Last year Thurrock Council was forced to cut down a line of diseased Horse Chestnut trees in Brandon Groves, South Ockendon. Working with local ward councillors, the council has not only managed to plant replacements, but has placed even more trees on the estate.
“The proposal as it stands would see marshland and countryside of international scientific importance sacrificed and rural life threatened on both sides of the river. I am very pleased that we can stand alongside Thurrock Council to fight the scheme. This is an issue which transcends mere party politics because it is about defending local communities and goes to the very heart of the Localism Agenda itself. The views of the people most affected and their elected representatives must be sought and taken fully into account."
Earlier this month, the government raised the cost of VAT from 17.5 per cent to 20 per cent and fuel duty was added to pump prices on New Year’s Day, sending prices soaring by an average of 3.55p for a litre of unleaded petrol and 3.64p for diesel.
The Strategic Environmental Assessment for Thurrock‘s first Local Transport Plan Implementation Plan, aims to: Identify alternative options for delivering sustainable transport improvements in Thurrock; Identify and describe the environmental, social and economic effects of alternative options.
“The berserk plans would also cost a fortune. Constructing a floating island airport would add £3.5billion to building costs. I also question if an airport located on an artificial island makes any sense in a world where sea levels are rising.”
The trip — supported by the Government’s Take Part programme and organised by the council’s diversity team — saw the group travel to Krakow on Saturday and return home on Monday (15 to 17 January).
Since the General Election the ConDems have been busy ditching all sorts of pre-election promises. Increasing VAT, Fuel Duty, trebling university Tuition Fees and scrapping Education Maintenance Allowance will have a negative effect on the living standards of many families on Thurrock.
It is anticipated that the protests will start at 10am on Saturday at Coryton Oil Refinery, The Manorway in Stanford le Hope. Further disputes are anticipated in Grangemouth, Middlesborough and South Wirral.
This will be an interesting year for UKIP at the ballot box and especially in Thurrock. Clive Broad gained 20% of the vote in the Stifford Clays ward and Tim, himself made a great impression in Aveley. They don't need a landslide, just a gentle nudge to obtain their first UKIP councillor in the borough.
AS part of our on-going assessment of the state of the criminal justice system in Thurrock, we interviewed the Portfolio Holder for Public Protecton, cllr Gerard Rice. As Gerard says: "I am not the Chief Constable for Thurrock". Perhaps that is the expectation of the councillor who is charged with shaping the public protection agenda in the borough.
Despite stark warnings from an expert at the meeting that almost the entire £6m HIV/Aids budget is spent on drug treatment, and that every £10,500 annual cut would in effect withdraw treatment from a patient who would die without it, the board members nodded through a £1m cutback.
A LEADING Thurrock councillor told the council's planning committee that he had major concerns over contaminated land at the proposed site for new housing in Chadwell St Mary. Councillor Gerard Rice was speaking as the proposal for twenty new dwellings at St John's Road, came in front of the committee.
"I welcome this report and many of the key changes and improvements it recommends. There are concrete proposals such as delivering services to the jobless and smarter ways of working with other agencies such as the NHS and the police, that are excellent."
But the controversy over Titan Lorry Park in Oliver Road, West Thurrock was re-ignited last night at the Thurrock Council Planning Committee when the committee voted unanimously to investigate further a report into the feasability of a Stop Notice in relation to the lorry park. Chair of Planning, cllr Terry Hipsey said: "Nearly 2000 people have signed a petition asking for action in relation to the unauthorised use of the site.
She said: "How can it be that one school gets 100% in its SATS while across the road, another does poorly." YourThurrock understands that cllr Hale is referring to Lansdowne primary which was the worst performing school in the borough. 38 per cent of pupils managed to get at least level four in English and maths. That placed the school the school in the bottom 284 schools out of the 10,129 in the country that took part in SATs.
