Almost three out of four young people in Barking and Dagenham will attend their first preference secondary school from September this year.

 

Figures show that out of 3,452 applications, 2,534 (73.41 per cent) of 11-year-olds have been offered their first preference compared to the capital’s average of 65.89 per cent. 

 

From Tuesday 5 March 2019, Cadent Gas will be carrying out gas mains replacement work along Rainham Road South, between the junction of Reede Road and the junction of Dagenham Road. 

Work will be carried out in five phases between March and July 2019. During these phases, parking bays will have to be suspended and there won’t be access to Surrey Road from Rainham Road South at times that will be displayed on the road. 

 

Barking and Dagenham Council’s battle against grime crime continues with the release of the fourteenth CCTV Appeal film.

The video series catches people who are illegally dumping rubbish in the borough. The latest episode shows people brazenly dumping fridges, mattresses, umbrellas and even a boiler in different locations across the borough. 

A new programme to bring art and culture into social care services is coming to Barking and Dagenham, after New Town Culture launched at Barking Town Hall today (Thursday 28 February).

A food company in Barking and Dagenham has been ordered to pay more than £7,000 for selling undercooked chicken to a customer. 

 

Council officers investigated after a customer complained that Haji Baba Ltd, which operates within Asda Barking, sold them raw chicken drumsticks on Wednesday 13 September 2017. 

 

At a hearing at Barkingside Magistrates Court on Friday 8 February 2019, Haji Baba Ltd were found guilty and fined £3,500. They were also ordered to pay costs of £1,804 with a victim surcharge of £120. 

The votes are in and Barking and Dagenham has a new Young Mayor, Joshua Singh-Hill.

Singh-Hill, 16 of All Saints Catholic School will replace Wesley Oparaugo and will be the Young Mayor until February 2020.

The All Saints pupil has been part of the Barking and Dagenham Youth Forum for the last two years and felt now was the right time to stand to be Young Mayor.

“Becoming Young Mayor is an absolute privilege and an amazing opportunity.” 

A church formerly based in Barking and the landlord of the property it rented, have been ordered to pay a combined confiscation order of £196, 250.59 in contravention of a planning enforcement notice issued by Barking and Dagenham Council.

 

At a hearing at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Monday 18 February, both defendants were sentenced to confiscation orders under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.

 

Barking and Dagenham residents will get one last chance to have their say on how faith organisations operate in the borough, as the Faith and Belief Forum’s borough-wide questionnaire gets set to close on Friday 1 March. 

The questionnaire forms part of a collaboration with the Barking and Dagenham Faith Forum and the council. All three organisations are working together to develop a new policy, which will help to ensure that the contributions of the faith communities are recognised and celebrated.

Barking Learning Centre will be hosting a series of fortnightly Comic Book Workshops over the coming months, as part of the council’s Pen to Print programme.

The workshops commenced on 2 February and are taking place every other Saturday from 10am to 12pm until 6 April 2019.

Graphic novelist Wallis Eates will be in attendance, helping residents to improve their creative writing and artistic skills as they design their own comic strips.

Barking and Dagenham council is reminding all its green-fingered residents that there's still time to sign up for their Green Garden Waste permits.

With the weather slowly warming up, it won’t be long before we can get back out into the garden. From vegetable patch perfectionists to flower fans, the first step for anyone looking to spruce up their outdoor space this year should be to get their Green Garden Waste permit sorted.