Leyton (ward)
Encyclopedia
Leyton ward is one of the electoral wards of the London Borough of Waltham Forest, situated in London
, England. The ward is the known district of Leyton
and is part of the parliamentary constituency of Leyton and Wanstead
and the London Assembly
constituency of North East
.
Prominent landmarks are Leyton Orient's Brisbane Road ground and New Spitalfields Market
.
It is a very diverse, ethnically mixed ward. Sixty-three per cent of Leyton’s residents come from a Black or Minority Ethnic (BME) community - mostly from the African-Caribbean and Pakistani communities. Since May 2004, however, when the European Union
expanded to take in twelve new countries, there has been a rise in the number of Eastern European people coming to live in Leyton. Many have settled there to work, study and start a new life.
Leyton is a very deprived ward. It has the highest rate of teenage pregnancy in Waltham Forest, the highest rate of unemployment, the highest percentage of pupils receiving free school meal
s, and the Beaumont Road
estate - in the north of the ward - has been assessed as the fifth most deprived estate in Britain. Alongside two other large estates - the Oliver Close
and the Leyton Grange
- the existence of the Beaumont also makes Leyton the most densely populated ward in Waltham Forest. Some estimates are that up to forty per cent of residents are living in overcrowded conditions.
Despite the many serious challenges it faces, Leyton has a vibrant community and a lot of hope. Half of the ward’s population is less than thirty years old.
Leyton ward returns three borough councillors.
made spurious and potentially libellous allegations about her opponent, the homosexual Liberal Democrat
candidate Barry Smith. While Smith's Liberal Democrat running mates were elected, he was not, and Grell was elected to the third position. Grell was found guilty of making false statements to aid her campaign, in which she accused him of being a paedophile in her canvassing with local residents.
Presiding Judge Woolard said he did not accept her conspiracy theory, as "on two occasions in making statements that were untrue and damaging to one of your fellow candidates", and found her guilty of falsely slurring her opponent.
The by-election for Leyton ward on 14 February 2008 was won by Liberal Democrat Winnie Smith.
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England. The ward is the known district of Leyton
Leyton
Leyton is an area of north-east London and part of the London Borough of Waltham Forest, located north east of Charing Cross. It borders Walthamstow and Leytonstone; Stratford in Newham; and Homerton and Lower Clapton in the London Borough of Hackney....
and is part of the parliamentary constituency of Leyton and Wanstead
Leyton and Wanstead
Leyton and Wanstead is a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.- Boundaries :...
and the London Assembly
London Assembly
The London Assembly is an elected body, part of the Greater London Authority, that scrutinises the activities of the Mayor of London and has the power, with a two-thirds majority, to amend the mayor's annual budget. The assembly was established in 2000 and is headquartered at City Hall on the south...
constituency of North East
North East (London Assembly constituency)
North East is a constituency of the London Assembly. It is represented by Jennette Arnold who was directly elected at the 2004 London Assembly election after previously being elected by the Labour Party list in the 2000 London Assembly election....
.
Prominent landmarks are Leyton Orient's Brisbane Road ground and New Spitalfields Market
New Spitalfields Market
New Spitalfields Market is located in a site in Leyton, London Borough of Waltham Forest in east London which opened in 1991. It is Europe's leading horticultural market specialising in exotic fruit and vegetables....
.
It is a very diverse, ethnically mixed ward. Sixty-three per cent of Leyton’s residents come from a Black or Minority Ethnic (BME) community - mostly from the African-Caribbean and Pakistani communities. Since May 2004, however, when the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
expanded to take in twelve new countries, there has been a rise in the number of Eastern European people coming to live in Leyton. Many have settled there to work, study and start a new life.
Leyton is a very deprived ward. It has the highest rate of teenage pregnancy in Waltham Forest, the highest rate of unemployment, the highest percentage of pupils receiving free school meal
Free school meal
A Free School Meal, provided to a child or young person during a school break, is paid for by Government. For a child to qualify for a Free School Meal, their parent or carer must be receiving particular qualifying benefits as stated by Government...
s, and the Beaumont Road
Beaumont Road
Beaumont Road is a housing estate located in the Leyton ward of East London. It is the largest housing estate in the borough of Waltham Forest, and is now the last high rise estate in Leyton. All neighbouring high rise estates have been demolished...
estate - in the north of the ward - has been assessed as the fifth most deprived estate in Britain. Alongside two other large estates - the Oliver Close
Oliver Close
Oliver Close Estate is a housing estate in Leyton, London, England. From 1967 to 1996 the estate contained 500 flats in five high-rise buildings...
and the Leyton Grange
Leyton Grange
Leyton Grange is the second most deprived area of London Borough of Waltham Forest It include an estate that consists of a 10-storey tower and ten 4-storey courts owned by Forest Homes ....
- the existence of the Beaumont also makes Leyton the most densely populated ward in Waltham Forest. Some estimates are that up to forty per cent of residents are living in overcrowded conditions.
Despite the many serious challenges it faces, Leyton has a vibrant community and a lot of hope. Half of the ward’s population is less than thirty years old.
Leyton ward returns three borough councillors.
Grell controversy
In the council elections of 2006, the Labour candidate, Miranda GrellMiranda Grell
Miranda Agnes Jayne Grell is a former Labour Party politician and councillor for the London Borough of Waltham Forest. She was the first person to be found guilty of making false statements under the Representation of the People Act 1983 and banned for holding public office for three years as a...
made spurious and potentially libellous allegations about her opponent, the homosexual Liberal Democrat
Liberal Democrats
The Liberal Democrats are a social liberal political party in the United Kingdom which supports constitutional and electoral reform, progressive taxation, wealth taxation, human rights laws, cultural liberalism, banking reform and civil liberties .The party was formed in 1988 by a merger of the...
candidate Barry Smith. While Smith's Liberal Democrat running mates were elected, he was not, and Grell was elected to the third position. Grell was found guilty of making false statements to aid her campaign, in which she accused him of being a paedophile in her canvassing with local residents.
Presiding Judge Woolard said he did not accept her conspiracy theory, as "on two occasions in making statements that were untrue and damaging to one of your fellow candidates", and found her guilty of falsely slurring her opponent.
The by-election for Leyton ward on 14 February 2008 was won by Liberal Democrat Winnie Smith.