News

Local pupils in harmony with Royal Opera singers

11 July 2025
Over 1,000 pupils from primary schools across Thurrock joined singers from the Royal Opera and Ballet House to perform in the Thurrock Junior Music Festival 
Between Tuesday 8 July and Thursday 10 July, over (750 children), aged 7 to 11, performed a variety of musical hits including rock, pop, gospel and opera songs.  

Thurrock Council marks 30th anniversary of Srebrenica genocide

11 July 2025
Communities from across the Thurrock came together in remembrance of the 30th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide, during a special commemorative event organised by Thurrock Council and Thurrock's Bosnian community.
'Remembering Srebrenica' honours the memory of more than 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys who were murdered in July 1995. Bosnian refugees were rescued and brought to the UK with a small community transported to Orsett Hospital. With treatment and support, they now live in Thurrock, contributing to the Borough and helping others learn of their experiences.

Purfleet Community Pantry & Café achieve 5-star food hygiene rating 

9 July 2025
Purfleet Pantry and Café has been operating for 11 months, providing essential support and a welcoming space for residents or visitors to Purfleet. This week, a major milestone has been achieved with a 5-star Food Hygiene Rating from the Food Standards Agency - a testament to the volunteers’ unwavering commitment to their community.
Initially target was to try and get 50 resident’s register to the pantry in the first six months, this target was hit within just two weeks of launch. The Pantry is now supporting over 120 residents!

Sniffing out illicit tobacco and vapes

4 July 2025
A boroughwide operation by our Trading Standards officers has seen 39,000 counterfeit cigarettes, 11kg of illicit hand rolling tobacco and over 700 illegal vapes seized.
Officers were joined by Billy the tobacco detecting dog as they carried out inspections of shops in Aveley, Grays and Tilbury. Billy can help sniff out tobacco no matter where it is and make sure that unscrupulous shop keepers cannot hide illicit or counterfeit stock.

Annual electoral canvass in Thurrock begins

4 July 2025
Residents should check to make sure they are registered to vote as Thurrock Council begins its statutory annual electoral canvass.  
Between Friday 4 July and Sunday 20 July, households across the borough will receive a form requesting that occupants verify the accuracy of the information on the electoral register.  
Residents must advise the council if any changes are needed to the details listed on the form, or confirm the details are correct if the form states a response is required. 

Safety day sees 100 drivers stopped by police

3 July 2025
Thurrock Council joined partners, Safer Essex Roads Partnership (SERP) in Grays to tackle dangerous driving and work towards Vision Zero, the ambition to eliminate all deaths and serious injuries on Essex roads by 2040. 
On Wednesday 2 July, Thurrock Council, the SERP engagement team and Essex Police held a Vision Zero Day in Grays, which saw the teams working together to tackle the Fatal Four: speeding, mobile phone use, seatbelt offences, and driving under the influence. 

Thurrock Council celebrate inaugural SEND and Alternative Provision Awards

3 July 2025
Some of the most inspirational children and young people from across Thurrock celebrated a host of remarkable achievements during Thurrock’s first-ever SEND and Alternative Provision Awards. 
Thurrock Council hosted a special awards ceremony at Stifford Clays Primary School on Friday 27 June, which was dedicated to recognising the incredible achievements of children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) or Alternative Provision in Thurrock. 

Thurrock Council launches free mobile "Bike Check and Repair" hub

27 June 2025
Thurrock Council has launched a new mobile bike check and repair service that will be visiting communities across the borough.
Starting from Saturday 5 July in Chafford Hundred, residents can visit a mobile hub service to get their bike checked and have minor repairs carried out for free.
The free bike check and repair hub will be travelling directly to communities across the borough with the aim to encourage cycling, promote sustainable travel, and ensure residents' bikes are safe and roadworthy.

Thurrock students celebrate Carnegie shadowing day

27 June 2025
Thirty-seven students from four Thurrock secondary schools took part in Thurrock Libraries’ annual Carnegie Shadowing Day, held at Blackshots Civic Hall on Thursday 19 June.
During the event, students discussed and presented on books shortlisted for the prestigious Carnegie Medal. After thoughtful debate, they voted The Final Year by Matt Goodfellow as their favourite. Meanwhile, the national winner, announced the same day, was Glasgow Boys by Margaret McDonald – a moving story about love and family.

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