The Rising ‘Wealth-Poverty Gap’: How Affluence and Deprivation Now Sit Cheek by Jowl in England.
In Nunsthorpe, inhabitants occupy homes just a few metres from their more affluent counterparts in the adjacent Scartho village. One six-foot-tall barricade physically divides the two areas in the town of Grimsby, sealing off roads and walkways that once connected them.
“It’s the posh-poor divide,” remarked Serenity Colley, aged 37. “It’s been like this for as long as I’ve known. I don’t think they’ll bring it down because I suspect they’ll want to mix with us.”
A Stark Pattern Across the Country
Analysis of government figures reveals how deep disparity can run, at times over little more than a short distance of asphalt, a hedge row or a barrier. Decades of budget cuts and lack of funding have led to a situation where a majority of local authorities now contain a locality ranking as one of the most deprived in the nation.
The spread of deprivation has led to a sharp rise in the quantity of places where disadvantaged and well-off residents find themselves living side by side. Just a few years ago, only 65 of the most deprived neighbourhoods adjoined one of the least deprived. This number rose to 119 in the most recent data.
A Barrier Which Divides More Than Land
In Grimsby, the gap is the biggest in the country and painfully obvious. The wall is much more than a metaphorical divide; it causes very real problems for everyday life.
- The school commute that ought to take a quarter of an hour become an hour-long journey.
- Access to key services like supermarkets, educational facilities and care homes is made more difficult.
- The area can attract vandalism and loitering, with reports of rubbish being thrown over the wall and related issues.
“People strive to maintain a nice house and nice garden, and then you reside facing that,” said one local, motioning at the corroded metal wall.
Community Spirit Amidst Hardship
Within a local community centre, workers stress that support does not recognise addresses. “Where you live is not a reliable indicator of your level of challenge,” explained director Tracey Good.
Despite ranking in the lowest 10% for income, employment, education, health and crime, Nunsthorpe boasts a fierce loyalty and feeling of togetherness among its inhabitants. Meanwhile, the neighbouring area ranks among the least deprived 10% overall.
A Similar Story: An Estate in Kent
This phenomenon is repeated across the country. The Stanhope estate in Ashford, Kent, a 1960s housing development, is in the most disadvantaged tenth of neighbourhoods in the country. It is closely bordered by large houses built in the 2000s that sit in the top 10% for employment and living environment.
“They may possess bigger houses, but here there’s a stronger community,” said Phil Hockley, 63. “You’ll probably find many people over there don’t even speak to each other.”
The financial divide is evident: an typical family home costs about £275,000 on the estate, while on the other side comparable properties go for about £410,000.
Locals speak of a tangible sense of neglect. “Our neighbourhood gets ignored,” said resident Susan. “In this area our amenities have gradually disappeared, and most of the community problems here are related to poverty.”
The increase in these ‘inequality borders’ presents a portrait of an ever more segregated society, where prosperity and deprivation are frequently uncomfortably close neighbours.
