I find it obscene that Thurrock Council are planning a £10million refurbishment to the civic centre at a time when Universal Credit has arrived in Thurrock.

Due to the five week – or even longer – wait for any money including money for rent, many tenants who weren’t previously in arrears will fall into rent arrears for the first time.

The same will happen for private renters.

This will affect both working people who have been moved onto UC from their tax credits (yes people on working tax credits will become “benefits claimants”) and those who find themselves out of work or unable to work due to chronic health problems and/or disability.

By the time claimants get any income from UC they will most likely be dependant on Food Banks and have built up such arrears that it may seem impossible for those on a low wage or restricted benefits income to catch up. We are talking about hundreds of pounds. And people who have little or no savings will also be in arrears with utility bills after weeks of waiting for their income.

Many tenants who have never been in arrears before will be evicted and the council will have spent all its spare cash on refurbishing their offices, etc, so won’t have much if anything left to address a likely rise in homelessness.

Even when people get their money it may still be a choice between having enough to eat and heat the home etc versus paying the rent and no one wants to see their children go hungry..... people are often shocked at how little they actually receive on Universal Credit and amounts paid to workers may fluctuate wildly from one month to the next, due to the fact that some months have more than one pay day. And Universal Credit costs the state more to administer than the old system!

That the Government and the DWP dismiss all criticisms with the false claim that UC is getting more people into work just makes it all the more appalling.

The council should consider the welfare of its constituents before they lavish money on unnecessary building work.

The Food Banks also need more donations at this time of year and for the foreseeable due to Universal Credit. And people need more nutritious food than just baked beans and teabags and pasta or mince pies.

It seems that losing your job or being unable to work due to disabling conditions is now worse than being a criminal as it is punishable by removal of the means to house and feed yourself.

Also those in work will be subject to “conditionality” meaning the UC payment will STOP if a claimant is five minutes’ late to the Job Centre or hasn’t satisfied their work coach that they are making enough effort to find better paid employment – and someone has to do the poorly paid jobs so expecting everyone to upskill to better paid work is not the answer.

E.Thomas

Windsor Avenue

Grays

....The fact Thurrock Council can even contemplate spending £10million on a fancy new civic centre is an insult to each and every taxpayer in the borough.

£10million? £10million?! Think what that money could be spent on in terms of improving the personal (or distinct lack of) service they provide.

When I read this story last week I had to check my calender to check it wasn’t April 1!

Yes, the centre needs to be brought up in standard in certain areas, and needs to complement and fit in with the future plans for Grays town centre.

But to the tune of £10million? I don’t think so. And neither, I’d bet, do most other residents.

G. Patterson

Lodge Lane

Grays