Will the council live to regret slashing back on Thurrock's gardeners...?

There have been untold stories recently about the bad state of the borough and it’s very worrying.

The A13 attracts rubbish like there’s no tomorrow, and only last week yet another resident came to us with a variety of pictures showing rubbish and flytipped waste in roads and alleyways in and around Grays.

It’s well documented this borough has plenty of ambition. 

There’s plenty of entrepreneurial spirit, you just have to take a look around at the small businesses making a name for themselves.

Then, of course, there’s the new Grays town centre college, soon to offer university education for local youngsters and those further afield.  

This is all very encouraging but we need to make sure the basics are not neglected.

Our story about 42 of the council’s 94 gardening jobs going is a sad one.

The council hasn’t said much about it, but I just hope there’s a plan in place to make sure the borough’s playgrounds, parks and playing fields still get the attention they need.

The council estimates it will save £1.3million, but at what cost to the borough’s well-being?

In the meantime, residents everywhere must stay vigilant, helping if they can to bring flytippers to justice, while taking care and pride whereever possible within their own communities.

Only time will tell what impact the council’s decision to chop almost half its gardening staff will have.

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