🔗 Share this article A Rising ‘Wealth-Poverty Gap’: How Prosperity and Deprivation Are Found Side by Side in England. Within Nunsthorpe, residents live in properties just a few metres from their wealthier neighbours in nearby Scartho. A 1.8-metre-high wall literally separates the two communities in the town of Grimsby, blocking off roads and walkways that previously linked them. “This is the divide between rich and poor,” said a resident, 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 associate with us.” A Stark Pattern Across the Country Data from government figures shows how deep inequality often exists, sometimes over little more than a short distance of asphalt, a hedge row or a wall. Decades of budget cuts and underinvestment mean a majority of local authorities now have a locality ranking as one of the most deprived in the nation. This spread of deprivation has led to a sharp increase in the number of locations where deprived and well-off residents find themselves living side by side. Just a few years ago, just 65 of the poorest neighbourhoods bordered one of the least deprived. This number increased to 119 in the most recent data. A Barrier Which Divides More Than Land In Grimsby, the gap is the biggest in the UK and starkly obvious. The barrier transcends being just a symbolic divide; it causes tangible problems for everyday life. The school commute that ought to take a quarter of an hour become an hour-long detour. Reaching important amenities like grocery stores, educational facilities and care homes is hindered. The area often sees antisocial behaviour, with instances of rubbish being dumped over the wall and related issues. “You try to have a nice house and nice garden, and then you live opposite that,” noted one local, motioning at the rusted metal wall. Community Spirit Amidst Hardship At Centre4, staff stress that need does not recognise postcodes. “Where you live is not a reliable indicator of your level of challenge,” said chief executive Tracey Good. Regardless of being placed in the lowest 10% for income, employment, education, health and crime, Nunsthorpe retains a fierce loyalty and sense of community among its residents. By contrast, the neighbouring area is classified among the most prosperous 10% nationally. A Similar Story: An Estate in Kent This phenomenon is mirrored across the country. The Stanhope area in Ashford, Kent, a mid-century overspill estate, is in the most disadvantaged tenth of areas in the country. It is immediately adjacent by spacious detached homes built in the early 2000s that are in the top 10% for job prospects and quality of surroundings. “They might have bigger houses, but here there’s more community,” commented a long-term resident, 63. “It’s likely a lot of people in the new builds don’t even speak to each other.” The financial gap is evident: an typical three-bedroom house costs about £275,000 on the estate, while across the divide comparable properties go for about £410,000. Locals speak of a tangible feeling of neglect. “Our neighbourhood gets ignored,” said resident Susan Riley-Nevers. “In this area our facilities have slowly been taken away, and the majority of the community problems here are related to poverty.” The increase in these ‘inequality borders’ paints a portrait of an ever more divided society, where wealth and deprivation are often awkwardly close neighbours.
Within Nunsthorpe, residents live in properties just a few metres from their wealthier neighbours in nearby Scartho. A 1.8-metre-high wall literally separates the two communities in the town of Grimsby, blocking off roads and walkways that previously linked them. “This is the divide between rich and poor,” said a resident, 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 associate with us.” A Stark Pattern Across the Country Data from government figures shows how deep inequality often exists, sometimes over little more than a short distance of asphalt, a hedge row or a wall. Decades of budget cuts and underinvestment mean a majority of local authorities now have a locality ranking as one of the most deprived in the nation. This spread of deprivation has led to a sharp increase in the number of locations where deprived and well-off residents find themselves living side by side. Just a few years ago, just 65 of the poorest neighbourhoods bordered one of the least deprived. This number increased to 119 in the most recent data. A Barrier Which Divides More Than Land In Grimsby, the gap is the biggest in the UK and starkly obvious. The barrier transcends being just a symbolic divide; it causes tangible problems for everyday life. The school commute that ought to take a quarter of an hour become an hour-long detour. Reaching important amenities like grocery stores, educational facilities and care homes is hindered. The area often sees antisocial behaviour, with instances of rubbish being dumped over the wall and related issues. “You try to have a nice house and nice garden, and then you live opposite that,” noted one local, motioning at the rusted metal wall. Community Spirit Amidst Hardship At Centre4, staff stress that need does not recognise postcodes. “Where you live is not a reliable indicator of your level of challenge,” said chief executive Tracey Good. Regardless of being placed in the lowest 10% for income, employment, education, health and crime, Nunsthorpe retains a fierce loyalty and sense of community among its residents. By contrast, the neighbouring area is classified among the most prosperous 10% nationally. A Similar Story: An Estate in Kent This phenomenon is mirrored across the country. The Stanhope area in Ashford, Kent, a mid-century overspill estate, is in the most disadvantaged tenth of areas in the country. It is immediately adjacent by spacious detached homes built in the early 2000s that are in the top 10% for job prospects and quality of surroundings. “They might have bigger houses, but here there’s more community,” commented a long-term resident, 63. “It’s likely a lot of people in the new builds don’t even speak to each other.” The financial gap is evident: an typical three-bedroom house costs about £275,000 on the estate, while across the divide comparable properties go for about £410,000. Locals speak of a tangible feeling of neglect. “Our neighbourhood gets ignored,” said resident Susan Riley-Nevers. “In this area our facilities have slowly been taken away, and the majority of the community problems here are related to poverty.” The increase in these ‘inequality borders’ paints a portrait of an ever more divided society, where wealth and deprivation are often awkwardly close neighbours.