Affordable food access hitting most of town

MORE than half of all neighbourhoods in Barnsley are ranked within the worst areas of access to affordable food, shocking new figures have revealed.

Tens of thousands of households across the borough are feeling the pinch at the tills this winter, as the soaring cost of fuel has a knock-on effect on everyday essentials.

Researchers from the University of Leeds and the consumer champion Which? have created an index ranking areas on how likely they are to need support to access affordable and healthy food.

Stephanie Peacock’s Barnsley East constituency have been ranked as the worst area in the town for access to affordable food.

A total of 39 neighbourhoods in the area are ranked as within the worst 20 per cent across the whole of the country.

It puts the constituency among the worst 50 across the whole country.

The index combined factors such as the number of households on low income, proximity to large supermarkets, the number of children on free school meals, and the availability of online deliveries, to assess which areas were the most in need of access to healthy, reasonably-priced food.

Dan Jarvis’ Barnsley Central is also in the country’s worst 50 areas, as more than 66 per cent of its 53 neighbourhoods are in the worst 20 per cent bracket.

Neither Penistone and Stocksbridge or Wentworth and Dearne are ranked in the worst 50 across the country.

But 28 neighbourhoods in the former and 34 in the latter are placed in the bottom 20 per cent.

Michelle Morris, associate professor at the University of Leeds, said: “With so many people in the UK already suffering from food insecurity and the cost-of-living crisis making that much worse, we need to do all that we can to support those most in need to access affordable, healthy and sustainable foods.”

Which? has now launched an ‘affordable food for all’ campaign.

It calls on supermarkets to commit to clear and transparent pricing, access to affordable food ranges across all of their stores, and to prioritise price reductions over multibuy promotions.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics show the price of food and non-alcoholic drinks rose by 16.2 per cent in the 12 months to October - which it estimates to be the highest rate since 1980.

Sue Davies, head of food policy at Which?, said that millions of people were skipping meals due to the cost of living crisis.

“Supermarkets have the ability to take action and make a real difference to communities all around the UK,” she said

“That’s why we’re calling on them to ensure everyone has easy access to budget food ranges that enable healthy choices, can easily compare the price of products to get the best value and that promotions are targeted at supporting people most in need.”