Essex Police wants everyone to have a fun Bonfire Night but will take action against anyone who breaks the law. Fireworks are dangerous explosives and officers have vowed to take a tough stance against shopkeepers who sell them to under 18s and anyone who uses or possesses them illegally.
Every team at home this weekend so no excuse for fans to get out and about and support the boroughs' teams. At Thurrock: first home game in charge for new boss Glen Lincoln and it is quite a challenge as they face promotion favourites, Bromley.
What is also of great concern is that only 13% of all sex offences were detected in the borough last year. The number of reported crimes dropped from 368 to 197 but the detection rate went from 14% to 13%. The bigger question is why there have been a 171 drop in reported crime. Perhaps there were 368 sex offences but it would be very distressing if there were 171 Thurrock women (or men) who after an attack have signalled their complete lack of faith in the criminal justice system and not reported a rape or other sex crime.
OUTSIDE, the Thurrock Conservative club in Clarence Road, a banner proudly announcing a hundred years of the club 1910 to 2010. But it looks unlikely that the club will be celebrating it's 101st anniversary as plans have been submitted to the council's planning committee to convert the Clarence Road HQ into 26 bedsits.
Partners in Adoption, the consortium for adoption in Havering, Southend and Thurrock are holding an open evening for prospective adoptive parents on Wednesday 10 November at the Orsett Hall Hotel, Prince Charles Avenue, Orsett.
IT was a big step up to go from local and regional competition to the Horse of the Year show at the Birmingham NEC but Fobbing rider Jodie Still and her horse Nelly acquitted themselves very well.
Cllr Val Morris-Cook was at the meeting and said: “Allotments across the borough have been viewed as easy targets for opportunist thieves, taking tools, equipment, produce and many sites have suffered from mindless vandalism too. I am passionate about allotments and the council is working hard to open up more so we can reduce the 300-or-so waiting list".
THE PORTFOLIO Holder for Education, Diana Hale shocked her opposition colleagues after describing the Thurrock Learning Campus as "two portakabins stuck on top of each other." The comments came in a heated exchange at the childrens services committee. The question of the cuts to the Thurrock Adult Community College came up for discussion.
Essex FSB Chairman, Iain Wicks, said: “Today’s announcement that the Greater Essex, Kent and East Sussex LEP has been approved is excellent news for the local economy and in particular for small businesses as it puts the business community in the driving seat for economic development and regeneration across the area.
The report illustrated that with heads such as Martin Cowpland taking over at Quarry Hill for their amalgamation and highly regarded head, Mark Jones at Thameside, the schools were, in many ways heading in the right direction. The report laid bare many of the academic challenges still ahead with a number of worrying statistics showing Thurrock primary schools lagging well behind the national average.
A series of walkabouts carried out since spring has resulted in positive action being taken to drive out anti social behaviour on the Flowers Estate. Ward Councillors worked with police, the anti social behaviour team and the local housing office, and enough evidence was gathered from distressed residents for a number of Good Neighbour Contracts to be served on the perpetrators.
COPPER cabling was seized by police during a crackdown on metal theft. British Transport Police recovered one-tonne of cabling from a yard in south Essex as part of Operation Ablett. In total officers visited more than 40 scrap dealers including several from Grays where they issued warnings over inadequate record warning.
ALL c2c train services are suffering from severe delays and cancellations after cable thieves stole and caused damage to overhead lines.
Buses are currently replacing trains between Pitsea and Shoeburyness in the country-bound direction only.
Work to repair the damage is not expected to be complete until around midday.
From October until January there are several free courses available to help you and change your future. This is a good opportunity to claim your place in any of the courses put together by Thurrock Council and Shaping Thurrock and funded by the East of England Development Agency.
Thurrock's 2,500 lone parents will be affected by benefit changes meaning they will start to get help to look for work rather than stay on benefits once their children are aged seven are over – previously it was when they were 10. Lone parents whose child is aged seven or over will claim Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) if they are able work, rather than Income Support. On JSA they will benefit from a comprehensive range of support including training opportunities, job application advice and other financial grants to help them return to work.
