MORE than 50 per cent of Carlisle households were 'deprived' in at least one aspect, according to the latest data from the 2021 census.

The figures come as part of a more detailed set of results from the snapshot of England and Wales captured in March last year.

51.1 per cent of households were 'deprived' according the census with some areas seeing deprivation levels of over 60 per cent.

As part of the 2021 census, households in England and Wales were classified in terms of four different 'dimensions of deprivation', which are based on certain characteristics.

  1. The first is where any member of a household, who is not a full-time student, is either unemployed or long-term sick
  2. The second covers households where no person has at least five or more GCSE passes or equivalent qualifications, and no 16 to 18-year-olds at the home are full-time students
  3. The third dimension is where any person in the household has general health that is 'bad' or 'very bad' or has a long-term health problem
  4. The fourth where the household’s accommodation is either overcrowded or is in a shared dwelling, or has no central heating

 

Botcherby and Harraby was the most deprived area in Carlisle - with 62.7 per cent of households deprived in at least one dimension at the time of the 2021 census.

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Independent county councillor for Botcherby, Robert Betton, said the area needed more help.

“We need as much help as we can get,” said Cllr Betton.

“We’re not getting anything and in this present climate the government should be doing a lot more to help places like Botcherby.

“They say they’re doing a lot but are they really? They need to actually deliver whether that’s schooling, policing or on energy bills.

“We need to put all this nonsense about political colours aside and get out and listen to people about what they really need.

“The rich are getting richer, and the poor are getting poorer, so the government’s motto has to be listen, improve, do.”

By contrast, the neighbourhood with the lowest level of deprivation was Kingmoor, Houghton and Whiteclosegate, at 41.4 per cent of households.

The ONS said deprivation is a 'complex topic', adding that more detailed information would come in future releases.

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