Herefordshire's most deprived areas revealed

Hereford has one of the most poverty-stricken areas in the UK, according to council statistics on deprivation.

The latest figures show that there are 18,500 people living in deprived households across the county – this is about a tenth of the population.

There are 11 places in Herefordshire that are within in the 25% most deprived nationally, which feature in The Indices of Deprivation 2019 report published by Herefordshire Council.

The most deprived are south of Hereford and in Leominster, Ross-on-Wye and Bromyard.

Golden Post-Newton Farm in Hereford is the most deprived area in the county amd is the only one to be in the 10% most deprived nationally.

Other deprived parts of the city include Hunderton, Redhill-Belmont Road, Newton Farm-Brampton Road and Hunderton-Bishop’s Meadow.

In Leominster, 28% of people in Ridgemoor are living in income deprived households and the Grange and Gateway areas are also among the county’s most deprived places.

The John Kyrle area in Ross also appears in the council’s report along with Bromyard Central.

Newton Farm councillor Bernard Hunt says local people feel overlooked when it comes to crime and access to housing.

“Police can be very slow to respond to complaints about the bad behaviour of a minority of young people,” he said.

“They feel a bit overlooked. When it comes to drugs, they will report people who are selling drugs but isn’t followed up.

“When it comes to access to housing, Herefordshire Council have been generally good, but they are restricted due to a lack of central government funding.”

Coun Hunt said one of the benefits people have in Newton Farm is access to good transport links.

This is something he says many other rural areas struggle with.

Around 3,900 children are living in income deprivation across Herefordshire, that’s about 12% population aged under 16.

And around 6,100 older people are living in income deprivation across Herefordshire.

Of the 29 most deprived areas in the county, 15 are in Hereford city, eight are in the market towns and six are located in more rural areas including Fromes Hill, Greater Weobley, Kingsbridge, Greater Docklow, Greater Bosbury and Kington Doughnut.

Hereford city also has some of the least deprived areas, particularly in the north of the river, as do rural areas surrounding the city.

Other less deprived areas are found within Ledbury, Leominster and Ross-on-Wye, as well as rural areas in the east of the county around Ledbury and Cradley and to the south of Bromyard.

Herefordshire Lower Layer Super Output Areas that are amongst the most deprived nationally according to income domain of the index of deprivation 2019:

Golden Post-Newton Farm: 29 % living in income deprived households

Leominster-Ridgemoor: 28 % living in income deprived households

Leominster Grange: 25% living in income deprived households

Leominster-Gateway: 25% living in income deprived households

Hunderton: 23% living in income deprived households

Ross-John Kyrle: 22% living in income deprived households

Bromyard Central: 20% living in income deprived households

Newton Farm-Brampton Road: 20% living in income deprived households

Redhill-Belmont Road: 20% living in income deprived households

Hunderton-Bishop’s Meadow: 20% living in income deprived households