London Borough of Barking and Dagenham
Encyclopedia
In 1801, the civil parishes that form the modern borough had a total population of 1,937; and the area was characterised by farming, woodland and the fishing fleet at Barking
. This last industry employed 1,370 men and boys by 1850, but by the end of the century had ceased to exist; replaced by train deliveries of fresh fish from the East Coast ports. The population rose slowly through the 19th century, as the district became built up; and new industries developed around Barking.
The population rose dramatically between 1921 and 1931, when the London County Council
developed the Becontree Estate. This public housing
development of 27,000 homes housed over 100,000 people, split between the then urban district
councils of Ilford
, Dagenham
and Barking
. People were rehoused from the slum
s of the East End. In 1931, the Ford Motor Company
relocated to a 500 acres (2 km²) site at Dagenham
, and in 1932 the District Line
was extended to Upminster
; bringing further development to the area.
After World War II
, further public housing projects were built to rehouse the many Londoners made homeless in the Blitz
. As industry declined during the 1960s, the population entered a long decline, but has now begun to rise again with new housing developments on brownfield sites.
According to the Census of 2001 Barking and Dagenham had a population of 165,500, 48.2% of which were male, and 51.8% female. Of these, 85.4% described themselves as white; 10.5% black; 7.2% Asian; 2.4% of mixed race and 1.7% Chinese.
88.98% of these were born in England, 1.53% elsewhere in the UK, 1.35% in the Republic of Ireland, 0.83% in the EU, and 9.31% elsewhere.
The borough consists of two parliamentary constituencies: Barking
; and the new constituency of Dagenham and Rainham
. The borough is within the City and East
London Assembly
constituency, returning John Biggs AM, as the directly elected Assembly Member. Barkling and Dagenham is part of the London constituency
in the European Parliament
.
The council has a Mayor, who is elected at the council annual general meeting by councillors. The Mayor must be a serving councillor, although the role of Mayor is non-political. The Mayor chairs council meetings; and performs ceremonial duties in the Borough.
There are 17 wards
in the Borough, each returning 3 councillors, making 51 in total. At the Barking and Dagenham Council election on 4 May 2006 the Labour Party
were returned with 36 councillors. From 2006-2010 the British National Party
formed the largest opposition party on the council with 12 councillors (later reduced to 11 by-elections), the Conservative Party
had two (later reduced to one by-elections), and an independent was elected.
The Barking and Dagenham Council election
on 6 May 2010
; all 51 councillors elected were from the Labour Party
.
, Germany Tczew
, Poland
is a learning facility providing a range of courses leading to recognised qualifications. It also includes a library with free public internet access, the Council's first One Stop Shop, conference and meeting space, a gallery and a café.
The University of East London
formerly had a campus in the borough, however this has now closed with all campuses now being located in the neighbouring borough of Newham
.
and London Overground
. London Buses routes 5, 62, 66, 86, 103, 128, 145, 150, 169, 173, 174, 175, 238, 247, 287, 296, 362, 364, 366, 368, 387, 499, EL1, EL2, School buses route 687 and Nightbus route N15.
Of the two stations; Dagenham is the busier, attending over 2,000 incidents in 2006/2007.
London Fire Brigade - Barking and Dagenham Profile
Barking
Barking is a suburban town in the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham, in East London, England. A retail and commercial centre situated in the west of the borough, it lies east of Charing Cross. Barking was in the historic county of Essex until it was absorbed by Greater London. The area is...
. This last industry employed 1,370 men and boys by 1850, but by the end of the century had ceased to exist; replaced by train deliveries of fresh fish from the East Coast ports. The population rose slowly through the 19th century, as the district became built up; and new industries developed around Barking.
The population rose dramatically between 1921 and 1931, when the London County Council
London County Council
London County Council was the principal local government body for the County of London, throughout its 1889–1965 existence, and the first London-wide general municipal authority to be directly elected. It covered the area today known as Inner London and was replaced by the Greater London Council...
developed the Becontree Estate. This public housing
Public housing
Public housing is a form of housing tenure in which the property is owned by a government authority, which may be central or local. Social housing is an umbrella term referring to rental housing which may be owned and managed by the state, by non-profit organizations, or by a combination of the...
development of 27,000 homes housed over 100,000 people, split between the then urban district
Urban district
In the England, Wales and Ireland, an urban district was a type of local government district that covered an urbanised area. Urban districts had an elected Urban District Council , which shared local government responsibilities with a county council....
councils of Ilford
Municipal Borough of Ilford
Ilford was a civil parish and local government district in south west Essex, England from 1888 to 1965, covering the town Ilford. The district saw a considerable rise in population throughout its life, caused by the expansion of the built-up area of London, and became one of the most populous...
, Dagenham
Municipal Borough of Dagenham
Dagenham was a local government district in south west Essex, England from 1926 to 1965 covering the parish of Dagenham. Initially created as an urban district, it was incorporated as a municipal borough in 1938...
and Barking
Municipal Borough of Barking
Barking was a local government district in south west Essex, England from 1882 to 1965. It included the town of Barking, eastern Beckton and the south western part of the Becontree estate. The district was within the Metropolitan Police District and experienced a steady increase in population...
. People were rehoused from the slum
Slum
A slum, as defined by United Nations agency UN-HABITAT, is a run-down area of a city characterized by substandard housing and squalor and lacking in tenure security. According to the United Nations, the percentage of urban dwellers living in slums decreased from 47 percent to 37 percent in the...
s of the East End. In 1931, the Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
relocated to a 500 acres (2 km²) site at Dagenham
Dagenham
Dagenham is a large suburb in East London, forming the eastern part of the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham and located east of Charing Cross. It was historically an agrarian village in the county of Essex and remained mostly undeveloped until 1921 when the London County Council began...
, and in 1932 the District Line
District Line
The District line is a line of the London Underground, coloured green on the Tube map. It is a "sub-surface" line, running through the central area in shallow cut-and-cover tunnels. It is the busiest of the sub-surface lines. Out of the 60 stations served, 25 are underground...
was extended to Upminster
Upminster
Upminster is a suburban town in northeast London, England, and part of the London Borough of Havering. Located east-northeast of Charing Cross, it is one of the locally important district centres identified in the London Plan, and comprises a number of shopping streets and a large residential...
; bringing further development to the area.
After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, further public housing projects were built to rehouse the many Londoners made homeless in the Blitz
The Blitz
The Blitz was the sustained strategic bombing of Britain by Nazi Germany between 7 September 1940 and 10 May 1941, during the Second World War. The city of London was bombed by the Luftwaffe for 76 consecutive nights and many towns and cities across the country followed...
. As industry declined during the 1960s, the population entered a long decline, but has now begun to rise again with new housing developments on brownfield sites.
According to the Census of 2001 Barking and Dagenham had a population of 165,500, 48.2% of which were male, and 51.8% female. Of these, 85.4% described themselves as white; 10.5% black; 7.2% Asian; 2.4% of mixed race and 1.7% Chinese.
88.98% of these were born in England, 1.53% elsewhere in the UK, 1.35% in the Republic of Ireland, 0.83% in the EU, and 9.31% elsewhere.
Governance
Barking (UK Parliament constituency)
Barking is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election. It has elected Labour MPs since its creation in 1945, usually with strong majorities.- Boundaries :The...
; and the new constituency of Dagenham and Rainham
Dagenham and Rainham (UK Parliament constituency)
Dagenham and Rainham is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election...
. The borough is within the City and East
City and East (London Assembly constituency)
City and East is a constituency represented in the London Assembly. Since its creation in 2000 it has been represented by Labour's John Biggs.-Boundaries:...
London Assembly
London Assembly
The London Assembly is an elected body, part of the Greater London Authority, that scrutinises the activities of the Mayor of London and has the power, with a two-thirds majority, to amend the mayor's annual budget. The assembly was established in 2000 and is headquartered at City Hall on the south...
constituency, returning John Biggs AM, as the directly elected Assembly Member. Barkling and Dagenham is part of the London constituency
London (European Parliament constituency)
London is a constituency of the European Parliament. It currently elects 8 MEPs using the d'Hondt method of party-list proportional representation.- Boundaries :The constituency corresponds to Greater London, in the south east of the United Kingdom....
in the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
.
The council has a Mayor, who is elected at the council annual general meeting by councillors. The Mayor must be a serving councillor, although the role of Mayor is non-political. The Mayor chairs council meetings; and performs ceremonial duties in the Borough.
There are 17 wards
Wards of the United Kingdom
A ward in the United Kingdom is an electoral district at sub-national level represented by one or more councillors. It is the primary unit of British administrative and electoral geography .-England:...
in the Borough, each returning 3 councillors, making 51 in total. At the Barking and Dagenham Council election on 4 May 2006 the Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
were returned with 36 councillors. From 2006-2010 the British National Party
British National Party
The British National Party is a British far-right political party formed as a splinter group from the National Front by John Tyndall in 1982...
formed the largest opposition party on the council with 12 councillors (later reduced to 11 by-elections), the Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
had two (later reduced to one by-elections), and an independent was elected.
The Barking and Dagenham Council election
Barking and Dagenham Council election, 2010
The 2010 Barking and Dagenham Council election took place on 6 May 2010 to elect members of Barking and Dagenham London Borough Council in London, England....
on 6 May 2010
London local elections, 2010
Local government elections took place in London, and some other parts of the United Kingdom on Thursday 6 May 2010. Polling stations were open between 7am and 10pm....
; all 51 councillors elected were from the Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
.
Twinning
London Borough of Barking and Dagenham is twinned with: WittenWitten
Witten is a university city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is the home of the Witten/Herdecke University, the first private university in Germany.-Bordering municipalities:* Bochum* Dortmund* Herdecke* Wetter * Sprockhoevel* Hattingen...
, Germany Tczew
Tczew
Tczew is a town on the Vistula River in Eastern Pomerania, Kociewie, northern Poland with 60,279 inhabitants . It is an important railway junction with a classification yard dating to the Prussian Eastern Railway...
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
Education
There are many schools and further education facilities in the borough. Situated near the Town Hall, the Barking Learning CentreBarking Learning Centre
The Barking Learning Centre, in Barking, East London, is a community-based learning facility. The centre hosts a library, a cafe, an art gallery, a one stop shop for enquiries, and offers a range of courses and qualifications...
is a learning facility providing a range of courses leading to recognised qualifications. It also includes a library with free public internet access, the Council's first One Stop Shop, conference and meeting space, a gallery and a café.
The University of East London
University of East London
The University of East London is a university located in the London Borough of Newham, East London, England, based at two campuses in Stratford and Docklands areas...
formerly had a campus in the borough, however this has now closed with all campuses now being located in the neighbouring borough of Newham
Newham
-Places:* London Borough of Newham, England* Newham, Lincolnshire, England* Newham, Northumberland, England* Newham, Victoria, Australia-People:* Billy Newham , English cricketer* Edgar Newham, Australian rugby league footballer...
.
Transport
The London Borough of Barking And Dagenham is served by the Hammersmith & City line, the District LineDistrict Line
The District line is a line of the London Underground, coloured green on the Tube map. It is a "sub-surface" line, running through the central area in shallow cut-and-cover tunnels. It is the busiest of the sub-surface lines. Out of the 60 stations served, 25 are underground...
and London Overground
London Overground
London Overground is a suburban rail network in London and Hertfordshire. It has been operated by London Overground Rail Operations since 2007 as part of the National Rail network, under the franchise control and branding of Transport for London...
. London Buses routes 5, 62, 66, 86, 103, 128, 145, 150, 169, 173, 174, 175, 238, 247, 287, 296, 362, 364, 366, 368, 387, 499, EL1, EL2, School buses route 687 and Nightbus route N15.
London Fire Brigade
The London Borough of Barking and Dagenham has two fire stations within its boundary; Barking and Dagenham. Barking fire station operates two pumping appliances, a bulk foam unit and a command unit. The support units that are operated here will cover a large selection of station grounds and areas. Dagenham fire station operates two pumping appliances and a hydraulic platform.Of the two stations; Dagenham is the busier, attending over 2,000 incidents in 2006/2007.
London Fire Brigade - Barking and Dagenham Profile