[1] In March 1931, Essex County Council convened a conference of local authorities in the area to solicit their views.

An inquiry was held in November 1932 and the Minister of Health suggested the creation of a new "Riverside" urban district covering the whole area.

The county council submitted revised proposals along these lines on 4 October 1933, calling the new district "Orsett".

A further local enquiry was held in November 1933 and the changes were approved in December, with the suggestion from the minister that new district should be called "Thurrock".

Purfleet Urban District Council took legal action in an attempt to prevent the changes and revert to the earlier scheme, ultimately taking the case to the House of Lords without success.