Gascoigne

With the instillation of a popular new play area in Greatfields Park, residents living nearby highlighted their concerns as to children crossing the street on the bend in Greatfields Road.

Your Labour Gascoigne Ward Councillors spoke to the council, and within a matter of weeks, safety signage, and road markings were installed, before and after the bend, highlighting to drivers that more children will be crossing the road to enjoy the new play facilities.

Please do keep raising issues like this with us on the door step.

After speaking to residents around Greatfields School, your Labour Councillors in Gascoigne Ward put in a request to the council for a safer road crossing outside the School.

Installed last week, the new crossing area provides increased visibility and safer access for the pupils and parents when crossing King Edwards Road. Thanks to everyone who raised the issue with us. We’re really pleased this has now been installed.

Our Labour team were out again this weekend working with Roding Rubbish to clean up Greatfields Park.

As you’ll see we’ve made a real difference this weekend. We’re really grateful for everyone who helps keep our Borough tidy.

If you’d like to join Roding Rubbish, it’s a great way to get some gentle exercise and a bit of fresh air, whilst contributing to keeping Barking and Dagenham tidy. You can find out more on their Facebook page.

The play area had an overhaul over the summer and in keeping with the nautical theme of the area (being so close to the River Roding, London’s 3^rd largest river) the play equipment includes a pirate themed slide and climbing frame, rope activity apparatus and even a shark! Disability swings were also installed, in order for the play area to be fully inclusive by its users.

Ward Councillors Jack Shaw and Alison Cormack are to be seen regularly in the park litter picking. Local ward residents also play their part in picking up discarded litter, which helps to keep the park neat and tidy and ensuring that it retains its Green Flag status.

Greatfields Park still maintains its Victorian layout and also boasts having the oldest tree in the borough, which has its own special planting area.

Your Labour Ward Councillors have supported the purchase of a new picnic bench seating area beside the newly refurbished play area for families to enjoy the recreational area further.

Councillors have also used funding to light up the trees around the peripheral boundary of the park. The ambient lighting makes the park look super pretty and enhances the surrounding area.

Did you know that Greatfields Park was created in the early 1920s after Barking Urban District Council bought the land from Movers Farm for £330. The park was officially opened in 1926. The park was laid out as part of the construction of the Greatfields housing estate after the First World War.

More recently, residents will have noticed that the tennis courts have had a recent make over and this has proved to be another popular addition to the park! With help and support from the National Tennis Association, the courts can be booked in advance for use all year round.

Greatfields Park is one of seven parks in Barking and Dagenham to have again received a prestigious Green Flag Award, a mark of excellence given to well-managed parks and green spaces that meet the highest standards of cleanliness, safety, and community involvement.

The parks receiving the award this year include Barking Park, Beam Parklands, Eastbrookend Country Park, Greatfields Park, Mayesbrook Park, St. Chad’s Park and Tantony Green. 

The Green Flag Award scheme is managed by Keep Britain Tidy.

Labour Councillor Saima Ashraf, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Community Leadership and Engagement, said: “We’re so proud our parks have once again been recognised with seven Green Flag Awards. This achievement is a reflection of our amazing staff, volunteers and community groups who go above and beyond to maintain our parks and open spaces all year round.

Labour Councillor Kashif Haroon, Cabinet Member for Public Realm and Climate Change, added: “Maintaining seven award-winning parks is no small task, and this recognition is a testament to the hard work of our parks and cleansing teams who ensure these spaces are clean, safe, and enjoyable. Their commitment keeps our green spaces among the best in the country.”

Labour Councillors are committed to investing in and preserving our green spaces. You’ll frequently see us lending a hand with litter picking.

Over the past eight years, council figures show £25m has been invested into the borough’s parks, made possible by grant funding.