News

As many of us indulge ourselves with chocolate eggs, hot cross buns and other sweet and savoury treats over Easter we should keep in mind that it is becoming easier than ever to recycle packaging and leftovers.

Every Easter as well as buying around 80 million Easter eggs as a nation we throw away around 9,600 tonnes of cardboard waste, over 4,000 tonnes of plastic waste and 8,500 tonnes of food waste, including 8 million hot cross buns wasted, 19 million leftover potatoes and 8 million Easter eggs.

The Council’s Planning Team has been shortlisted for an award in the country’s leading planning awards show.

The team are in the running for the Use of Digital Technology in Planning Award at the annual Planning Awards, run by Haymarket Publishing.

The nomination recognises the ground-breaking Thurrock Planning Reference database, which uses data and digital tools to drive faster, more efficient decision making.

Libraries across Thurrock have kicked off the Easter holidays with a range of spring-themed activities, and there's still plenty of fun for families to enjoy.

The sessions started on Monday 7 April with children enjoying a range of entertaining activities including colouring, storytimes, and hands-on crafts like making their very own Easter basket.

For budding young artists, Grays Library is hosting colouring-in sessions on Monday 14 April, from 10am to 10:30am and again from 3pm to 3:30pm.

This May, we are marking the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day, and we want you to join in.

Tuesday 8 May, 1945 was declared Victory in Europe day, after the Allies accepted Germany’s unconditional surrender and the war in Europe came to an end.

A special exhibition telling the personal stories of local people who lived through this time will be held at the Thameside Complex from 12 April to 15 May. See the link below.

Magistrates have ordered a Grays tobacconist to close for three months and pay over £4,500 costs after they were prosecuted for selling counterfeit and illegal tobacco and vapes for the second time in less than six months.

Cllr Vikki Hartstean, Cabinet Member for Children's Services and Education, has praised Impulse Leisure for its inspiring efforts to ensure Thurrock’s vulnerable children receive a special treat this Easter.

Through its ‘Do Good, Feel Good This Easter’ campaign, Impulse Leisure is offering 50% off joining fees on gym memberships for those who donate two boxed Easter eggs. Those who donate four boxed Easter eggs can start a membership without paying a joining fee.

Thurrock Council has appointed a building contractor to commence work for an affordable housing project in Aveley that will redevelop three blocks of flats into modern, high-quality homes.

On 25 March 2025, Marfleet and Blyth were selected to help redevelop Teviot Avenue in Aveley into a thriving estate with homes fit for modern living.

The redevelopment project will see three existing blocks of flats containing 36 council homes demolished, before being transformed into 48 affordable, modern council homes made up of a mixture of flats and houses.

Nominations for the Ockendon ward by-election have officially closed and the names of all candidates standing on Thursday 1 May have been released. Details of candidates running can be found on the Thurrock Council website.

The new free doorstep collection service which helps residents safely recycle clothes, small electrical items, toys, books and other bric-a-brac has got off to a flying start with over 11 tonnes of waste reused and recycled already.

Thurrock Council has partnered with Anglo Recycling to launch the new service just three weeks ago and immediately shot to the top of their league table, with Thurrock having the most doorstep collections in the country.

A physical activity game that has engaged over a million people is coming to South Ockendon and Aveley.

Beat the Street will take place from Wednesday 23 April to Wednesday 21 May, thanks to funding from a National Lottery grant from Sport England.

The interactive game encourages people of all ages to get active by transforming outdoor spaces into a real-life adventure. Residents will soon notice special sensors called Beat Boxes appearing on lampposts across the area.