The Growing ‘Posh-Poor Divide’: The Way Prosperity and Hardship Now Sit Cheek by Jowl in Across England.
In a postwar estate known as ‘The Nunny’, inhabitants occupy properties only a few metres from their more affluent counterparts in nearby Scartho village. One 1.8-metre-high barricade physically separates the two communities in Grimsby, Lincolnshire, blocking off roads and walkways that once connected them.
“It’s the divide between rich and poor,” said a resident, aged 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 figures shows the extent of inequality often exists, at times over little more than a short distance of tarmac, a hedge row or a barrier. Years of budget cuts and underinvestment have led to a situation where almost two-thirds of local authorities now have a neighbourhood ranking as one of the poorest in the nation.
The geographical widening of deprivation has led to a sharp increase in the quantity of locations where deprived and well-off people end up as immediate neighbours. Just a few years ago, only 65 of the most deprived areas bordered one of the wealthiest. That figure increased to 119 in the most recent data.
A Barrier Which Does More Than Separate Space
In Grimsby, the divide is the biggest in the UK and starkly obvious. The barrier transcends being just a symbolic divide; it creates very real difficulties for everyday life.
- The school commute that should take 15-20 minutes become an hour-long detour.
- Reaching key services like grocery stores, schools and employment centres is made more difficult.
- The area often sees antisocial behaviour, with instances of rubbish being dumped over the wall and other issues.
“People strive to have a well-kept home and garden, and then you reside facing that,” said one resident, gesturing towards the corroded barricade.
Local Bonds Against a Backdrop of Hardship
At Centre4, workers emphasise that support transcends addresses. “Where you live is not a reliable indicator of your level of challenge,” explained chief executive Tracey Good.
Regardless of being placed in the most deprived 10% for income, employment, education, health and crime, Nunsthorpe boasts a strong sense and sense of togetherness among its inhabitants. By contrast, the neighbouring area is classified among the most prosperous 10% overall.
Echoes Elsewhere: Stanhope in Ashford
This phenomenon is repeated across the country. The Stanhope estate in Kent, a 1960s housing development, is in the most disadvantaged tenth of neighbourhoods in England. It is immediately adjacent by large houses built in the early 2000s that sit in the top 10% for employment and living environment.
“They might have bigger houses, but here there’s more community,” commented Phil Hockley, aged 63. “It’s likely a lot of people over there don’t even speak to each other.”
The economic gap is evident: an average family home costs about £275,000 on the estate, while on the other side equivalent properties go for about £410,000.
Residents speak of a palpable sense of neglect. “Our neighbourhood gets ignored,” stated holistic health worker Susan Riley-Nevers. “Over here our amenities have slowly been taken away, and most of the community problems here are related to poverty.”
The increase in these ‘inequality borders’ paints a picture of an ever more divided society, where prosperity and deprivation are often awkwardly in close proximity.
