Midland areas most at risk revealed by MPs

THE West Midlands neighbourhoods that will suffer most in the virus crisis have been revealed this week.

They are the “left behind” areas that suffered from poverty and poor health before the pandemic, and are now likely to suffer more from the economic and health impacts of the crisis than other areas.

But they are also missing out on government funding for recovery because the cash tends to go to town and city centres. The areas have been named in a new report by MPs from different parties. They say that 11 per cent of working age adults are now unemployed in these West Midlands council wards, compared to 6.4 per cent across

England as a whole, while youth unemployment is 16 per cent in these wards, compared to nine per cent across England.

And these areas had high levels high-risk health conditions before the coronavirus crisis began.

For example, 12 per cent of the population are obese, compared to 9.8 per cent of the population generally, and 8.5 per cent had diabetes, compared to 6.8 per cent generally.

The areas most at risk include: Bartley Green, Hodge Hill, Kings Norton, Kingstanding, Longbridge, Shard End, Stechford and Yardley North, Stockland Green and Weoley Castle in Birmingham.

Hateley Heath, Langley and Princes End in Sandwell.

Kingshurst, Fordbridge and Smith’s Wood in Solihull.

Bloxwich West and Darlaston

South in Walsall.

Bilston East and East Park in Wolverhampton.

The areas were named in a report produced by the All-Party Parliamentary Group.

There are 225 “left behind” areas in total across England, according to the MPs.

The data, compiled by Oxford Centre for Social Inclusion (OCSI), gives an early suggestion that these areas, often located on the edge of towns and cities, risk falling further behind as government investment focuses on delivering improvements to town and city centres.

West Bromwich East MP Nicola Richards (Con) is the group’s vice-chair.

She said: “I’ve seen, first-hand, how Covid-19 has impacted communities across West Bromwich East, particularly the damage it has caused the local labour market and my constituents’ livelihoods.

“This report lays bare that damage, and the need to ensure we protect those areas hardest hit by the virus.”

Birmingham Northfield MP Gary Sambrook MP (Con) is a member of the group. He said: “The work of this All-Party Parliamentary Group is going to play an important role in generating ideas that will contribute to the Prime Minister’s levelling up agenda.

“Seeing how Covid has impacted on neighbourhoods across the West Midlands, and in my constituency of Birmingham Northfield, it’s vital that we support these left behind areas so that they can build out of this pandemic, and prosper in the months and years ahead.”