News

Thurrock Council takes action to make sure State Cinema roof is repaired

4 March 2025
Thurrock Council has served an Urgent Works Notice on the owner of the State Cinema telling them to make important repairs to the roof of the historic building.
The Notice will mean that unless the owner completes repairs that will make the roof and building watertight within three months the council will step in to carry out the work and then recover the costs from the owner.

Fly-tipper’s lorry crushed

28 February 2025
A fly-tipper has paid the price for thinking they could dump waste in Thurrock with their lorry being crushed.
The lorry was traced to an address in Brenan Road Tilbury after it was caught on camera dumping waste in The Lawns, East Tilbury, last October. Officers confiscate the lorry in January.
Last week it was crushed after the owner failed to claim the vehicle.
Cllr Victoria Holloway, Cabinet member for Place and the Environment, said: “This should serve as a warning to anyone who thinks it is okay to use Thurrock as a dumping ground for their waste.

Thurrock's top ten most-borrowed library books revealed

28 February 2025
The list of the most popular books that were borrowed from libraries in Thurrock in 2024 has been revealed.
Thurrock's libraries have been helping to ensure that more of the borough's young people have access to the joys of reading, with all of the books in the top ten targeted at children and young people.
The most-borrowed book was Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney, first released in 2007 and the fourth best-selling book series of all-time.

Residents meet Thurrock Council’s top team at South Ockendon for second ‘Ask the council!’ public question time

27 February 2025
Members of Thurrock Council’s cabinet and leadership team were on hand to answer questions from residents during the second ‘Ask the council!’ public question time on Tuesday 25 February.
The question time event, which took place at Harris Academy in South Ockendon, brought together residents from across the borough for an engaging discussion about the council's plans, as well as the issues and concerns that are most important to them.
The panel was made up of the council’s cabinet members and the senior officer team including the Chief Executive, Dr Dave Smith.

Budget approved for 2025/26

27 February 2025
Thurrock Council has approved a budget that will include improvements to waste and recycling, help provide better local healthcare and see improvements to council homes, local transport and outdoor facilities.
Yesterday’s Full Council approved a budget for 2025/26 that will see a Council Tax increase within government limits.
Cllr Sara Muldowney, Cabinet member for Resources, said: “Budgets should not just be numbers on a spreadsheet, they should lead improvement in the areas that matter most to our residents.

How are you planning to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day this year?

21 February 2025
As Thurrock Council prepares to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day, on 8 May, it is calling on residents to come forward with their plans of how communities might want to hold their own celebration.  Events will also be held around 15 August to remember VJ Day, which marked the end of the war in the pacific and a true end to World War II. 

Thurrock Council to launch a review of site options for Blackshots redevelopment

20 February 2025
Thurrock Council is due to launch a review of the proposals for the redevelopment of the Blackshots estate in Grays.
Following engagement with local residents on the future of Blackshots, Thurrock Council agreed at a Full Council meeting on Wednesday 29 January 2025, to commission a viability review by Avison Young which will look at new potential options for the Blackshots development footprint, and any alternative sites for redevelopment.

Thurrock Cares campaign helps thousands of residents since launch

20 February 2025
Thurrock Cares has helped 4,270 households across Thurrock struggling with the cost of living to get over £750k in financial support for heating bills and other essentials. This includes £62k handed out to 540 pensioners through the council’s Pension Winter Support Fund.
Thurrock Cares which was launched in October 2024 by Thurrock Council and its partners in the voluntary and community sector, is a campaign to support residents with the cost of living, providing financial assistance, help and advice over the winter months.

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