News

Thurrock Trading Standards – stopping 1.4 million dangerous products from going on sale

5 August 2025
Last year Thurrock Council’s Trading Standards Ports Team stopped over £47m worth of unsafe and non-compliant goods from being delivered to shops across the country.
Items seized include dangerous phone chargers, telescopic ladders which collapsed and ruptured during testing, potentially dangerous trampolines, unsafe tools including glue guns and sanders and necklaces that contained 4890 times the permitted amount of carcinogenic cadmium, as well as dangerous toys and cosmetics.

Jet Patching, the eco-friendly and quick way to fix road defects in Thurrock

1 August 2025
Hundreds of road defects, including potholes and cracks, will be repaired on roads across the borough in the coming weeks thanks to fast, cost effective and eco-friendly jet patching technology.
Thurrock Council is once again working with Velocity. Their innovative jet patching technology quickly and conveniently repairs potholes and cracks in a fraction of the time it takes to carry out a traditional repair by blasting a mixture of stones and bitumen into potholes, helping to create a harder wearing and smoother running surface.

Thurrock offers careers support for young people after results day

1 August 2025
Young people in Thurrock who are not sure of their next steps into employment or education after receiving their Entry level, GCSE, A level or BTEC results in August are invited to see a Careers Adviser to discuss their next steps.
Between 10am to 1pm on Tuesday 26 August, the Inspire Hub in Grays will have career advisors available to discuss the opportunities available after receiving your results. 

Talk to Thurrock Council’s top team about Local Government Reorganisation

31 July 2025
Residents, local businesses and other stakeholders will have an opportunity to speak with Thurrock Council’s top team to learn more about what Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) will mean for the borough and ask any questions they may have.  
The council has set up two public question time events in August, the first online through a live video meeting and the second face-to-face/in-person at the Thameside Theatre. 

Innovative new solar powered lights in Purfleet-on-Thames

31 July 2025
A set of 10 new solar lights have been installed on a green area in Centurion Way Purfleet after the council and the local community forum worked together.
John Rowles, the chairman of the Purfleet-on-Thames Community Forum, had identified the need for the lights, the council used money which had been set aside by a developer as a condition for them getting planning permission to buy the lights and the council’s contractor Milestone Infrastructure LTD installed them for free.

Have Your Say on the future of Corringham Town Park and Dilkes Park

31 July 2025
Thurrock Council are seeking the views of residents ahead of exciting plans to improve two play areas in South Ockendon and Corringham.
Originally opened in time for the 2012 Olympics, Corringham Town Park has been a much-loved space, featuring a Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA), climbing wall, and outdoor gym equipment. The park has been closed since June 2024 due to safety concerns, but the council plans to install new equiptment and re-open the park for all to enjoy.

Free gym memberships to help Thurrock stop smoking

31 July 2025
Thurrock Council have partnered with Impulse Leisure to offer a FREE two-month membership for residents who successfully stop smoking.
Residents can join a 12-week stop smoking programme to help them take the first step toward a healthier, smoke-free life.
The friendly, local service can help by providing 1:1 support, with an expert who will provide a personalised quit plan and give access to free stop smoking aids.

Update from the Leader of Thurrock Council on Local Government Reorganisation in Essex

30 July 2025
Following last week’s Full Council meeting and ahead of Corporate Overview and Scrutiny next week, the Leader of the Council, Cllr Lynn Worrall, has announced Thurrock Council’s emerging preferred option for four new local authorities for Greater Essex, as part of local government reorganisation.
The government has been clear that it wants to see local government simplified across the country and here in Essex, local authorities are engaging with their residents and stakeholders on what shape and number of new local authorities might be needed to replace the 15 existing councils.

Thurrock Council hosts aftercare event for care-experienced young people and care leavers

30 July 2025
Thurrock’s care-experienced young people and care leavers explored their next steps into adulthood during a special event at Grangewaters Outdoor Education Centre. 
Young people aged 16 and over, were invited to the afternoon of support on Friday 25 July, which brought together a range of council services and partner organisations offering guidance on housing, education, health, fitness, and careers. 
The event was designed to empower young people with knowledge about their local offer and to build stronger connections between services and those they support. 

Sign-up for Thurrock News – our monthly email newsletter.

Media enquiries

Journalists and media professionals can make enquiries from Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, 01375 652 017 or at communicationsteam@thurrock.gov.uk.

For emergency media enquiries outside of these times, phone 07912 782 470.

The communications team email inbox is not monitored outside of office hours, so email media enquiries received out-of-hours may not be answered until the next working weekday.

We advise our staff, when approached directly by a member of the media, not to answer questions themselves but to refer you to the communications team who will provide our response.

We do not normally comment on individual cases or enquiries relating to council staff.