News

Shop owner prosecuted for selling counterfeit cigarettes

18 October 2024

The owner of a shop in Grays has been ordered to pay more than £3,000 after Thurrock Council’s Trading Standards Team found counterfeit tobacco and vapes.

On Tuesday 15 October 2024, Basildon Magistrates Court ordered Diyar Yousif, 44, of Homemead Close, Kent, to pay £1,132 in fines, £1,963 costs and a victim surcharge of £772. Mr Yousif pled guilty to five offences including failing to comply with tobacco and vape regulations.

Community visits for National Hate Crime Awareness Week

18 October 2024

The Thurrock Community Safety Partnership (TCSP) has been out in the borough offering safeguarding support and community safety information about hate crime for National Hate Crime Awareness Week.

TCSP representatives and Essex Police visited Lansdowne Primary Academy in Tilbury, South Essex College, Grays, the Amazon Warehouse in Tilbury and hosted an information stand in Grays High Street to raise awareness to children, young people and adults about hate crime and how to report it.

Fake Parking Ticket Text Messages

18 October 2024

Thurrock Council’s Counter Fraud and Investigation Team has issued a warning about a new scam involving fraudulent parking ticket fines. Several members of the National Anti-Fraud Network (NAFN) have reported incidents where members of the public have received fraudulent text messages claiming they owe a parking fine.

Thurrock schools take to the stage to celebrate Black History Month

18 October 2024

Over 60 students from across Thurrock performed at the Thameside Theatre in Grays on Thursday 17 October to celebrate Black History Month.

Students from Thames Park Secondary School in Grays, Warren Primary School in Chafford Hundred, and Woodside Academy in Grays came together to participate in a range of performances celebrating black history. 

Thurrock Council partners with over 100 local authorities for a new fostering campaign

17 October 2024

Thurrock Council have collaborated with over 100 councils to produce a powerful new fostering film which showcases the impact fostering can have on everyone who is involved.

‘Everything’ is the seventh film produced by a growing partnership of councils and children’s trusts to promote local authority fostering. The ‘Everything’ project is the largest collaboration yet, with participants from Cumbria to Devon and Lancashire to Essex.

Mayor pays tribute to Margaret Jones, the first Mayor of Thurrock

16 October 2024

Cllr Kairen Raper, Mayor of Thurrock, has paid tribute to Margaret Jones, the first Mayor of Thurrock, who sadly passed away on Tuesday 15 October.

Cllr Raper said: “It is with great sadness that I learnt of Margaret Jones’ passing. For more than five decades Margaret has been an important figure in public life in the borough. She was the first Mayor of Thurrock in 1974. Today the flag at the Civic Offices is flying at half-mast as we mourn her loss.

Thurrock awarded new funding towards Aveley affordable housing redevelopment

15 October 2024

An affordable housing project in Aveley will benefit from more than £700,000 of government funding to kickstart the redevelopment of three blocks of flats into modern, high-quality homes.

On Tuesday 15 October 2024, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government announced it had awarded Thurrock Council £734,370 to rejuvenate the council-owned brownfield site in South Ockendon into a thriving estate.

Successful open weekend at Coalhouse Fort

15 October 2024

More than 1,000 people attended two open days at Coalhouse Fort over the weekend of 12 - 13 October, after it re-opened its gates to visitors for the first time in over four years.

The two open days were an opportunity for residents with an interest in history an opportunity to have their say on how it should be run in the future while surveys to establish what work is required to make the site safe are required.

Thurrock Council welcomes DP World investment

14 October 2024

Cllr John Kent, Leader of Thurrock Council, has welcomed the announcement that DP World is set to invest £1bn in the expansion of London Gateway. Plans will see two new shipping berths added to the six berths able to take the world's largest container ships which will make it Britain's largest container port within five years.

Cllr Kent said: “This investment is welcome news for Thurrock and will play a critical role in the development of Thames Freeport, which is set to create thousands of jobs locally and contribute £5.1 billion to the UK economy a year.

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