POVERTY BLOW
Hamilton has some of the most deprived areas
Parts of Hamilton are among some of the most deprived areas of Scotland – with Burnbank Central and Udston ranking the worst in the town.
The Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation report revealed the shocking figures.
And Burnbank Central and Udston tops the list for the worst case of poverty in the town, closely followed by Fairhill.
The findings also uncovered that Burnbank Central and Udston’s stats for crime rates, employment and the health domain are unsatisfactory.
Christina Mckelvie – the MSP for Hamilton, Stonehouse and Larkhall – said the stats would help direct resources where they are needed.
She added: “These figures are a damning indictment of the disastrous UK Government’s welfare reforms which have fallen squarely on the shoulders of the most vulnerable in our communities.
“Decisions taken by governments Scotland did not vote for have a very real impact on our communities.”
A study into deprivation across Scotland has revealed that Burnbank and Udston are in the top five per cent of deprived areas.
The Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation highlights the huge gap between different parts of South Lanarkshire – with some areas of Hamilton among the most deprived in the country, while Uddingston and Gardenside feature at the opposite end of the scale.
And the report provides an in-depth study of various factors which contribute to deprivation.
Small areas of roughly equal population are split into ‘data zones’ across Scotland and are ranked from 1 (most deprived) to 6976 (least deprived).
Certain parts of Hamilton are in the top 20 per cent of most deprived data zones – including Burnbank Central and Udston (108); Fairhill (109); Hillhouse (159); Low Waters (545); Burnbank North (279); Whitehill (522); and Eddlewood (987).
Other parts of South Lanarkshire among the most deprived areas include: Strutherhill (257); Halfway, Hallside and Drumsagard (293); Douglas, Coalburn and Rigside (144); Hareleeshill (353); Laighstonehall (477); Blantyre South and Wheatlands (678); Kirkmuirhill and Blackwood (581); and Carluke East (645).
At the other end of the scale, areas among the least deprived include: Stonehouse (6587) Hareleeshill (6252); Bothwell South (6109); Lanark North West (6572); Eddlewood (6348);Uddingston and Gardenside (6570); Little Earnock (6440); Strathaven South (6080); and Silvertonhill (6437).
As areas have a number of smaller data zones within them, it is possible that neighbouring data zones could appear in the least and most deprived part of the study.
Commenting on the report, Christina Mckelvie – the MSP for Hamilton, Stonehouse and Larkhall – said: “The SIMD results, produced by the Scottish Government, are a vital tool to identify how the Scottish Government and local councils can best direct what resources they have at the areas of greatest need. These figures are a damning indictment of the disastrous UK Government’s welfare reforms which have fallen squarely on the shoulders of the most vulnerable in our communities.
“Decisions taken by governments Scotland did not vote for have a very real impact on our communities.
“Despite a budget which has fallen in real terms over many years since 2007, the Scottish Government have set themselves mandatory targets on child poverty,
aiming to bring it down to 10 per cent by 2030. Action has already been taken to work towards this goal by building a Scottish Social Security system with dignity, fairness and respect at its heart.
“This includes the rollout of the Scottish Child Payment early next year which will reach more than 170,000 children across Scotland.
“While this is welcome, we could do so much more to tackle poverty with the powers that come with being part of a normal independent country.”
The three Hamilton North and East councillors were contacted for comment.