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!”

Conservative councillor, Shane Hebb successfully contested the seat in May. We caught up with Shane recently in Hardie Park to assess how the first eight months have been.

In the chamber, Shane has been a confident performer,both at full council and at planning and certainly seems embedded in the east of the borough machine.

A number of potential sites had originally been identified for a new substation to connect the Gateway Energy Centre, a proposed new gas-fired power station, to the national grid, which transports electricity supplies around the country.

National Grid undertook a wide-ranging public consultation and completed exhaustive technical studies into the plans for connecting the power station to the transmission system (or National Grid if preferred). However, a recent review found that with fewer power generators than originally anticipated needing connecting to the grid in the area, the power station could be connected using the existing substation at South Coryton.

The new proposal involves a minor expansion of the existing substation on land owned either by National Grid or the power station developer InterGen.

Project Manager Brian Smethurst said: “National Grid always looks at connecting new generators to the grid using our existing transmission network and infrastructure first rather than building new infrastructure.

“This vital scheme will deliver the best of both worlds to people. It will help ensure they continue to enjoy safe and reliable electricity supplies with little or no impact on the local area.”

He added: “I would like to thank all those who took part in our public consultation, your feedback was greatly appreciated.”

A planning application for the new scheme will be submitted to Thurrock Council and it is hoped work will be completed by 2014.

For more information on the scheme call 0800 319 6165, email nationalgrid@easthurrockconnection.com or visit www.easthurrockconnection.com

Martin Dalton of the Yellow Advertiser took a really good photo of two lorries passing each other and just a whisker away from each other.

On Friday, YT went down to the tip and when one of the lorries left, we followed it and filmed it as it travelled down the road until it got to Linford.

One of the added hazards is the low winter sun. It has been a lovely weekend but as you drive down that road, it really hits the windscreen.

It is just something to consider and may add to the residents and councillors concerns if this matter goes to the next stage.

The fair trade mark (www.fairtrade.org.uk) guarantees decent wages and living conditions for people who grow and make products that we use every day. By buying products with the fair trade mark you can be confident that the producers have not been exploited by ruthless middlemen and that practices like child and slave labour (yes, it does still happen even today) have been stamped out. Fair trade products available locally include tea, coffee, chocolate, fruit and juices, sugar, wine, and more. To achieve fair trade town status, retailers, schools, community groups, and the local authority have to come together to make sure that products are available to buy and use and that the message is getting out there.

A meeting is being held on Thursday 19th January at 8pm for anyone interested in getting fair trade in Stanford and Corringham “off the ground” in 2012. The meeting will be at the 24-7 Stanford community house at 217 Southend Road, Stanford-le-Hope, and anyone is welcome to attend.

Local Councillor Phil Anderson has helped to secure the council’s support for the fair trade town initiative. Phil said “In the current economic climate, I sometimes hear people saying that charity should begin at home. Fair trade is a way that anyone can make a difference, through the decisions they make right here at home. There is often little difference in price, but the difference it can make to people’s lives in communities around the world is immense. I’m delighted to be supporting fair trade in Stanford and Corringham, and I’m really looking forwards to hearing people’s ideas on Thursday 19th.”

A number of students walked down to the sheltered housing complex at Kynoch Court to sing carols, deliver hampers as well as sit and chat to the borough’s more senior residents.

The residents were delighted and heaped praise on the students for their wonderful singing and impeccable manners.

Cllrs Tolson, MacPherson and Halden showed Graham Farrant the controversial Foxfield Drive where planning has been refused many times and also discussed highway issues,arboriculture issues and antisocial behaviour.

Councillor Macpherson said “I appreciate the chief executives time. We discussed matters that were close to residents hearts with the hope that we can make The Homesteads a great place to live.

Cllr Tolson added “We have been working hard in the ward and it was nice to be able to show Graham some of these achievements, but also to highlight our concerns”

Homesteads councillor, Sue MacPherson presented a petition signed by a hundred residents after numerous complaints of anti-social behaviour in Balstonia Park.

Cllr McPherson said: “Since the parks have been left open we have seen an incremental rise in anti-social behaviour in the park.

“It is becoming a no-go area for the families and young children in the area.

“We really feel that the council should think again. With the costs of cleaning and sweeping up, this is nothing more than a false economy.”

Stanford East and Corringham Town councillor Phil Anderson said: “I’m delighted that we are now going to see action to tackle excessive speeds on Southend Road. I think the final piece of evidence that convinced the council of the need to act was the speed survey. When nearly 50% of drivers are breaking the speed limit and some are doing up to 70mph in a 30 zone, it was obvious that doing nothing is not an option.

I now look forward to seeing detailed proposals on exactly what measures will work best in this location. I will ensure that local residents are kept informed of progress and ward councillors will consult as soon as detailed proposals are forthcoming.

I would like to thank the portfolio holder, Andy Smith, for his support on this matter, and that he has acknowledged the strength of feeling that exists locally over these issues ”.

The central area near St Margarets’s church was host to a very moving service.

There is something indefatigable about the spirit of the people of East Tilbury and especially when it comes to matters which affect the heart of their community.

And perhaps there was never a better example in yesterday afternoons meeting of the Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation’s planning committee over the “rock and a hard place” question of extending the life of the tipping activities of the site operators Cory at the Mucking Landfill tip.

Cory says it needs the extension because the soil needed to ‘cap’ the landfill site, where tipping stopped at the end of 2010, has not been available in enough quantity.

As well as the five years, Cory wants the maximum number of lorry movements permitted on any working day to be increased to 240 – double the current number.

It was a passionate meeting with both councillors (Barry Palmer and John Purkiss) as well as residents incensed at the implications of a further extension for Cory.

Cllr John Purkiss said” This battle has been going on for over thirty years.

“Why has this company not been stockpiling materials. Indeed, why have they not looked at other forms of transport. Bring them up on barges.”

Cllr Barry Palmer made reference to the danger on the roads and the health implications.

Representing Cory, Alastair Hall explained that the economic downturn and competition from other sites had caused a change to their plans.

He also made reference to their “Ethical observance award” by The Observer.

As the matter was being discussed by the planning committee, both residents and councillors became increasingly animated.

“How many lies?” shouted one resident. “Answer it truthfully” implored councillor John Purkiss.

Members of the committee expressed deep reservations about the application.

Chris Paveley said: “I have deep reservations about this. Let them take fifteen years but in an application that sees the roads safe.”

Will McKee urged the committee: “To defer the application in order to have further discussion.

The committee agreed unanimously.

We spoke to the president of the Grays Branch of the British Legion, Barrie Lawrence as he campaigned in Lakeside about this years fund-raising.

Mike and May are volunteers at the Bata Reminiscence and Resource Centre in East Tilbury Library which is celebrating its tenth anniversary next year. An open day will be held on April 18. Several members expressed an interest in visiting the centre then. Pat Arnold gave an appreciative vote of thanks.

The condiment set competition was won by Pat Arnold, with Joyce Brice, Jenny White and Trudi English second, third and fourth.

The rambling group enjoyed a good walk around the area of Hadleigh Castle and the Olympic cycle tracks. They were due to meet again at Thames Chase on November 2.

Visitors will be very welcome at the next Guild meeting, at 7.30pm on Wednesday, November 11, in Corringham Village Hall. The speaker is Jeanne Stafford on the work of a JP. The competition is a money box.

RESIDENTS in East Tilbury are set to face more years of heavy lorries hauling material to the Mucking landfill site despite promises the site would be redeveloped in 2011.

Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation’s planning committee is being recommended to grant site operators Cory an additional five years to complete restoration work on the controversial site next Monday – after missing an official restoration deadline.

Over the past three decades the site has continually courted controversy over problems with smell and the danger to residents and the environment from trucks.

A long-term, leading critic of the site is local ward councillor Barry Palmer who, when plans for the extension were announced in June, said: “This latest application is very frustrating and devastating for the residents of East Tilbury ward and part of Stanford-le-Hope West who were looking forward to the end of tipping activities at Mucking which have brought so much blight and misery to the area from the stench, dust and flies emanating from the site’s activities and the danger, intimidation and damage by HGV movements to and from the site for 30 years.

“The access to this site is via Walton Hall Road – that was once a quiet country lane.

“Ancient hedgerows along this road fronting and listed properties have needed unsightly motorway steel bollards and barriers to protect them from the ongoing destruction.

“Enough is enough.

“I call on the Development Corporation to please recommend refusal for this latest planning application and insist Cory are held to their present permissions, sparing local people and the environment a further five years of misery.”

However, the application, which was fiercely opposed by Thurrock councillors, has taken months to bring to the Development Corporation, leaving them little room to react – though tip opponents have urged that they could drastically cut the five years being sought to complete the work.

Cory says it needs the extension because the soil needed to ‘cap’ the landfill site, where tipping stopped at the end of 2010, has not been available in enough quantity.

As well as the five years, Cory wants the maximum number of lorry movements permitted on any working day to be increased to 240 – double the current number.