Residents of Barking and Dagenham are being invited to enjoy a jam-packed programme of events including exhibitions, workshops and performances, as part of this year’s Women’s Empowerment Month. 

 

Over the course of two days (19 and 26 February), volunteers planted trees at Barking and Dagenham’s ‘Forest of Thanks’, to recognise the incredible work local NHS staff and keyworkers have done and continue to do during the pandemic.

 

The council partnered with The Conservation Volunteers (TCV) who work across the UK to create healthier and happier communities, SUGi Projects, an international organisation specialising in urban rewilding and the Natwest Group who kindly donated all the trees for planting. 

 

Reducing air pollution, clamping down on anti-social behaviour, and tackling youth violence are just some of the areas in line to receive a cash boost, as part of plans agreed by Barking and Dagenham Council.

In total more than £1.7million is to be injected into schemes across the council.

One initiative will see £225,000 to be used to extend work on delivering the council’s air quality action plan, which aims to clean up the borough’s air by tackling air pollution, as well as creating new roles to handle environmental complaints such as noise nuisance and eyesore gardens.

On Wednesday 22 February, Her Worshipful the Mayor, Cllr Edna Fergus, was presented with a cheque of £1,000 for her nominated charities from Al-Madina Mosque in Barking, at the opening of a brand-new sensory service.

The Sensory Hive is a community-based service that has been inspired by occupational therapy, wellbeing and educational concepts and opened at Al-Madina Mosque.

A Romford skip hire company has been ordered to pay over £1,000 after it continuously ignored Fixed Penalty Notices (FPN) issued by Barking and Dagenham Council enforcement officers. 

 

During a routine patrol, on the 23 June 2020, K&J Skip Hire Ltd of Rowan Way, Romford was issued with a £100 FPN by enforcement officers for placing a builder’s skip on the highway at St Chads Gardens, Chadwell Heath without permission. The company was then issued with a second fine on 14 July 2020 for the same reason.

 

A man from Kent has been fined over £800 after he was caught dumping rubbish in a fly-tipping hot spot in Dagenham.



A CCTV camera placed by Barking and Dagenham Council on Gale Street, Dagenham caught the driver of a Mercedes-Benz and their passenger dumping rubbish into domestic waste bins without authorisation on 25 March 2021.



The camera clearly identified the number plate of the car and after a quick search on the DVLA database, an officer was able to see that the vehicle belonged to a Mr Eseoghene Odogun of New Romney, Kent.

A Dagenham market trader has pleaded guilty to selling counterfeit designer clothes at the old Dagenham Market.

 

Mr Amir Atta, of Twickenham sentenced last week (Tuesday 15 February) at Barkingside Magistrates Court and was ordered to pay a fine of £500, £1,850 in costs to Barking and Dagenham Council and a Victim Surcharge of £50, totalling £2,400.

 

Rising energy bills and the increasing cost of living have been in the spotlight everywhere in recent weeks, with the squeeze on household budgets projected to continue throughout the year. A key way that people can cut their energy bills and save money is by making their homes more energy efficient.

Students from schools across Barking and Dagenham have met with Cllr Darren Rodwell, Leader of the Council, to share their views on climate change.



The pupils from Barking Abbey, Sydney Russell and Robert Clack schools raised concerns about the number of cars on the borough’s streets and fly-tipping in parks and open spaces.

As part of the recovery from the pandemic, Barking and Dagenham Council has launched a brand-new advertising campaign to encourage local residents to rediscover Barking Market. The campaign has put the market traders at the heart of the creative concept and aims to celebrate the colourful individuals who make Barking Market such a special and unique part of life in the borough.