News | Thurrock Council

Thurrock voluntary group gets prestigious award

2 June 2020

A voluntary group from Thurrock has been honoured with the Queen's Award for Voluntary Services (QAVS) – the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK.
St John the Baptist Church and Tilbury Foodbank is among 230 charities, social enterprises and volunteer-led groups working in the community to receive the prestigious award in 2020. Recipients of the honour, chosen for their exceptional service to their local community, are announced each year on 2 June – the anniversary of the Queen's coronation.

Housing list and weekly bidding cycles to start again

2 June 2020

Thurrock Council's Cabinet member for housing, Cllr Barry Johnson, is pleased to announce that following updated guidance the council will be restarting weekly bidding cycles on Thursday 11 June for those on the housing register.
Cllr Barry Johnson, said: "Now that the government has amended the coronavirus guidance to make clear that people who wish to move home can do so, we are pleased to confirm that housing applicants will once again be able to make bids and arrange mutual exchanges.

Financial help for small and micro businesses

29 May 2020

Small and micro businesses could benefit from vital government funding to help them get through the financial uncertainty caused by coronavirus.
Cllr Shane Hebb, Cabinet member for finance, said: "The new government funded Discretionary Business Grant Scheme could be just the lifeline that many smaller and micro sized businesses which have suffered financially as a result of coronavirus are looking for.

Video to help children and parents returning to school

29 May 2020

A fantastic new video will reassure young children in Thurrock as many of them prepare to return to school from next week.
The fun and helpful cartoon video is suitable for primary school aged children, it is a colourful and entertaining way to reassure little ones before they go back to school and give them an understanding of what to expect. The video is available online at thurrock.gov.uk/reopening-schools

A13 closure and access to the tip from 29 May to 1 June

28 May 2020

A section of the A13 beneath the Orsett Cock roundabout will be closed this weekend to enable the next phase of works to be completed safely.
The closure takes place from 9pm on Friday 29 May until 5am on Monday 1 June. Traffic will be diverted via the exit and entry slip roads.

Unauthorised encampment moved on from South Ockendon in just hours

27 May 2020

Thurrock Council, working with Essex Police, took swift action to move on an authorised encampment which was setting up in South Ockendon yesterday afternoon, Tuesday 26 May.
Leader of Thurrock Council, Cllr Rob Gledhill, said: "Once again our officers have acted quickly and decisively following reports that an unauthorised encampment was being set up.
"This is another example of how the council's robust approach to dealing with unauthorised encampments is benefiting residents by dealing with them immediately before they become a major issue for neighbours.

Works resume on award-winning council scheme in Grays

27 May 2020

Thurrock Council's Cabinet member for housing, Cllr Barry Johnson, is pleased to confirm that work has resumed on the award winning Tops Club development in Grays as the project nears completion.
Cllr Johnson said: "The Tops Club development will provide 29 much-needed high quality council homes for Thurrock residents with plans to hand over the keys to tenants later this summer. Everyone should have a good quality home and Thurrock Council will continue to invest in new council homes for our residents.

Thurrock to receive payment from 'Reopening High Streets Safely Fund'

26 May 2020

Thurrock Council Leader, Cllr Rob Gledhill, has welcomed news that the council will receive over £155,000 from the Reopening High Streets Safely Fund, to help kick-start the high street back in to business as the pandemic lockdown eases.
Cllr Gledhill said: "The government has done everything possible to keep residents safe and support business through this terrible pandemic. So far Thurrock businesses have benefited from nearly £60m of business rates relief, and Government has allocated over £23m in grants to help small businesses and those in the entertainment industry.

Freedom of the Borough honour conferred on three Thurrock clergymen

22 May 2020

The Freedom of the Borough honour has been conferred on three Thurrock clergymen. Reverend John Guest, Canon Brian O'Shea and Father Paul Dynan have been awarded the prestigious Freedom of the Borough – a rare honour that has been presented only 5 times in nearly 40 years.
Reverend Guest and Canon O’Shea are bestowed this tribute as they retire from their roles. Sadly Father Dynan passed away very recently but was made aware of the honour by Councillor Martin Kerin shortly before he died.
All three men served communities across Thurrock including:

Unauthorised encampment quickly moved on from Grays Beach car park

22 May 2020

Thurrock Council have once again taken swift action against an unauthorised encampment at Grays Beach car park, Thames Road, which was vacated in just a few hours yesterday afternoon, Thursday 21 May.
Leader of the Council, Cllr Rob Gledhill, said: "We take a robust approach to dealing with unauthorised incursions using all possible means to either prevent them being set up or moving them on as quickly as the law allows.