focus our energy on restoring civic pride in Thurrock. The once grand State Cinema – a Grade 2 listed Art Deco building – is hidden behind hoardings, gradually crumbling away. The Thameside, that we are working hard to spruce up and promote, has been neglected over many years. The sweeping views along and across the Thames estuary are rarely seen by the residents of Grays, hidden behind flood barriers, or lined by paths that don’t feel safe or well-cared for. Millions of pounds of Government funding appears to have delivered nothing.
Grays’ glory should not be consigned to the past, when nationally recognised figures like Alfred Russel Wallace chose to build their home here. The Dell on College Avenue has been converted into flats but still retains a presence above the old chalk pit, nowadays ‘Quarry Hill’. Wallace, who designed The Dell, said of it “a bit of a wilderness that can be made into a splendid imitation of a Welsh valley.”
The potential for Grays is huge, with its riverside setting, iconic venues and accessible location, but it needs a plan. One of my commitments as Leader is that we will deliver a Masterplan for Grays setting out our vision for the town. We will only lure back the kinds of businesses residents want to see there – national shopping chains, quality family restaurants, welcoming pubs and places to go for fun - if we show them we mean business.
We want residents to help shape that vision for the future, and so I’m really pleased the council has launched a consultation this week, asking local people what they love about Grays, what could be improved, and what changes they’d like to see in the future. What you tell us will help shape our community and growth plans, and help make sure that when we bring in external funding and investment, that it goes towards the things that will make a real difference for local people.
Please do fill out the survey, get involved in conversations, and help us build a much brighter future for Grays.