Locality 7 is well served by Zone 4 London Transport Buses , ( plus those of Greenline & Thamesway ) providing a comprehensive and frequent service ; and these are supplemented by 5 railway stations , - notably by District Line trains at Upney (for Longbridge & Eastbury), Becontree (Parsloes & Cambell) , Dagenham Heathway (Fanshawe & Goresbrook) , Dagenham East (Village & Alibon) - and by G.E.R at Dagenham Dock (for Goresbrook & River wards). All of Locality 7 wards have quite extensive grassed playing fields or parks immediately adjacent. Most roads are lined by mature trees, and there is the sound of birdsong plus the scent of seasonal garden flowers abounding throughout the Becontree estate. Unfortunately the health status of many people living here is rather poorer than the national average, according to interpretation of 1991 census data and G.P. information feedback. Generally there is a close correlation at ward level between illness and mortality levels on the one hand, and deprivation indices on the other. A high Jarman deprivation score is a pointer to raised rates of admission to hospital Accident & Emergency, as well as increased need for other services. Barking Hospital in Longbridge has recently opened a minor injury unit for local people, and an ambulance station serving the borough is located in Goresbrook Road . Locality 7 Fire Station is situated near the Ford Motor Works in River ward. Accidental deaths are relatively high for ages under 15 in Goresbrook and Manor , so in order to meet Health of The Nation targets it could be helpful to provide additional community health visitors to assist in undertaking household risk assessments, as well as introducing programmes for accident prevention among children. Such programmes may also assist reduction of the current infant mortality rate below the present ~ 0.8 % . The fertility rate ( a measure of the need for antenatal, postnatal and neonatal care requirements ) is about 70 per thousand women, and stillbirth mortality averages about 5 per 1000 births. Approximately 5% of mothers are teenagers , and about 33% of all births are outside of marriage in this locality. Total fertility rate is ~ 2 compared to a national average < 1.9 .

                      Barking & Dagenham Social Services Inspection Advisory Group ( helped by the council's 'Early Years Team' ) are legally required to ensure that every children's home, nursery , playgroup , creche, childminder and out of school group is inspected each year. Presently the task of doing this has been awarded to "Reconstruct" whose company won the contract on the strength of a profile allowing for 2 people instead of only 1 person to carry out each inspection . Further strengths of "Reconstruct" are that the lead inspectors have specific nursery qualifications and experience and are black women (helping redress the Borough's over-dependance on whites) , and are aided by a supporting white male. Information on all borough social services and health care provision facilities is widely publicised through newspapers and the local library service. In locality 7 there are public libraries situated in Manor , Fanshawe , Village and Parsloes + Cambell wards. Ford Road Day Nursery has a "toy library" where young children have access to a wide range of developmental toys which can be frequently changed. Monday to friday day nurseries are mostly intended for children of 0 - 5 years , who may be placed on the waiting list from birth, and it is the policy of the Social Services Dept. that children who have a disability or a particular need for day care ( which has usually been assessed by a social worker or health visitor ) will be given priority consideration for places at no cost to the parent. In addition to the Ford Road ( Village Ward ) Nursery having 50 places , there is Kingsley Hall in Hobart Road ( actually in Fanshawe , but also nearby Manor and Parsloes wards ) with 25 places. The Keppel Road Community Day Care nursery (Fanshawe) is managed by a registered charity - the Child Care Association of Barking & Dagenham - and offers for £11 per day a high quality care for children whose parents work .