Labour has won a council by-election in Redbridge by just a single vote. Helen Mullis was elected as the new councillor for Hainault ward following the by-election on Thursday (1st) with 835 votes, one more than independent candidate Glen Haywood with 834. Reform UK’s Raj Forhad was third with 611. Cllr Mullis was a teacher for ten years before joining the Christian Education Project, a charity that works with schools to teach Christianity. Labour’s victory last night came amid a national surge in support for Reform UK, which dominated local elections across the country. Labour, despite a landslide victory in July’s general election, is now widely underperforming. In another close race, Reform UK’s Sarah Pochin was elected the MP for Runcorn – beating Labour by just six votes. She overturned a Labour majority of 14,696. The Hainault by-election was called after former councillor Sam Gould stepped down, having pleaded guilty to exposing himself to a 13-year-old girl in March. He was handed a 22-week suspended sentence at Barkingside Magistrates’ Court on Monday April 28 and was ordered to complete 40 days of rehabilitation. He had been seen on two separate occasions in February and March performing a sex act on himself in a parked car. At the time, he was working as a senior parliamentary caseworker for Health Secretary Wes Streeting’s office in Ilford North. The Labour minister congratulated Cllr Mullis on her narrow victory last night, as well as second-placed Haywood on his “brilliant and clean” campaign. Mr Streeting added: “This by-election was called in the worst possible circumstances. I still feel extremely angry and betrayed, especially for the victims of Mr Gould’s crimes. “I do know that Helen represents the kind of integrity we need in politics. I’m really sorry to the people of Hainault that this election was necessary.” Mr Streeting himself was almost unseated in the July general election by independent candidate Leanne Mohamad, who attacked Labour for its record in the constituency and stance on the Israel-Hamas war. She came within 540 votes of beating the Labour stalwart in what was previously considered a safe seat. Labour lost its last by-election in the borough, when Ilford Independents candidate Noor Begum was elected a councillor for the Mayfield ward in late March. The seat was previously held by former council leader Jas Athwal, who stood down in February after being elected MP for Ilford South. In Hainault, 2,903 votes were cast. Turnout was 27.10 per cent. About Latest Posts Sebastian Mann Local democracy reporter Latest posts by Sebastian Mann (see all) Providing for special needs children Tel: 07765530245 Email: sales@yellowad.co.uk Yellow Advertiser68 Crowhill,Godmanchester,Huntingdon,PE29 9NR Tel: 07765530245 Email: mickferris@yellowad.co.uk The London Borough of Redbridge has received a much-needed boost in social housing with the completion of the first 23 of 98 new affordable homes at Barkingside Yard The remaining homes are set to be delivered by summer helping to address the capital’s housing crisis Developed by Peabody in partnership with Vistry Group and Places for London (Transport for London’s commercial property company) this regeneration project has transformed a former builder’s yard into high-quality affordable accommodation for those on the council’s waiting list Designed by architects Sheppard Robson and ECE Architecture Barkingside Yard is more than just a housing development—it also improves local infrastructure Enhancements include new pedestrian crossings and reconfigured station car parking to improve accessibility and safety Barkingside Yard prioritises sustainability with: As part of the planning agreement with Redbridge Council the development will also contribute to improvements at Fairlop Waters Country Park and Turner & Townsend Project Management gathered at Barkingside Yard on 30 January Regional Managing Director of Development at Peabody said:“These new homes provide essential affordable housing while also enhancing the local community with sustainable and green spaces We look forward to welcoming residents later this year and seeing the positive impact of this development.” Senior Development Manager at Places for London added:“We’re proud to bring much-needed affordable homes to Barkingside while prioritising accessibility and sustainability This project is a step forward in creating well-connected Deputy Mayor for Housing & Residential Development supported by the Mayor’s Affordable Homes Programme delivers vital social housing alongside improved public spaces and enhanced cycle parking—building a fairer With all 98 homes set for completion by summer Barkingside Yard is a shining example of collaborative urban regeneration providing quality housing while enriching the local community Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals A Building Magazine Leading in the field of building news reporting, Building Design & Construction Magazine is one of the most respected and referenced sources of building news, features, interviews. 1st Floor, Turnbridge Mills. Quay Street, Huddersfield. West Yorkshire. HD1 6QT enquiries@bdcmagazine.co.uk+44 1484 437312 Subscribe our newsletter to get the best stories into your inbox! © 2025 BDC Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals Notifications can be managed in browser preferences. I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Health Secretary Wes Streeting has expressed his horror after one of his assistants admitted two counts of indecent exposure Sam Gould, 33, of Hornchurch, Essex, pleaded guilty to the crimes at Barkingside Magistrates’ Court in Ilford on Monday and was bailed until sentencing on April 7. The Sun newspaper reported that Gould had exposed himself to a 13-year-old girl in Romford, east London, on Saturday, and followed her into a cul-de-sac where she began banging on doors for help. Her mother told the newspaper that the girl is now scared to leave the house. Mr Streeting said: “There are no words to express my horror that a mother and her daughter have been put through this ordeal, and will have to deal with the trauma of it for some time to come. “As soon as I was made aware of his arrest he was suspended, and as soon as the guilty plea was entered I took immediate steps to sack him through official HR processes. “There are no excuses for his appalling behaviour. I am calling for him, again, to resign as a Redbridge councillor immediately.” Gould resigned from his job with Mr Streeting and has also been suspended from the Labour Party. The Sun reported that the second count of indecent exposure related to a 25-year-old woman in Hornchurch last month. Samuel Gould has been forbidden from contacting girls under 18 for seven years Health Secretary Wes Streeting’s former aide has avoided a prison sentence after exposing himself to and following a teenage girl Samuel Gould of Hornchurch in Essex, who was also a councillor in Redbridge, was seen by the 13-year-old masturbating in his parked car in Romford on March 8 She hid and knocked on nearby flats in an attempt to get help Gould was also seen by a woman masturbating in a car with the windows down in Hornchurch on February 9 Gould pleaded guilty at the same court in March to two counts of exposure. District Judge Paul Donegan sentenced Gould to 22 weeks’ imprisonment, suspended for two years, on Monday. Gould was also made subject to a seven-year sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) meaning he cannot contact girls under 18. Prosecutor Jeannel Ambrose said the teenager targeted by Gould was “particularly vulnerable”. His actions also left his second victim feeling “distressed and violated”. Gould resigned from his roles with Mr Streeting and Redbridge Council and was suspended from the Labour Party after his conviction. Mr Streeting previously said: “There are no words to express my horror that a mother and her daughter have been put through this ordeal, and will have to deal with the trauma of it for some time to come. “As soon as I was made aware of his arrest he was suspended, and as soon as the guilty plea was entered I took immediate steps to sack him through official HR processes.” Nicholas Jennaway, defending, said Gould had been going through difficulties at work and his personal life at the time of the incidents. Mr Jennaway said that Gould followed the girl in a “very panicked state” to try to talk to her, having not seen her approaching. He said that Gould, a “shy, introverted person” and a man of previous good character, “apologises profusely” for the harm caused. Gould accepts that his role in public service means he is held to a “higher standard”, Mr Jennaway said. Samuel Gould was sentenced at Barkingside Magistrates’ Court on Monday An ambitious new heart to the eastern fringes of the capital DK-CM Limited for the London Borough of Redbridge radically reinvents Barkingside town centre It provides a new ‘heart’ in the form of a civic square and high street park supported by a range of interventions along the high street and out into the Green Belt beyond The £2.1M project has transformed a series of previously neglected spaces around Fullwell Cross Library and Leisure Centre designed in the 1960s by Frederick Gibberd Those unloved spaces were turned into ones supporting activity bringing the internal generosity of the civic buildings into the public realm modelled on Gibberd’s clerestory windows lines a previously blank wall to create a town square Building entrances have become open air ‘rooms’ a new public park was created out of a disused pool yard bringing it back to life as a public space connecting to the high street and providing a new leafy area in the town centre DK-CM brought its architecture into playful and generous dialogue with the suburban high street in a way that riffs on suburban vernacular but also on European traditions of public space evening markets and community gatherings and the park has become a de facto part of the high street The project grew out of open and ambitious conversations with the local community a community group who are advocates of the scheme and are active in promoting the spaces and organising events there Local swimming groups have spoken of their delight at being able to swim under dappled sunlight provided by the park’s new trees whilst the town square is now the de facto heart of the town and is never empty Go back to the MacEwen home page Latest articlesRIBAJ Spec: Architecture for Housing and Residential Development Webinar20 May 2025SpecRIBAJ Spec: Architecture for Housing and Residential Development Webinar Chelsea Waterfront integrates public realm and affordable housing to hold out the possibility of an inclusive future Baillie Baillie Architects used contemporary techniques while drawing inspiration from local traditions Sign up to receive regular briefings, updates and our weekly newsletter – all designed to bring you the best stories from RIBAJ.com Sign up to receive regular briefings, updates and our weekly newsletter – all designed to bring you the best stories from RIBAJ.com updates and our weekly newsletter – all designed to bring you the best stories from RIBAJ.com Fullwell Cross Library will temporarily close from Sunday This will enable refurbishment works to take place throughout the children’s and adult lending libraries The library has been awarded £380,000 from the Library Improvement Fund for an ambitious transformation programme for Fullwell Cross Library The funding will support essential library upgrades customers can visit any of our other libraries to return Renewals and reservations can also be made online or on the mylibrary app The virtual library is available 24/7 by visiting our Online Resources page The library halls will remain open until further notice and will be refurbished later in the year more dynamic future for Fullwell Cross Library and our community As we temporarily close our doors for refurbishment we pave the way for an ambitious development project of this much-loved library customers can use any of our neighbouring libraries or take advantage of our virtual library.” Corporate Director of Regeneration and Culture said: "We’re very excited to start work as part of our £380,000 investment programme which will deliver significant improvements to this much-loved community facility in the heart of Barkingside "The funding will be vital in helping to create a more modern and flexible library at Fullwell Cross It will offer a range of new activities while still respecting and celebrating the heritage of this iconic building it will offer users a far more contemporary and enriching experience that embraces the digital age people are welcome to use our other nearby libraries For further updates on the Fullwell Cross Library renovation project, visit the Fullwell Cross Library page The project is one of 43 successful library projects being funded through the libraries improvement strand of the Government’s Cultural Investment Fund administered by Arts Council England - the national development agency for creativity and culture The £20.5 million Libraries Improvement Fund transforms public library services in England by helping them upgrade their buildings and improve their digital infrastructure so they are better positioned to respond to changing user needs with 52 projects already benefiting from around £10 million of funding in previous rounds Proposals to deliver a 100 per cent affordable residential scheme next to Barkingside Tube station have been given the go-ahead by Redbridge Council have been working together to bring the development forward alongside Transport for London (TfL)’s wholly owned commercial property company (TTL Properties Ltd) Predominately covering the area previously used as a builder’s yard next to Barkingside Tube station and three-bedroom properties and provide a mixture of both shared ownership which offers an affordable route into homeownership Property Development Manager at TfL said: “Working with Vistry Partnerships and Peabody we’re thrilled that these plans to deliver 98 brand new affordable homes next to Barkingside Tube station have been approved by Redbridge Council it is vital that we continue to use our land to help tackle the housing crisis and deliver the high quality homes the capital urgently needs This scheme also makes sure that the local community benefits by enhancing the public realm including improved cycle parking and new pedestrian crossings to support the local area.” new residents will be able to easily travel sustainably and affordably across the capital using public transport – taking approximately 40 minutes to get to central London or 20 minutes to Stratford one of the capital’s key interchanges The new homes have been designed to be car-free with the exception of blue badge parking for residents with cycle storage available within each of the buildings to further encourage active travel. While the development will also include upgrades to Station Approach the majority of the station car parking will remain Sustainability is also designed into the scheme with the development powered using renewable forms of energy such as air source heat pumps along with the potential for solar panels new allotments and communal gardens for residents will also be delivered as part of the scheme this focus on sustainability will help improve local biodiversity alongside much of the existing flora being retained and enhanced London Managing Director at Vistry Partnerships said: “As one of the largest partnership-focused developers in the UK Barkingside is exactly the type of project we love to deliver We’re transforming an area of brownfield land into high quality affordable homes for our partners Peabody and Transport for London creating genuine opportunities for Londoners to own and rent a new home.” The wider scheme will use some of the existing station car parking and surrounding area to deliver a range of improvements for the local community and to enhance the public space outside of Barkingside Tube station and along Station Approach the station car parking will be reconfigured new pedestrian crossings and solar lighting will be provided and improved public cycle parking will be delivered through a new purpose-built secure facility The proposals would also contribute towards future play space at the Fairlop Waters Country Park Regional Managing Director North East London at Peabody said: “Redbridge Council’s approval of plans to transform this builder’s yard into 98 new affordable homes for rent and shared ownership in Barkingside is great news for the community sets the standard for sustainable neighbourhoods New residents will enjoy the balance of fantastic transport links directly into the city with enhanced green space on their doorstep Along with Transport for London and Vistry Partnerships we look forward to starting on this 100 per cent affordable scheme next year and welcoming new residents in 2025.” Rail Business Daily’s market leading news and profile enhancement services enable your business to tell your story to the wider rail community Engage with thousands of readers via our rail news platforms including the hugely popular 7am newsletter rail news website and Rail Director magazine you agree to us sending you emails on behalf of railbusinessdaily.com