East Lancs towns 'more deprived than four years ago'

The government national deprivation index shows four districts are in the 50 most deprived in England, with only Ribble Valley faring better than four years ago.

The index takes into account economic, social and housing issues to rank each local authority by how badly-off they are.

And the government has singled out two small pockets of East Lancashire as being among the most deprived parts of England.

Part of the Bank Top area in Blackburn was 35th out of the 32,482 areas across the country, with a spot around Yorkshire Street in Burnley listed at 13.

Blackburn MP Jack Straw admitted the statistics were "worrying", but claimed Blackburn had been doing better economically than other East Lancashire boroughs.

He said: "We have to be relentless in pursuit of investment. And things will be getting better."

Blackburn is listed as the 17th most deprived borough in the country, based on the 2007 figures.

This represents a huge increase since the last time the figures were calculated, in 2004, when the borough was 34th on the list.

Out of the 354 boroughs, Burnley has moved from 37 to 21, Hyndburn from 58 to 41, Pendle from 71 to 44 while Rossendale has stayed at number 92.

Blackburn Council leader Colin Rigby said health statistics had been taken into account for the first time, and helped to push down Blackburn's rating.

The borough is ranked the 36th worst of 42 areas of the North West in terms of health.

Coun Rigby said: "It's been a problem that's gone on in Blackburn for generations, and it's a difficult thing to change."

Labour leader Kate Hollern, who was council leader until May 2007, admitted the statistics were "awful".

She added: "Part of it is that other areas have moved faster than we have."

And chief executive Graham Burgess said: "They have changed some of the ways they measure it, which has done us no favours. But we need to make sure this area doesn't slip any further."

Coun James Smith, who represents the Mill Hill ward which the affected area of Bank Top falls into, said he was "not surprised at all" about the poor ranking.

He said: "The Stansfeld Street area definitely needs improving.

"There's a lot of private landlords who aren't looking after the houses as well as they should.

"It's an ongoing problem constituents come to me with.

"It definitely needs loads more money spending on it.

"I have been trying for years to get more money from the Housing Market Renewal scheme."

Coun Dave Harling, the councillor for the Wensley Fold ward that Bank Top also falls into, said that the area had always been recognised as being deprived due to a range of factors including low income, poor housing and a high disability rate.

He said: "It's very worrying - the whole package makes for uncomfortable reading.

"Bank Top has been targetted for funding for a number of years, including investments by Twin Valley, housing market renewal and the PCT.

"But the area needs continued investment. It is not going to be an overnight solution."

Hyndburn Council leader Peter Britcliffe said that the council were aware the borough was climbing the deprivation league.

He said: "Some of the extra grants relating to deprivation have been drying up but the council is working hard with regeneration."

Burnley MP Kitty Ussher said that the figures showed the scale of the task ahead and a lot of work was underway to turn the situation around.

She said: "With the combined effort from national and local government to regenerate Burnley at the moment these figures will improve."

Burnley is listed as the 21st most deprived borough in the country, based on the 2007 figures.

This represents an increase since the last time the figures were calculated, in 2004, when the borough was 37th on the list.

Out of the 354 boroughs, Pendle has moved from 71 to 44, Rossendale has stayed at number 92 while Blackburn has jumped 34 to 17 and Hyndburn moved from 58 to 41.

Mrs Ussher said: "We are working tirelessly to attract more jobs to the borough, new and improved housing and the new college campus is being built which can only be positive.

"Better transport links to Manchester are also being planned which should make the area more attractive for commuters.

"Everything that is happening in the town shows just how important regeneration is. It's our top priority."

Coun Denis Otter, who represents the Rosehill with Burnley Wood, which covers the area highlighted by the figures, said: "You only have to visit the Burnley Wood area of town to see that things are not too good.

"There are a large number of properties that have been demolished to make way for new ones that will attract wealthier people - the only way is up!

"People in the area are working hard to try and make things better and the statistically things can only improve now.

"A lot of the old 19th century housing has been replaced with new developments, the whole area really has been blitzed, the law of averages means that in five years time when we come to look are these statistics they will have improved vastly.

"We are at the bottom of the trough now and the only way is upward."

Leader of Pendle Council, Alan Davies said: "Even though the figures do appear to be worrying, I think they fairly represent the changes being made to regenerate Pendle.

"And every cloud has a silver lining. The new figures have meant that we qualify for a neighbourhood renewal fund which means there will be more money to tackle the problems.

"There is a lot of positive work being done in the borough too, especially in Nelson where the work has been planned for years but is only just getting off the ground which should help contribute to an improving future for the borough."