The officer in charge reported that the first floor of the house was completely smoke logged.

Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus were using one hose reel jet to tackle the fire.

Update:The fire was fully extinguished by 21:45hrs. Firefighters used one hose reel jet and wore breathing apparatus.

A TREE was planted last week for Tony Guyon, a very valued volunteer for the Tilbury Riverside Project by his wife Christine.

Tony volunteered for over eight years for the Tilbury Riverisde Project before his sudden death.

Many members of the Tilbury Riverside Project attended the memorial planting and his wife Christine said ‘Tony would have been amazed that so many people thought highly of him’.

The Chairman Of TRP Ron Curtis said ‘I am delighted that so many attended the ceremony, Tony was loved by everyone and is dearly missed.

For more information about the Tilbury Riverside Project then please contact Annie 01375 859911

The meeting will be held at 7pm at the Jack Evans complex in Faymore Gardens, South Ockendon.

Pc Leigh Munden, neighbourhood constable for South Ockendon, Belhus and Aveley wards, said: “We always used to hold the NAP meeting during the day, which meant a lot of people that work couldn’t attend to tell us what crime problems concerned them most.

“By holding the new meeting in the evening, we hope it encourages more members of the community to come along and set the policing priorities for their neighbourhoods. At the heart of neighbourhood policing is listening to what our residents want, so I encourage everyone to come along and have their say, and we will act upon their concerns.”

If you have any crime or anti-social behaviour concerns and you live in South Ockendon, Aveley or Belhus, contact Pc Leigh Munden on the beat mobile: 07866 543494 or email leigh.munden@essex.pnn.police.uk.

Our current Youth Centre activities will continue as usual but our workers will now be able to get out and about during the day as well as running specialised training programmes. With all the publicity about our NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) young people and their needs, it is wonderful to finally be able to do something to help change their lives. The Tudor Trust has a strong base in “Encouraging progress, development and fresh ideas” which nicely fits into what we are trying to achieve in Aveley”

The first programme AVCF will be running (in partnership with Thurrock Council’s Connexions Service) is a free 10 week training programme for 10 local young people. This will include work skills training, community work, personal development and other activities designed to help them back into training or into a job. The programme starts on 20th February and if you are interested in taking part please ring Aveley Youth & Community Centre on 01708 862001.

Jayne Woodruff, the ngage Volunteer Coordinator said “The coffee morning was brilliant and we had such a great representation from organisations looking for volunteers.

“Approximately 85 people came to the event who were either already volunteering in Thurrock or were looking for new volunteer opportunities. Everyone said they enjoyed it and found it really informative. Some organisations brought along cakes and biscuits and were overwhelmed by the amount of people there. We have already received a number of thank you letters from them”.

“ngage were also promoting active citizenship opportunities including community first panels, Thurrock Council consultations and information on Digital switchover and free training available. The next ngage coffee morning will be taking place at Easter.”

For more information about ngage or volunteering, visit www.ngagethurrock.org.uk or call the ngage Volunteer Coordinator 01375 389853.

On Thursday, Pete travelled to Buckingham Palace to accept his MBE from Prince Charles.

On Saturday evening, friends and family gathered to celebrate Pete’s work.

It is a measure of his worth that the mayor, cllr Charles Curtis also attended the special event.

YT caught up with Pete before celebrations began to ask how the visit to the “Big house” went and what the MBE means to him.

Come along and be part of your Community. Community Forums are truly community led, you will get to meet your local councillors and there will be a presentation about the digital switchover

Orchards Forum: Putting the community back into the community

Chairperson, Maggie Whitbread, congratulated all of the committee members and group leaders for a very successful year’s work. She reported that 3 new groups had been launched and had thrived: Bread-making, French & German and a Rumicube Group.

The entire committee was re-elected unopposed and one extra committee member plus 2 co-opted members.

The speaker was Leila Sullivan, who told a touching story of her childhood in Delvin, Southern Ireland, with all of the prejudices and superstitions the life in that era involved.

The next meeting will be on Wednesday February 29th.

At full council Cllr Andy Smith, portfolio holder for transport, was answering a question from Cllr Danny Nicklen, who asked: “After reporting the issue of missing road signs in Stanford to Highways and raising it at full council last year, little or no progress has been made. Will the portfolio holder ensure the missing signs are replaced as a matter of urgency?”

Cllr Smith told the meeting that around 30 “safety related” signs in the Stanford area had been replaced.

He said: “Dealing with stolen signs remains an issue across Thurrock and the country.

Signs continue to be stolen including some of the plastic ones, and there is a considerable backlog of missing signs — well beyond the budget available.

“We are therefore programming the replacement of signs according to a number of factors.”

Cllr Smith said: “If a road has a substantial number of signs stolen, that road will be prioritised as high ranking; warning signs rank the highest priority, regulatory signs next and directional signage as the least high priority.

“There is also the issue of the condition of the existing signposts. If the posts are not up to specification the whole assembly will have to be replaced, so consideration will be given to the financial implications for replacing the sign.”

Speaking afterwards, Cllr Smith said: “I’m not sure what else we can do. We know metal signs are attracting thieves so we use plastic ones and we put notices on the back saying they are plastic and worthless, yet still they are taken.

“I know the phrase ‘thoughtless thieves’ is a bit of a cliché, but it seems rather apt in these cases!”

The sculptor of Fallen Deodar, one of the sculptures on display, discusses her background, her practice, and the making processes behind her tranquil, beautiful sculptures. Inspired by, and made from, natural forms, Sutton’s work is on display at various key institutions, including the National Portrait Gallery.

She lives and works by the Dart Estuary in Devon, an environment which only encourages the peaceful nature of Sutton’s practice.

Chief Inspector Richard Baxter and former assistant chief constable and now council public protection boss, Jim Nicolson sat stony faced as the Thurrock councillors ‘pulled rank” and voted through orders that they hoped would reduce crime and anti-social behaviour.

The orders relate to the Flowers Estate in South Ockendon, Blackshots Fields in Grays and Delafield Park in Little Thurrock and relate to powers to take action against over-18′s, annoyance and the consumption of alcohol.

Senior police had told the councillors that there was no identifiable problem in the said areas and that there was sufficient legislation in place to take robust action.

Labour had also objected on the grounds of cost but sensing public mood they voted with the Tories who, having spoken to their residents, believed that there was a real need for such action.

Tory councillors’ Maney, Arnold and Gledhill made impassioned speeches backing the orders.

But one former police officer poured scorn on the idea. Security consultant Grant Campbell said: “If you go to magistrates courts, you will see hardly any public order offences coming before the bench.

“If and if anyone is arrested, they will be soon released without charge.”

NHS South West Essex announced at the end of 2010 it was undecided whether to build a new hospital in Hogg Lane, Grays, in the wake of £52million of cuts.

In May last year, the Thurrock Gazette reported that bosses were still in talks.

Margaret Hathaway, NHS South Essex’s commercial director, said if anything does go ahead, it will be on a smaller scale than originally proposed. She said: “Proposals for a development in Grays are still being considered.

“Recent funding constraints and structural change within the NHS mean that should the development go forward, the scale is likely to be smaller – no new timetable has yet been set.

“Ongoing discussions will look to ensure all buildings developed for NHS services are appropriate, affordable and in the right place.”

Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation paid £2 million for the land at the site, and it was originally hoped a £40 million facility would be open by April 2012. The site was also designed to house a new Royal Mail sorting office and Territorial Army cadets centre.

Both the new sorting office and the cadet centre have now been built and Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation has just submitted an application to demolish the old Royal Mail sorting office.

A spokesman for the corporation said: “We have built the cadet centre and new sorting office, but due to finance issues with the NHS we are no longer able to complete the final stage of the project.”

Two resident spokespersons, Ray and Sue Abbott spoke passionately against the development which would see the college transfer to Grays high street.

Mr Abbott asked the portfolio holder, cllr Andy Smith what consultation had taken place.

Cllr Smith said: “This had been part of the core strategy since 2008. It had been agreed then by the Conservative cabinet and then in January 2010.

“There had been meetings to discuss the strategy in public in that period as well.”

Residents were less than impressed with this reply.

Mr Abbott said: “You seem to think that this development in Grays will turn things around. The council have overseen the running down of Grays high street and we cannot see things changing.”

The PM was responding to a question by South Basildon and East Thurrock MP, Stephen Metcalfe at PM Questions this afternoon.

Mr Metcalfe asked: “Could we have support for all the customers and suppliers for this very important business that lies at the heart of my constituency.”

“The prime minister replied: “I whole-heartedly agree. The administrators are looking to continue with operations and you are right that it is vital for customers and suppliers to be protected.

“We will continue to keep on the case.”