News

Thurrock Council has secured a three‑month closure order against a shop in Gra

Thurrock Council marked St George’s Day with a special ceremony outside the Civic Offices in Grays.

The St George's flag flies every day outside the Civic Offices, with a ceremonial flag-raising being held today (Thursday 23 April) to mark the occasion.

The event began with a short prayer led by Revd Dr Kate Carter, followed by a speech from the Mayor of Thurrock, who spoke about pride in both the country and the borough.

The national anthem, God Save The King was then played as the Mayor raised the St George’s flag.

Tilbury and Chadwell St Mary will be transformed into a giant interactive game for six weeks as residents of all ages are invited to take part in Beat the Street, an innovative, free, and fun challenge that encourages communities to get active by walking, cycling, running, scooting or wheeling.

This week is Stalking Awareness Week (Monday 20 April – Sunday 26 April). To help raise awareness of the dangers of stalking, Compass (a partnership of domestic abuse services providing a response in Essex) have shared a case study of how they came to support one of their users (names have been changed to protect identity).

Stalking after a relationship has ended is when a former partner engages in a pattern of fixated, obsessive, unwanted and repeated behaviour that causes fear or distress.

More than nine in ten children in Thurrock applying for a primary school place this year have been offered their first‑preference school for September. 

Of the 2,183 applications received from Thurrock residents, 2,000 children (91.62%) have been offered a place at their first‑choice primary school. Over 98% of applicants have been offered a place at one of their top three preferences. 

A total of 123 children (5.63%) were offered their second‑preference school, while 32 children (1.47%) were offered their third preference. 

The Secretary of State has upheld a Thurrock Council Planning Committee decision to refuse outline planning permission for a new housing estate on green belt land in Orsett, made by Thurrock Council’s Planning Committee in July 2024.

The developers appealed the decision to refuse outline planning permission to build 750 new homes along with shops and a medical centre on green belt land at Kings Farm, Parkers Farm Road in Orsett, and held a public inquiry on the refusal.