News | Thurrock Council

Christmas lights switch-on provides magical start to festive season in Grays

27 November 2018

Hundreds of people packed Grays town centre for the magnificent Christmas lights switch-on, marking the start of the festive season in style.
Organised by the business-led Love Grays partnership, huge crowds attended the event in Grays High Street on Saturday.
Children enjoyed an Aladdin's Magic Carpet Trail, culminating in a trip to Santa’s Grotto at Grays Shopping Centre and the chance to meet Father Christmas himself.

Landowner in a mess after not complying with planning notice over alleged cesspit

26 November 2018

A landowner in Corringham has been fined after failing to comply with a planning notice, sending a clear message that Thurrock Council will not tolerate planning breaches.
Ricky MacCallum, of Aluric Close, Chadwell St Mary was served a planning contravention notice by the council in November 2017, requesting information about an alleged cesspit installed on his land in Fobbing Road, Corringham.
He failed to complete and return the notice within the required 21 days, however, and has still not done so.

Christmas comes early as Give a Gift store opens

26 November 2018

The Christmas cheer began for Thurrock this week as sponsors, councillors, volunteers and foster carers came together to launch the Give a Gift shop at intu Lakeside.
Cllr Barbara Rice, Mayor of Thurrock, cut the ribbon on Monday 26 November, officially marking the opening of the store.
The Give a Gift initiative offers members of the public the opportunity to donate a present to a Thurrock child in need who may not otherwise receive one on Christmas Day.

Second phase of housing allocation policy consultation under way

23 November 2018

The second part of a consultation on Thurrock Council Housing Allocation Policy is now under way.
The consultation is part of a root and branch review of the policy that determines exactly how council homes are allocated in the borough and is the first major overhaul of the policy for nearly 5 years.
Specific proposals being consulted on include:

Statement from Council Leader on assault on Civil Enforcement Officers

23 November 2018

Cllr Rob Gledhill, Leader of Thurrock Council, said: "We are aware that two of our Civil Enforcement Officers were assaulted outside Purfleet Primary Academy.
"I am absolutely disgusted by these actions. It is completely unacceptable and we are working with Essex Police to make sure that the strongest possible action is taken.
"The fact that this vicious attack happened while our officers were working to make the roads outside the school safer for children and their families makes this even more sickening.

Free Saturday parking throughout December

22 November 2018

Shoppers and businesses in Thurrock received a welcome boost as Thurrock Council announced local parking will be free every Saturday in December.
The initiative, which kicks off on Small Business Saturday (Saturday 1 December), includes all council-owned car parks, as well as its pay and display on-street parking.

Magical Aladdin-themed lights switch-on to mark arrival of Christmas in Grays

20 November 2018

Christmas officially arrives in Grays this weekend with a spectacular afternoon of family entertainment at the town's annual Christmas lights switch-on.
Organised by the business-led Love Grays partnership, the event is taking place in Grays High Street from midday on Saturday.
In keeping with this year's pantomime at Thameside Theatre, children can enjoy an Aladdin's Magic Carpet Trail, culminating with a visit to Santa's Grotto at Grays Shopping Centre.

Flag raised for Transgender Day of Remembrance

20 November 2018

Thurrock Council once again raised the flag to recognise and commemorate Transgender Day of Remembrance.
The Mayor of Thurrock, Cllr Barbara Rice, joined Cllr Gary Collins, portfolio holder for central services, and residents on Tuesday 20 November to raise the Transgender Pride Flag outside the Civic Offices in Grays.

New cast member unveiled for highly-anticipated panto

20 November 2018

An exciting last minute addition has been made to the cast of this year's eagerly-awaited pantomime in Grays.
Thameside Theatre has announced reality TV star Ben Jardine – who rose to fame on the television show Married at First Sight and appeared in this year's Celebrity Big Brother – will play Wishee Washee in the theatre's upcoming panto, Aladdin.
Curtains will be raised for the first performance on Friday 30 November, with 61 fun-filled showings between then and Sunday 6 January.

Green light to invest a further £6.9million for new school places

15 November 2018

A further £6.9million investment in creating new school places in Thurrock has been agreed.
Together with its partners, Thurrock Council is investing more than £70million to create over 3,500 new school places across the borough in the coming years.
As part of that investment, the council's Cabinet last night agreed to spend a further £6.9million for the already-approved expansion of St Clere's School in Stanford-le-Hope and the creation of temporary classrooms ahead of the opening of the proposed new Orsett Heath Academy in Grays.