Barking mad? How people in England’s ‘least friendly’ borough feel about the ranking
Does the description from a study ranking all of England’s 296 boroughs for friendliness ring true for people in the east London town?
TL;DR
- Barking and Dagenham ranked as England's least friendly borough in a study measuring neighborly interaction, loneliness, belonging, local pride, and civic participation.
- Market trader Alice Fokuo expresses surprise at the ranking, citing friendly interactions with neighbors and customers.
- Concerns were raised about the market losing its community role due to online shopping and a lack of seating in public spaces.
- Adrian Stan, a cleaner, appreciates friendly spots but notes the need for more seating, better upkeep of public spaces, and support for rough sleepers.
- Rana Meybeci, a mother of two, feels unsafe in Barking town center due to litter, anti-social behavior, and drug addiction, but finds a good community in the newer Barking Riverside development.
- Long-term resident George Mathew describes his area in Barking Riverside as calm and friendly, with helpful neighbors, but agrees that social and public spaces need more development.
- The borough faces challenges including debt, deprivation, poverty, homelessness, and a lack of amenities in newer developments.