The Growing ‘Wealth-Poverty Gap’: How Affluence and Hardship Now Sit Cheek by Jowl in Across England.
In Nunsthorpe, residents live in homes only several yards from their more affluent neighbours in the adjacent Scartho. One six-foot-tall wall literally separates the two areas in Grimsby, Lincolnshire, sealing off roads and walkways that once linked them.
“It’s the posh-poor divide,” said a resident, aged 37. “It has been there for as long as I’ve known. I don’t think they’ll take it down because I suspect they’ll want to associate with us.”
A Stark Pattern Across the Country
Analysis of government statistics reveals the extent of inequality often exists, sometimes across nothing more than a short distance of tarmac, a line of hedges or a wall. Years of austerity and underinvestment have led to a situation where almost two-thirds of local authorities now have a locality classified as one of the poorest in the nation.
This spread of poverty has led to a sharp increase in the number of places where disadvantaged and well-off people find themselves as immediate neighbours. Just a few years ago, just 65 of the most deprived neighbourhoods adjoined one of the least deprived. This number increased to 119 in the most recent data.
A Wall That Divides More Than Space
In Grimsby, the divide is the most pronounced in the UK and starkly apparent. The wall transcends being just a metaphorical divide; it creates very real problems for everyday life.
- The school commute that ought to take 15-20 minutes become an hour-long journey.
- Reaching important amenities like supermarkets, schools and employment centres is hindered.
- The area often sees vandalism and loitering, with reports of litter being dumped over the wall and other issues.
“You try to have a well-kept home and garden, and then you reside facing that,” said one local, motioning at the rusted barricade.
Community Spirit Against a Backdrop of Hardship
At a local community centre, staff emphasise that support does not recognise postcodes. “Where you live is not a reliable indicator of your personal struggles,” said director Tracey Good.
Despite being placed in the lowest 10% for multiple deprivation indicators, the estate boasts a strong sense and sense of community among its residents. Meanwhile, the neighbouring area is classified among the least deprived 10% nationally.
A Similar Story: Stanhope in Ashford
This phenomenon is repeated across the country. The Stanhope estate in Ashford, Kent, a mid-century housing development, is in the most disadvantaged tenth of neighbourhoods in the country. It is closely bordered by spacious detached homes built in the early 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 over there don’t even speak to each other.”
The economic divide is clear: an typical three-bedroom house costs about £275,000 on the estate, while on the other side comparable homes fetch about £410,000.
Residents describe a palpable sense of neglect. “This part of the community gets ignored,” said holistic health worker Susan Riley-Nevers. “In this area our amenities have gradually disappeared, and most of the community problems here are to do with financial hardship.”
The increase in these ‘deprivation divides’ paints a portrait of an increasingly segregated society, where prosperity and need are frequently awkwardly in close proximity.
