Oldham Council’s New Year’s resolution should be to address “shameful” deprivation figures
Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader councillor Howard Sykes MBE has called for action to reverse a “further shameful slide into deprivation.”
According to figures released by the government earlier this year, Oldham has moved from the 19th most deprived local authority in the country to the 11th.
Councillor Sykes said: “These figures are pretty bleak for Oldham Council and its Labour Indy coalition and this is not good news for our Borough. In the New Year we need to see a focus on jobs, training and skills because these are the areas that the data shows Oldham is declining in.”
Oldham is ranked as more deprived on both the ‘Income’ and ‘Employment’ categories. Several areas in the Borough now sit in the most deprived 1% nationally, an increase of two. The most deprived of these sits in an area that stretches from the town centre south along the Ashton Road, including the Eldon Street Estate, others are in Hathershaw, parts of St. Mary’s, Coldhurst, Holts, and Glodwick.
Councillor Sykes said: “Residents really do deserve better than this. It is the result of decades of under investment and under achievement in employment and education. If Oldham Council is looking for a new year’s resolution, I think I’ve found it. It should be to work together and reverse this shameful slide into further deprivation.”
