🔗 Share this article A Growing ‘Wealth-Poverty Gap’: How Affluence and Hardship Are Found Cheek by Jowl in Across England. Within Nunsthorpe, inhabitants live in homes only several yards from their more affluent neighbours in nearby Scartho village. A 1.8-metre-high wall literally divides the two communities in the town of Grimsby, sealing off paths and streets that previously linked them. “This is the divide between rich and poor,” remarked Serenity Colley, 37. “It has been there since I’ve known. I doubt they’ll bring it down because I don’t think they’ll want to associate with us.” A Stark Pattern Across the Country Analysis of government figures reveals how deep disparity often exists, sometimes across little more than a short distance of asphalt, a hedge row or a barrier. Years 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 poorest in the country. This geographical widening of deprivation has led to a sharp rise in the number of places where deprived and affluent people find themselves living side by side. In 2019, just 65 of the most deprived areas bordered one of the wealthiest. This number rose to 119 in the most recent data. A Wall That Divides More Than Space At this Lincolnshire site, the gap is the most pronounced in the UK and starkly apparent. The wall is much more than a metaphorical divide; it causes very real problems for daily routines. The school commute that should take 15-20 minutes become an sixty-minute detour. Access to important amenities like supermarkets, educational facilities and employment centres is made more difficult. The area can attract vandalism and loitering, with reports of litter being dumped over the wall and other problems. “People strive to have a nice house and nice garden, and then you reside facing that,” said one resident, gesturing towards the rusted barricade. Community Spirit Against a Backdrop of Hardship Within Centre4, staff emphasise that need transcends addresses. “Where you live doesn’t necessarily indicate your personal struggles,” said chief executive Tracey Good. Regardless of ranking in the lowest 10% for multiple deprivation indicators, the estate boasts a strong sense and sense of togetherness among its residents. Meanwhile, the neighbouring area ranks among the least deprived 10% nationally. A Similar Story: An Estate in Kent This pattern is mirrored across the country. The Stanhope estate in Ashford, Kent, a 1960s overspill estate, is in the 10% most deprived of areas in England. It is closely bordered by spacious houses built in the early 2000s that sit in the wealthiest tenth for job prospects and quality of surroundings. “They might have bigger houses, but here there’s a stronger community,” commented Phil Hockley, aged 63. “It’s likely a lot of people in the new builds don’t even speak to each other.” The economic gap is clear: an typical family home sells for about £275,000 on the Stanhope estate, while on the other side comparable homes fetch about £410,000. Residents speak of a palpable sense of being overlooked. “This part of the community gets ignored,” stated resident Susan. “In this area our amenities have slowly been taken away, and the majority of the issues we face here are related to poverty.” The increase in these ‘deprivation divides’ paints a portrait of an ever more segregated society, where wealth and need are frequently awkwardly in close proximity.
Within Nunsthorpe, inhabitants live in homes only several yards from their more affluent neighbours in nearby Scartho village. A 1.8-metre-high wall literally divides the two communities in the town of Grimsby, sealing off paths and streets that previously linked them. “This is the divide between rich and poor,” remarked Serenity Colley, 37. “It has been there since I’ve known. I doubt they’ll bring it down because I don’t think they’ll want to associate with us.” A Stark Pattern Across the Country Analysis of government figures reveals how deep disparity often exists, sometimes across little more than a short distance of asphalt, a hedge row or a barrier. Years 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 poorest in the country. This geographical widening of deprivation has led to a sharp rise in the number of places where deprived and affluent people find themselves living side by side. In 2019, just 65 of the most deprived areas bordered one of the wealthiest. This number rose to 119 in the most recent data. A Wall That Divides More Than Space At this Lincolnshire site, the gap is the most pronounced in the UK and starkly apparent. The wall is much more than a metaphorical divide; it causes very real problems for daily routines. The school commute that should take 15-20 minutes become an sixty-minute detour. Access to important amenities like supermarkets, educational facilities and employment centres is made more difficult. The area can attract vandalism and loitering, with reports of litter being dumped over the wall and other problems. “People strive to have a nice house and nice garden, and then you reside facing that,” said one resident, gesturing towards the rusted barricade. Community Spirit Against a Backdrop of Hardship Within Centre4, staff emphasise that need transcends addresses. “Where you live doesn’t necessarily indicate your personal struggles,” said chief executive Tracey Good. Regardless of ranking in the lowest 10% for multiple deprivation indicators, the estate boasts a strong sense and sense of togetherness among its residents. Meanwhile, the neighbouring area ranks among the least deprived 10% nationally. A Similar Story: An Estate in Kent This pattern is mirrored across the country. The Stanhope estate in Ashford, Kent, a 1960s overspill estate, is in the 10% most deprived of areas in England. It is closely bordered by spacious houses built in the early 2000s that sit in the wealthiest tenth for job prospects and quality of surroundings. “They might have bigger houses, but here there’s a stronger community,” commented Phil Hockley, aged 63. “It’s likely a lot of people in the new builds don’t even speak to each other.” The economic gap is clear: an typical family home sells for about £275,000 on the Stanhope estate, while on the other side comparable homes fetch about £410,000. Residents speak of a palpable sense of being overlooked. “This part of the community gets ignored,” stated resident Susan. “In this area our amenities have slowly been taken away, and the majority of the issues we face here are related to poverty.” The increase in these ‘deprivation divides’ paints a portrait of an ever more segregated society, where wealth and need are frequently awkwardly in close proximity.