A Rising ‘Posh-Poor Divide’: The Way Prosperity and Hardship Now Sit Cheek by Jowl in England.
In a postwar estate known as ‘The Nunny’, inhabitants occupy homes just a few metres from their more affluent counterparts in nearby Scartho village. A 1.8-metre-high wall literally divides the two communities in the town of Grimsby, sealing off roads and walkways that once linked them.
“It’s the divide between rich and poor,” said a resident, 37. “It’s been like this for as long as I’ve known. I doubt they’ll take it down because I suspect they’ll want to associate with us.”
A Stark National Picture
Data from government statistics shows the extent of inequality can run, sometimes over nothing more than a short distance of tarmac, a hedge row or a barrier. Decades of austerity and lack of funding have led to a situation where a majority of councils now contain a locality ranking as one of the most deprived in the country.
The spread of poverty has coincided with a significant rise in the quantity of places where deprived and well-off people find themselves as immediate neighbours. In 2019, only 65 of the poorest areas bordered one of the least deprived. This number rose to 119 in the latest data.
A Wall That Does More Than Separate Space
At this Lincolnshire site, the divide is the biggest in the UK and painfully apparent. The barrier is much more than a symbolic division; it creates very real difficulties for everyday life.
- The school commute that ought to take 15-20 minutes become an hour-long journey.
- Reaching important amenities like grocery stores, schools and care homes is made more difficult.
- The site often sees antisocial behaviour, with instances of rubbish being dumped over the wall and related problems.
“You try to maintain a nice house and nice garden, and then you reside facing that,” said one local, gesturing towards the rusted metal wall.
Local Bonds Amidst Hardship
Within Centre4, workers emphasise that need does not recognise postcodes. “Your postcode doesn’t necessarily indicate your level of challenge,” explained chief executive Tracey Good.
Despite ranking in the lowest 10% for multiple deprivation indicators, the estate boasts a fierce loyalty and feeling of community among its residents. Meanwhile, the neighbouring area ranks among the least deprived 10% overall.
A Similar Story: An Estate in Kent
This pattern is mirrored across the country. The Stanhope estate in Kent, a mid-century overspill estate, is in the most disadvantaged tenth of neighbourhoods in the country. It is immediately adjacent by spacious houses built in the early 2000s that sit in the wealthiest tenth for employment and quality of surroundings.
“They may possess larger properties, but here there’s a stronger community,” commented Phil Hockley, aged 63. “It’s likely a lot of people in the new builds never even talk to each other.”
The financial divide is evident: an typical three-bedroom house sells for about £275,000 on the Stanhope estate, while across the divide equivalent homes fetch about £410,000.
Residents describe a tangible sense of neglect. “Our neighbourhood is neglected,” said resident Susan. “Over here our facilities have gradually disappeared, and the majority of the issues we face here are to do with financial hardship.”
The rise in these ‘inequality borders’ presents a portrait of an ever more segregated society, where prosperity and need are frequently awkwardly close neighbours.
