News

Thurrock Fostering celebrates Foster Carers

10 October 2022
On Friday 7 October, Thurrock Foster Carers were honoured at a celebration event for the inspirational work they do, making a difference, and helping the most vulnerable children and young people in Thurrock.
Cllr James Halden, Mayor of Thurrock, presented awards to our Foster Carers who have attained 5, 10 and 15 years of fostering young people in Thurrock. Foster Carers who have supported the recruitment of new Foster Carers were also recognised with an award.

Community garden tackling social isolation in South Ockendon

10 October 2022
An underused open space in South Ockendon has been transformed into a community garden and food growing space benefiting isolated residents and families.
On Saturday 8 October, local residents from Clayburn Gardens and the Flowers Estate came together to celebrate the official launch of Clayburn Community Garden.
Thurrock Council worked with its repairs contractor Mears, who funded and installed the garden as one of its social value projects, to provide the holistic community space.

Bin lorry fire highlights dangers of flammable waste

7 October 2022
The importance of not disposing of flammable materials as part of household waste has been highlighted, after a fire broke out in the back of a Thurrock Council waste lorry yesterday (Thursday 6 October).
Following this incident, the council is asking residents to be careful not to put highly flammable items such as gas cylinders or batteries in their bins.
Cllr Andrew Jefferies, Cabinet member for Environment, said: "The fire service had to be called to assist after waste in the back of one of our lorries caught alight as crews were making their collection rounds.

Cllr Jefferies thanks residents as waste collection refresh continues

30 September 2022
Cllr Andrew Jefferies has thanked residents following the first week of changes to allow a refresh of household waste collection services.
Cllr Jefferies said: "I would like to thank residents for bearing with us as we have brought in some changes to enable the waste service to refresh and get collections back on track.

Summer Reading Challenge volunteers celebrated

28 September 2022
Volunteers who supported this year's Gadgeteers Summer Reading Challenge were celebrated at a special event on Tuesday 27 September.
Residents who volunteered their time to support more than 2,500 children and young people to discover the joys of reading over the summer holidays joined Cllr James Halden, Mayor of Thurrock, Cllr Qaisar Abbas, Cabinet Member for Communities and Equalities, and Cllr Deborah Arnold, Cabinet Member for Adults and Health, to receive a certificate and speak about their experience.

Waste collection refresh

23 September 2022
After a number of issues with bin collections, Thurrock Council has decided to hit the refresh button to get back on track.
This is going to mean some changes over the coming weeks:

Bank branch due for closure moves to local library

23 September 2022
Following feedback from local residents about a branch of Barclays bank due for closure, Thurrock Council has worked with Barclays to relocate the branch to Corringham library.
The Corringham town centre branch, which is due to close its doors at the end of the month, will move to operating a cashless site from Corringham library on Mondays and Tuesdays from 10am to 4:30pm, beginning on Monday 26 September. All cash and cheque transactions and cash withdrawals can be completed at any local Post Office.

Statement: Thurrock Council Chief Executive

16 September 2022
Thurrock Council's Chief Executive, Lyn Carpenter, is currently taking a period of leave from the council. Ian Wake, Corporate Director of Adults, Housing and Health, will be acting Chief Executive and Head of Paid Service in her absence.
Interim arrangements will enable us to support and facilitate the work required in relation to government intervention and the best value inspection with Essex County Council as Commissioner.

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.