Thurrock Council Leads Major Clean-Up of Key Gateway Routes
Partnership with National Highways and Connect Plus Services results in a cleaner, greener entrance to the borough.
By Rebecca Flint
••3 min read
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Generic image of a clean road junction with green verges and clear signage.
A significant clean-up operation around the A126 Dumbells Roundabout and A13 has enhanced the entrance to Thurrock, following a collaborative effort between Thurrock Council, National Highways, and Connect Plus Services.
The initiative, which took place during an overnight road closure on Wednesday 21 October, aimed to improve the cleanliness and appearance of a key route used by thousands of residents, commuters, and visitors travelling towards Lakeside and the wider borough. This work aligns with Thurrock Council’s Civic Pride programme, focused on creating a cleaner, greener, and safer environment.
During the single overnight shift, teams from Connect Plus Services removed 50 sacks of litter and 20 large items of debris, alongside scheduled highway maintenance. This effort has visibly improved the area, creating a more attractive environment for all travellers.
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"First impressions matter, and the roads leading into Thurrock should reflect the pride we have in our borough. The approach to Lakeside is one of our busiest gateways, welcoming thousands of residents, workers and visitors, so it’s important that it looks clean, tidy and well maintained. Removing 50 sacks of litter and 20 large items of debris in just one night shows what can be achieved when organisations work together. This is a great example of our Civic Pride ambitions in action. I want to thank National Highways and Connect Plus Services for their efforts, and we will continue working with our partners to secure further improvements across Thurrock’s road network. Everyone has a part to play in keeping Thurrock clean, and by working together we can create a greener, cleaner and safer borough that we can all be proud of."
Councillor Alan Benson highlighted the importance of first impressions and praised the collaborative effort. He also urged residents to play their part in maintaining the borough's cleanliness.
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"The A13 and A1089 are a gateway to Thurrock, and we are happy to work with our partners to provide a cleaner entrance to the area. We work hard to tackle this on our roads but urge road users to take their litter home - if people didn’t drop litter in the first place, it wouldn’t need to be picked up."
Francis Cluett of National Highways echoed the sentiment, emphasising the importance of partnership and encouraging road users to dispose of litter responsibly. The council plans to continue working with partners to identify further opportunities for cleaning, vegetation management, and highway maintenance along the A13 and A1089 corridors.
Based on information from the official source: Thurrock Council (28/10/2026)
