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Borough is on the up

31/ 1/2008

DEPRIVATION has decreased faster in Trafford than anywhere else in the country over the past three years.

According to government research, Old Trafford, Partington and Sale West have all seen big improvements in residents' health, wealth and social wellbeing since 2004. The borough has dropped 42 places in the UK's league of most deprived areas.

But Councillor John Smith of Partington's Bucklow-St-Martin ward  warned that statistics don't tell the whole story. He said: "My gut feeling is that the area is on the up and that the more serious social and economic problems are being dealt with. But low-level crime and anti-social behaviour are still plaguing us. It's difficult to stop gangs of idiotic kids roaming around causing problems, not just in Partington but across the country.

"I would have to see the figures for myself, but I would not like to contradict them. Things are getting better."

A spokesperson for Old Trafford's Neighbourhood Management Board (NMB) which works to improve local parks, increase the number of local PCSOs and tackle litter and flytipping, said the decrease in deprivation was partially down to an influx of new residents.

He said: "Old Trafford has a very fast-changing population, with a lot of people moving in and out. This change in population makes it more attractive to new residents, who may have a higher quality of life."

He added that the work of the NMB, which was given £3.7m funding until 2010, would encourage residents with a higher quality of life to stay in the area. He also cited the success of Stretford High School, which was recently rated in the top one per cent of most improved schools nationally.

In 2004, Trafford had five areas within the bottom five per cent, but they have all since improved.

In Old Trafford the area at the top of Ayres Road, which was ranked in the worst 1.1 per cent, has moved up 4.5 per cent, while the area between Old School Walk and the Manchester boundary, once ranked in the worst 2.4 per cent, has now risen by 4.6 per cent - the biggest improvement in the borough.

In Partington, around Oak Road, the area has risen in the rankings by 1.5 per cent from the bottom 1.5 per cent, while the Central Road and Chapel Lane district has risen from the worst 2.8 per cent to be included in the bottom 4.3 per cent.

But Sale West has only marginally improved, rising just 0.4 per cent after being ranked in the worst four per cent in 2004.

Executive councillor Kenneth Bullman said: "The results seem to show a direct relation between regeneration work and the level of improvement. This is a testament to commitment of the council and its partner agencies to giving Trafford's deprived areas the boost they need to thrive."

The new figures, from the Department for Communities and Local Government, are based on scores across a number of issues.