HOME FIRE SAFETY VISITS
Essex Fire and Rescue Service are offering FREE HOME FIRE SAFETY Visits Click the link for more information Fire Safety Visits
PRIORITY SERVICES REGISTER
Power cuts don’t happen very often but if the electricity network is damaged or develops a fault it’s UK POWER NETWORKS job to get your power back on. Our engineers work around the clock 24/7 to restore your power as quickly as is safely possible. If you live in London, the East or South East of England, then being on our Priority Services Register will ensure you will receive extra support if you experience a power cut. We also work with other utility companies to provide extra support for venerable customer.
Please click this link PRIORITY SERVICES REGISTRATION to go to a registration page where details of who can register and what support is available can be found.
You can also call our free number 0800 169 9970 for help with your enquiries.
WINTER POWER CUTS
The information below has been sent to customers who are registered on the Power Networks providers Priority Services Register. Its useful advice on what to do before a Power cut
In recent months there has been speculation in the newspapers and on television about the prospect of “power sharing” or planned power cuts this winter in the unlikely scenario of a national energy shortage this winter. We are writing to all the customers on our Priority Services Register to help you prepare for winter.
While this winter is expected to be challenging, there is no guarantee emergency measures will be necessary. National Grid ESO’s view remains that there will be adequate electricity supplies through the winter. Power sharing would only be used as a very last resort after all other options have been exhausted.
Power cuts might be uncommon, but they can happen all-year-round so it’s important you are prepared and know what to do.
Emergency power cuts are unlikely to happen, but if they do it is important you know:
- You will have no power for at least three hours at a time, once or twice a day.
- Priority Services Register customers will lose power in an emergency. Being on the Priority Services Register does not offer you any protection from the national power cuts.
- Your gas boiler, heat pump, broadband and home phone will not work during the power cut.
- Due to the national scale of the power cuts, UK Power Networks cannot supply generators/backup power to customers for these emergencies.
To prepare you should:
- Find your block letter (and rota, when published) at 105 Website.
- Keep a mobile phone fully charged (if you have one) so you can use it to go online for updates or call if you have a power cut.
- Keep a torch handy in case you are without power during the night.
- Have warm clothes, blankets and food which doesn't need heating accessible.
FOR POSTCODES STARTING SSI7 --LOCAL NEWORK OPERATOR
Call 105 to put you through to your local network operator. If you want to find out who your network operator is, visit the website 105 Website and use the postcode finder on the page. This tool will also tell you how you can contact your network operator via their website or on social media, where these channels are available.
The local Network Operator is:
- UK POWER NETWORKS
- Telephone 0800 31 63 105
- Website www.ukpowernetworks.co.uk
- facbook ukpowernetworks
- twitter @UKPowerNetworks
In the unlikely event you do ever experience a power cut call 105 or visit the 105 website for more advice on what to do.
EMERGENCY ALERTS SYSTEM
- Emergency Alerts is a UK government service that will warn you if there’s a danger to life nearby.
- In an emergency, your mobile phone or tablet on a 4G or 5G network will receive an alert with advice about how to stay safe.
Please follow the instructions in the alert to keep yourself and others safe.
The government recently tested the Emergency Alert System on Sunday 7th September 2025 at around 3;00pm
For more detailed information please see Government Emergency Alert System
See also Be Prepared
BUS OPERATORS IN THURROCK
PLEASE NOTE SOME BUS SERVICE TIMES WILL CHANGE ON THE 4th JANUARY 2026
Thurrock bus services are either commercially operated or subsidised.
Please contact the operator direct if you have a comment, question or complaint about these services.
Bus Timetables
Thurrock Councils website has up to date information about services that operate in the area. Bus Services in Thurrock
Buses that operate through Stanford-le-Hope are provided by
- First Essex
- Central Connect
From the 4th January 2026 changes to the bus times have been made so please check for up-to-date information.
For the First Essex services click First Essex
The 100 bus operates between Basildon and Lakeside. Click for timetable 100
The 200 bus operates between Basildon and Grays. Click for timetable 200
The 201 bus operates between Stanford le Hope and Basildon Click for timetable 201
For the Central Connect services click Central Connect
The 375 bus operates between Horndon on the Hill and Grays. Click for timetable 375
RAIL TRAVEL
Some information to get the best and cheapest travel on the UK Rail networks Rail Travel
THURROCK WASTE BIN COLLECTIONS
BIN collection schedule in THURROCK See Bin collection
ADVANCE NOTICE EMAIL
We send out our monthly Advance Notice Email to your inbox. If you do not receive this and wish to, please advise the Membership Secretary with your name and email address and you will be added the list.
Click the coloured text to go to the page Advance Notice Email
OUR NEWSLETTER
To view an Electronic version of our monthly Newsletter Click NEWS You will find a list of those available.
Our u3a National Office each month produces a newsletter emailed out to member that have subscribed and receive it as part of an email.
The original version is in FULL COLOUR.
It is recommended that you sign up to receive it directly into your email INBOX.
By clicking his link National Office Newsletter you can sign up and it will be send to you directly or you can view previous newsletters.
Police Fire and Crime Commissioner
The PFCC for Essex have produced a Police and Crime Plan which sets out the policing priorities and aims for keeping Essex safe. It brings together police, partners and the people of Essex to build safe and secure communities, thereby promoting public confidence in the police and ensuring that victims are satisfied with the service and support they receive. The commitments set out in the plan build on existing partnerships and seek to develop them in new and ambitious ways. These include greater collaboration between police and fire and closer working with local councils, community safety partnerships, and the voluntary, community and health sectors.
You can read about its priorities by selecting the option on the left hand side of their website. Website Police Fire & Crime Commissioner Website
THURROCK COUNCIL NEWSLETTER
Thurrock Council provide a weekly newsletter of local information to those who subscribe.
Click to subscribe Thurrock Council Newsletter sign up Requires an email address
TV licence information for the over 75's
Click Over 75 for more information.