THURROCK Conservatives have welcomed proposals for a new approach to tackling environmental issues across the borough.
Conservative Leader Rob Gledhill said "Statements made at Wednesday’s Cabinet meeting mirrored our ideas for taking environmental issues like littering and grass cutting forward. I had already started to make enquiries with officers over the possibility of environmental enforcement officers and their remit, as it was clear that more has to be done to crack down on littering and other environmental crimes. However, it cannot just be a case of throwing money at it and hoping it goes away. A full review of how the service works, what the council should and can do, along with what resident reasonably expect needs to take place."
Last year Thurrock Conservatives highlighted significant problems across the borough such as the ongoing problems on the A13, Dock Approach Road and repeated fly-tipping across the borough. They were also the only party who voted against the 46% cuts to street cleaning and the introduction of charging for brown bin collections.
Councillor Gledhill added "I welcomed all the statements made on Wednesday and look forward to sharing ideas and working across all parties to make them work. It was good to hear the administration admitting they cut too far too fast in this area and they will look for a full review to correct this. Thurrock residents rightly expect their streets to be clean and their bins collected; they should also expect those who litter, fly-tip or generally allow the borough to bear look a mess to be taken to task. We will be suggesting other ideas to help improve the Thurrock environment not just through direct action, but through changing planning policies and community involvement. Following the relevant consultation I hope that this time next year we are all living in a cleaner, tidier and greener borough."
