IN what some may describe as a cynical electoral ploy, Labour-run Thurrock Council has pledged to clean up the borough.
Thurrock Council has announced that they will be reinstating street-sweeping as environment portfolio holder Cllr Gerard Rice met the team on Thursday (24 March) morning.
In all there will be seven “barrow rounds” across the borough, including town centres, where staff will be sweeping the streets and litter-picking.
In the central area Grays town centre will be brought up to a good standard before the barrow moves out to surrounding roads including, London Road, Crown Road, and Clarence Road.
The Chafford Hundred estate, including footpaths and cycle paths will also be swept regularly.
Corringham town centre, the Gardener Avenue estate and the Rachel Clarke Estate will be the main areas targeted and the Tilbury town area including, Civic Square, Calcutta Road, Dock Road, Toronto Road, Ottawa Road, and Quebec Road will also have a dedicated staff member.
The main roads in Chadwell St Mary – including, Chadwell Hill, Riverview, Linford Road, and Claudian Way will also have regular sweeps.
In the west the plan is to have fortnightly routes, first in the Aveley and Kenningtons area, followed by Purfleet and parts of West Thurrock; while Ockendon roads will also be split over a fortnight.
Cllr Rice said: “I promised we would get the sweepers back on our streets and we’re seeing them in action now. We can’t match what we were doing a year ago, but stopping street sweeping was a step too far.
“I demanded that some extra money was put into the department specifically for this and I am certain we will soon be seeing the results, particularly in and around all our town centres.”
