Thurrock

Borough of Thurrock
Geography
Status:	Unitary, Borough
Region:	East of England
Ceremonial County:	Essex
Area: - Total	Ranked 203rd 163.38 kmē
Admin. HQ:	Grays
ONS code:	00KG
Demographics
Population: - Total (2003 est.) - Density	Ranked 112th 145,274 889 / kmē
Ethnicity:	95.3% White 2.0% S.Asian 1.2% Afro-Carib.
Politics
Thurrock Council http://www.thurrock.gov.uk/
Leadership:	Leader & Cabinet
Executive:	Conservative
MPs:	Andrew Mackinlay, Angela Smith

Thurrock is a Unitary authority in England. It lies on the River Thames just to the east of London. With over 18 miles (29 km) of riverfront it covers an area of 64 square miles (166 kmē), with more than half defined as Green belt. With Greater London to the west and the river to the south, the County of Essex abuts the Borough to the north and east, and across the river lies Kent.

The county used to be a district within Essex but was given administrative independence on April 1, 1998 by The Essex (Boroughs of Colchester, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock and District of Tendring) (Structural, Boundary and Electoral Changes) Order 1996. It remains part of Essex for ceremonial purposes such as Lord-Lieutenancy.

With a population of about 135,000 people living in 58,000 homes, Thurrock has a wide ranging and diverse economy. Much of the population and commercial activity is centred along the riverfront. This includes many large and important industrial sites, including two large oil refineries and manufacturing industries, Thurrock is also home to the Lakeside Shopping Centre. With over 300 shops under one roof, this is one of the largest retail centres in Europe.

Despite so much of the borough being protected Green belt land, Thurrock provides localised opportunities for further industrial and commercial development. The borough forms part of the Thames Gateway regeneration area, a corridor of opportunity that has been identified by central government as the area with greatest development and commercial potential in the country.

Being both on the river and right next to London, Thurrock is served with good communication links. The M25 London Orbital Motorway, the local railway line providing direct access to Central London and, before long, Stratford International Station, the Port of Tilbury and the nearby London City Airport make Thurrock an important international trade centre. There is a grass airstrip south of Bulphan village. A ferry for passengers on foot connects Tilbury with Gravesend on the southern bank of the River Thames.

The borough has a number of settlements including:

• Aveley
• Chadwell St Mary
• Chafford Hundred
• Corringham
• Fobbing
• Grays
• Horndon
• Purfleet
• South Ockendon
• Stanford-le-Hope
• Tilbury
• West Thurrock

Statistical overview of Thurrock

Riverside frontage 30 kilometres (18 miles)

Size of population 1991 Census - 127,819

 1998 estimate - 134,962

Total households 49,111

Main town Grays (population 1991 - 36,181)

Industrial Land availability 2 kmē

Extent of Green Belt coverage 60% of Borough

Conservation areas 7

Listed buildings 239

Sites of Special Scientific Interest 10

History

Attractions

Thurrock had been the scene of several major films. St Clement's Church at West Thurrock was used in the making of the film Four Weddings and a Funeral. Some dock scenes from the movies Alfie (2004) and Batman Begins (2005) were film in Tilbury. Some filming also took place for the film Essex Boys from a little town called Gray Thurrock. The cinema where Eddie met Roger in the classic Who Framed Roger Rabbit can be found in Grays.