THE FIFTH Thurrock’s Future – Let’s Talk meeting provided a chance for the people of Orsett and the rest of the borough to quiz top councilors and council officers.
Held in the hall of Orsett Church of England Primary School on the evening of Wednesday (14 September) and facilitated by head teacher Mrs Lallie Godfrey, the meeting covered a wide range of subjects.
Thurrock Council Leader, Cllr John Kent, said afterwards: “I’ll admit a little disappointment at the numbers of people who came along, but they certainly provided us with a very interesting debate.”
Around 20 people joined Cllr Kent, members of the council’s cabinet along with chief executive Graham Farrant, directors and heads of service for the meeting.
Subjects raised included the pilot scheme for some councillors to spend £2,000 in their wards and funding for community forums; air quality across Thurrock; the council’s stance on a third Thames crossing, particularly the “Option C” route through Thurrock Green Belt and villages; refuse collections; how complaints to the council are handled; the future of a community hospital in Grays; sports facilities; educational attainment; and the question of “east-facing slip roads” to and from Lakeside from the A13.
Cllr Kent said: “I was really pleased to be able to reassure people in Orsett that we not only didn’t support ‘Option C’, we didn’t think a third crossing was necessary at all if the government either got rid of the crossing tolls altogether or installed number-plate recognition systems as well as improving Junction 30/31.”
Previous Thurrock’s Future – Let’s Talk meetings have been held in Stanford-le-Hope, South Ockendon, Tilbury and Little Thurrock. Two more are planned before the end of March when the pre-election period prevents the council organising such events involving councillors.
