EFFORTS to encourage more residents to keep fit and shed those pounds will be ramped up – while keeping children out of trouble.

Thurrock Council rubber-stamped plans to promote and push strong messaging around exercise – as top councillors pledged to put sports first.

Community leaders say getting more youngsters into sports gets them off the streets and keeps them on the straight and narrow.

Councillor Joycelyn Redsell, who represents Little Thurrock Blackshots, said: “The youth in the borough need sports and especially at this time and when we come out of coronavirus, they will need it even more.

“I do not want to see this just on paper, I want to see it taken forward.  Kids need sport in the borough – it keeps them off the street. I’ve been here before and have seen a sports strategy that didn’t come forward as it should.”

Councillor Aaron Watkins, Cabinet member for environment and sports and leisure, responded saying an update on this will be brought forward this autumn, highlighting their current situation.

He said: “It’s imperative that we get it right – I’ve seen across the borough sports facilities that are no longer in use and the community don’t see the point of them being there. We need to engage with the community about trying to get them to do something – there doesn’t seem to be much appetite to do so.”

Targets for the plan have been set out which are expected to be achieved by the end of next April.

The plans are to start delivering the strategy later this year, for the Cleaner, Greener & Safer Overview and Scrutiny Committee to assess in the summer.

In line with the council’s consultation process, they will also aim to introduce a new resident and council led sports working group, looking at plans as part of the Active Place Strategy.

Mr Watkins added: “I want to see this strategy get stuff on the ground and make a difference. As part of that, after conversations with sports and community groups I want us to work closely with them.”

Mr Watkins highlighted that 2020 has been met with multiple challenges as a result of the ongoing pandemic.

He said: “We need to get things back to where they once were when we safely can do so. We know this will not be easy.”