This is a community profile for Locality 7 of Barking & Dagenham , which includes the electoral wards of Longbridge , Manor , Parsloes , Cambell & Goresbrook in the parish / parliament constituency of Barking ; and Fanshawe, Village and River in the Dagenham parish / constituency :- all polling districts being in European Parliament constituency ' London-East ' . The area was first visited during a ''neighbourhood walkabout ' on Wednesday 22nd May 1996 - preceding subsequent study placements within the borough during June to October. The principal idea of creating this Community Profile is to relate gathered statistics for the local population ( e.g. in terms of who they are , their health and the recorded usages of Borough facilities ) to the issues of planning for present and future needs , especially those needs catered for by the local Health Authorities and social services. Comparisons of this ' Locality 7 ' are made with other nearby areas , as well as with the wider community , in order better to gain a perspective of the true importance to be attached to local information.

                           The majority of this locality's approximately 62,000 population live within the Becontree Housing Estate , excepting only those of Longbridge in the west, parts of Village to the east, and some of River and Goresbrook in the south. Although Village includes the neighbourhood of 'Old Dagenham' with its history of habitation since the 7th Century ; and Cambell has evidence of artefacts more than 4000 years old , the greater part has been farmland until 1920s. The 1919 Housing Act authorised London County Council to purchase 3000 acres to build what was claimed as the largest pre-WorldWar2 municipal housing estate in the world. This area was found to be the best site available for extended working-class housing development so near to London, and the land was compulsorily purchased from local farmers. By 1938 more than 25,700 dwellings housing over 115,600 persons had been built on the estate, which also extends north to much of ' Locality 6 '. Physically the estate consists almost entirely of small two-storied houses with gardens, built in neo-Georgian styled short terraces at a density of 12 houses to the acre ( according to the design of Mr Topham Forrest - LCC architect ). A few shopping centres are provided at road junctions, but there is no town centre here. The London Borough of Barking & Dagenham was formed in 1965 and includes all of these wards within its boundaries. Local industries include car manufacture at Ford motor works in River & Goresbrook; coal & oil depot trafficking via Dagenham Dock in Goresbrook; and in Cambell a freight container traffic shipment terminal , - as well as Rippleside & Alfreds Way Industrial Estates with their chemicals, paints, plastics , rubber, pharmaceuticals, and wood products manufacturing. The Maybells and Wayside Commercial Estates both in Cambell ward also employ many local people. 1991 Census figures continue to be quoted as a best available source of statistical information concerning some aspects of local demography; and of the seven Localities of Barking & Havering Health Authority , ' 7 ' is recorded as having the very least % of employer/managers and professionals ; but the highest % of persons employed in skilled or semi-skilled manual work. Unsurprisingly - all 20 of the wards' elected local councillors are labour party, and 13 are men. Cllr Jamu of River ward - a sikh - is the only non-white representative. River ward claims ~ 10% non-white residents ; but elsewhere the proportion varies from ~2 - 4% . Children under 5 years approximate between 5% of population in Longbridge to 9% in River and village: while those over 75 constitute only 4% in River but 9% in Longbridge, 11% in Manor. Overall , the locality has about 18% of over 65's, and this is projected to rise by 1 or 2% by the year 2000. The Jarman (Under Privileged Area ) score varies from -1.3 in Longbridge to >20 + in poorer Village and Goresbrook: but in planning for future needs one should also bear in mind the existence of even worse areas of deprivation nearby within the Borough - such as in Gascoigne ( UPA 55+ ).