Headlines

SEVERE delays and queueing traffic on A13 Ripple Road westbound in Dagenham at the Renwick Road junction, because of an accident involving two lorries earlier on. Travel time is over 90 minutes. Congestion to Lakeside.

YOU only have to go to the brochure for the Harlow Playhouse to see a packed itinerary of shows and performances. Audiences come from miles around to see some great acts, show premieres and top draw shows. It has a "Friends of the Playhouse", a constant dialogue with funding streams and marketing relationships with key businesses in the town.

Mayor of Thurrock, Cllr Steve Liddiard, local councillors and senior council officers were at Tilbury Fort for a day-long event which attracted around 1,000 visitors. And deputy mayor, Cllr Sue Gray, was at St Catherine’s Church, East Tilbury, and the nearby Coalhouse Fort for the Lights Out commemoration on Monday evening.

THURROCK people are being asked their thoughts about Thurrock’s Council Tax Support scheme, which replaced Council Tax Benefit in April 2013.

A SENIOR Labour councillor has expressed her disappointment after none of Thurrock's Conservative councillors attended a special event at Tilbury Fort to commemorate the beginning of World War One.

IF you have a passion for fashion, theatre and costume design, the Royal Opera House in Thurrock has a great opportunity for you. On Friday 24 October, a special Inspiration Day with an emphasis on costume is taking place at the Royal Opera House Bob and Tamar Manoukian Production Workshop on the High House Production Park in Purfleet.

YOU could trust Thurrock residents to pay tribute to the fallen of World War One. At 10pm on Monday August 4th, the British people were asked to turn off their lights and light a candle in memory of the moment, a hundred years ago, as war was declared.

SOUTH BASILDON and East Thurrock candidate, Mike Le-Surf has praised Ed Miliband as he warns that commuters could face fare rises of up to 5.6 per cent next year. This is on top of inflation busting fare rises of nearly 20 per cent since David Cameron came to power. He calls on the Government to adopt Labour’s policy of capping annual fare rises on every route to take the pressure off commuters in Basildon and Thurrock next year.

THE Counterfeit Beatles are coming to Brandon Groves Community Hall next month. From Love me Do to Get Back, they are always great entertainment.

THURROCK Council is writing to every home in the borough to explain changes to the way people have to register to vote. Nationally changes to the system came in during June and the new “Individual Electoral Registration” scheme means an estimated 10,000 people in Thurrock may need to take action to join the new register.

DIRECTORS of Thurrock Lifestyle Solutions CIC met with Labour parliamentary candidate, Polly Billington recently to discuss what the issues are for people with Learning Disabilities living in Thurrock. Shockingly, once again, the percentage of people who have had an annual health check is now below 40%. National research has shown that people with learning disabilities die younger than the general population not due to their impairment but simply due to poor healthcare. Are people dying to live in Thurrock?

THURROCK Council’s trading standards team has seized over 100kg of carcinogenic cream being smuggled into Tilbury Docks. The cream – which claims to lighten skin colour - contains hydroquinone, which causes both visible short- and long-term skin damage, as well as being a carcinogen and was seized at London Container Terminal in Tilbury, following a tip off from Borderforce.

POLICE attended St Chads Road and Berkley Terrace in Tilbury at around 11.30pm On Saturday, August 2, following reports that a man had been assaulted.

TWO men were arrested on suspicion of motoring offences after a black BMW X6 failed to stop for officers. Officers on patrol noticed the vehicle speeding in Crammavill Street, Grays, at just after midnight this morning (Saturday, August 2nd). The vehicle made off towards the A13 but the occupants decamped at Stifford Clays Road.

SUMMER is here and it's nice and warm. To those who complain in late July/early August about it being too hot, I say "it will be winter long enough". It seems like forever now since us parents were shivering on the touchline at football matches for the u8s at Nutberry field or the girls under 11s at "the Firemans" sportsground. The World Cup came and went. Germany were by far the best team. Who can now remember that wonder goal by young Mario Gotze in extra time on July 13?