A Rising ‘Posh-Poor Divide’: How Affluence and Deprivation Are Found Cheek by Jowl in Across England.
Within Nunsthorpe, inhabitants occupy homes only a few metres from their more affluent neighbours in the adjacent Scartho village. A 1.8-metre-high barricade literally divides the two communities in the town of Grimsby, blocking off roads and walkways that once connected them.
“It’s the divide between rich and poor,” remarked a resident, 37. “It has been there since 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 statistics reveals the extent of disparity can run, at times over little more than a few metres of tarmac, a line of hedges or a wall. Decades of austerity and lack of funding mean almost two-thirds of local authorities now have a neighbourhood classified as one of the poorest in the country.
The geographical widening of poverty has led to a sharp increase in the number of places where deprived and affluent residents end up living side by side. In 2019, just 65 of the most deprived areas bordered one of the least deprived. This number increased to 119 in the latest data.
A Wall That Divides More Than Land
In Grimsby, the divide is the most pronounced in the UK and painfully obvious. The barrier is much more than a metaphorical divide; it creates tangible difficulties for daily routines.
- School runs that should take 15-20 minutes turn into an sixty-minute detour.
- Reaching key amenities like grocery stores, educational facilities and employment centres is made more difficult.
- The area often sees vandalism and loitering, with instances of litter being dumped over the wall and other issues.
“People strive to have a nice house and nice garden, and then you reside facing that,” said one resident, gesturing towards the rusted metal wall.
Community Spirit Amidst Challenges
At Centre4, workers stress that support does not recognise postcodes. “Where you live is not a reliable indicator of your personal struggles,” explained chief executive Tracey Good.
Regardless of ranking in the most deprived 10% for multiple deprivation indicators, the estate boasts a strong sense and sense of community among its residents. Meanwhile, Scartho ranks among the most prosperous 10% nationally.
Echoes Elsewhere: Stanhope in Ashford
This pattern is repeated across the country. The Stanhope estate in Kent, a 1960s overspill estate, is in the 10% most deprived of areas in England. It is immediately adjacent by large houses built in the 2000s that are in the wealthiest tenth for employment and living environment.
“They might have larger properties, but here there’s more community,” commented a long-term resident, aged 63. “You’ll probably find many people in the new builds never even talk to each other.”
The economic gap is evident: an average family home sells for about £275,000 on the Stanhope estate, while on the other side comparable homes go for about £410,000.
Residents describe a palpable feeling of neglect. “This part of the community is neglected,” said resident Susan. “In this area our facilities have gradually disappeared, and most of the community problems here are to do with financial hardship.”
The increase in these ‘deprivation divides’ paints a picture of an ever more segregated society, where wealth and deprivation are frequently uncomfortably close neighbours.
