Census 2021: Bolton is joint-third most deprived borough in region

Household deprivation is regularly talked about as one of the key indicators of poverty in the United Kingdom, which is defined as a lack of resources and opportunities.

In the Census 2021, the Office for National Statistics measured deprivation by taking into consideration four dimensions- education, employment, health and housing.

Read more: Bolton's top 5 most deprived areas revealed by fresh data

Out of 118,789 households in Bolton surveyed in the census, 56.8 per cent were deprived in one, two, three or four of the dimensions.

This made Bolton the joint third most deprived borough, alongside Tameside.

Oldham was the most deprived, with a 59.1 per cent deprivation rate from 93,137 households and Rochdale was the second most deprived, with a 57.3 per cent deprivation rate from 90,223 households.

Labour MP for Bolton South East Yasmin Qureshi has spoken about her worries after seeing the figures.

She said: “The 2021 Census figures make for concerning reading, showing that Bolton is the joint third most deprived borough in all of Greater Manchester.

“To make Bolton a better place to live, work and learn, we need a government which encourages business to flourish, champions our high street and has a real commitment to levelling up.

“Only Labour has a plan to support towns like Bolton, by rebalancing business rates, levelling the playing field between online and in-person businesses, and giving local communities a say in the future of their area.”

Yasmin Qureshi says the census figures make for concerning reading (Image: Newsquest)

Conservative Cllr Sue Baines is the Bolton Council portfolio holder for Health and wellbeing, which includes deprivation.

She said: “Across Bolton, there are areas we have that are more deprived than others, that’s long established.

“Deprivation tends to be in areas where infrastructure doesn’t support people to have the opportunities that we actually need to get a chance in life.

“It is a very complex and difficult issue, and needs funding, it needs the support and it’s got to be a combined effort, fixing it can’t just occur.

“Because it’s not very good is it, that we are the joint third most deprived area in Greater Manchester.”

Cllr Sue Baines (Image: Public)

Cllr Baines added: “As such, we’re working very hard to address the problems.

The Marmot review highlighted that health deprivation leads to social deprivation.

“From a public health perspective, we’re working with officers across the borough and Greater Manchester to adhere to Marmot principles.

“The council are very much aware there is a lot of work to do, but this administration is very concerned about these findings, but at the same time we are absolutely focused on public health and deprivation.

“We’re doing this through our wellbeing board, through community champions who can signpost people in the community to help.”