Major transport schemes in Thurrock taking shape

Major transport schemes take shape

MEMBERS of the Planning, Transport and Regeneration Overview and Scrutiny committee heard updates on a number of key transport and regeneration schemes taking shape across Thurrock on Tuesday evening (7 March).

Committee members learned of progress on the A13 widening scheme, which will see an increase from two to three lanes between the A128 (Orsett Cock) and A1014 (The Manorway).

The committee welcomed commencement of the works later in 2017 and were reassured that communication with residents about impact on their journeys in real time is planned.

Chair of the Committee, Cllr Barbara Rice, welcomed the progress. She said: “I look forward to effective delivery of the scheme with residents in mind.”

Over £10 million has been awarded to Thurrock from the Local Growth Fund for the Grays South Project – a project to transform Grays town centre over the next decade with a new crossing of the rail line, public squares, retail, leisure facilities, residential and offices.

The committee welcomed the news including showing support for the delivery model in partnership with Network Rail.

The committee was also impressed with progress on the Stanford-le-Hope Transport Interchange. The scheme will see a total of £12million invested with the majority of funding also from the Local Growth Fund.

A train and bus interchange will be developed, improving access for resident and supporting 12,000 new jobs at DP World London Gateway. The project is expected to be completed in late 2018.

Cllr Rice, said: “The new station will be used with gusto, I am sure. The old station is simply inadequate. The shuttle bus to the port is also an excellent idea.”

Chris Atkinson, Head of Communications at c2c, presented an update on how they are tackling concerns of capacity and punctuality, which had been previously raised by the committee. Members heard how the new timetable as of January 2017 and extra carriages were improving the service to Thurrock commuters.

Speaking after the meeting, Cllr Rice added: “It has been great to see so much progress being made on these hugely significant schemes for the residents of Thurrock with grant and partner funding secured to support achieving them. The committee is now at the end of its full year and it has been a very packed agenda. I am pleased to see the outcomes from our discussions. I would like to thank all those involved in the committee’s very full year of activity and welcome news of how these schemes in particular are progressing.”