Help to tackle the coronavirus pandemic has come in the form of essential personal protection equipment delivered to Barking and Dagenham Council from friends in the far east.

Friends of the borough from as far as Hong Kong and China have offered their support in the fight against the pandemic.

ASF Group, Hong Kong donated 1000 face masks, 10 boxes of disposable gloves and 20 500ml bottles of hand sanitizers, while the and the Peoples Government of Qingyuan Municipality in China have sent 30,000 disposable protective masks.

Businesses across Barking and Dagenham will be supported through the coronavirus pandemic with a relief package of just under £39m.

This is a mixture of Business Rates Relief and grants to be paid to eligible businesses. The council is immediately applying £14m of the Government’s Business Rates relief to eligible businesses, and where it holds bank account details, will start making grant payments to eligible businesses from the Government’s Coronavirus business grants programme from today, Thursday 9 April.

A 7 year old resident has been making good use of her time away from school by using her talents to create a colourful artwork to thank the borough’s essential workers – her local bin collectors.

Clara Baxter from Dagenham, a Year 2 pupil at Thomas Arnold Primary School, did a painting in honour of her borough’s refuse collectors, thanking them and reminding them to stay safe.

Clara said she decided to create the painting “to say thank you and to make people happy.”

Residents of Barking and Dagenham, in particular those using the borough’s parks and open spaces are being reminded to pay attention to and practise the social distancing rules if they want to continue using them.

The council is increasing patrols in its parks following a weekend which saw over 150 moved on from the parks for ignoring the rules, despite signs being put up and play areas taped off.

Hundreds of selfless volunteers who have been helping the borough’s most vulnerable residents during the coronavirus crisis have been appreciated for their efforts by Cllr Saima Ashraf, the council’s Deputy Leader.

In a letter to the nearly 300 volunteers, Cllr Ashraf who is also the Cabinet Member for Community Leadership and Engagement, wrote to thank them for their support with BD-CAN. She said:

A joint operation between Barking and Dagenham Council enforcement officers and the police, last Thursday, saw them close down four shops that have remained open during the coronavirus outbreak despite government guidance which asked them to close. 

Despite certain shops being given clear guidance from the government to temporarily close if they’re not an essential, these shops remained open. 

These shops included two in Barking - a hairdressers and a phone shop. 

During these unsettling times there are some people who, unfortunately, may try and make a quick profit out of the vulnerable.  

Council trading standards officers have become aware of a number of coronavirus related scams that are currently taking place across the country and things that residents, especially the vulnerable need to look out for.  

While you’re keeping yourself busy at home make sure you keep a watch out for the following scams:  

During this Covid-19 crisis, it has never been more important to have a safe space to share stories. Write On! the quarterly print magazine and online forum is published by Pen to Print, a project born in Barking and Dagenham. Funded by the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham and the Arts Council, Pen to Print links local writing communities into the publishing industry by showcasing the work of emerging writers. 

 

Emergency staff and frontline workers helping vulnerable people can now apply to park for free in council-owned car parks and parking bays across Barking and Dagenham during the coronavirus pandemic.

The council is making key worker permits applications available from today, in a move to help these important staff continue providing vital services to the local community. Residents will also be able to park for 5 mins in CPZ zones without a permit, so they can drop off essential items outside loved ones’ doors, while socially distancing.

Enforcement officers from Barking and Dagenham Council have been out in force shutting down a number of businesses operating illegally in the borough despite government guidance asking them to close during the coronavirus lockdown.  

During a planned operation, enforcement officers identified and shut down nine businesses operating when they should have been temporarily closed down.  

The businesses ranged from vape shops, beauty suppliers and hand car washes to scrap metal yards.