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 and is the only one to be in the 10% most deprived nationally.

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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.

Hereford Times: Maps showing the areas of Herefordshire that are amongst the most deprived nationally according to the Index of Multiple Deprivation 2019 Maps showing the areas of Herefordshire that are amongst the most deprived nationally according to the Index of Multiple Deprivation 2019

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:

  1. Golden Post-Newton Farm: 29 % living in income deprived households
  2. Leominster-Ridgemoor: 28 % living in income deprived households
  3. Leominster Grange: 25% living in income deprived households
  4. Leominster-Gateway: 25% living in income deprived households
  5. Hunderton: 23% living in income deprived households
  6. Ross-John Kyrle: 22% living in income deprived households
  7. Bromyard Central: 20% living in income deprived households
  8. Newton Farm-Brampton Road: 20% living in income deprived households
  9. Redhill-Belmont Road: 20% living in income deprived households
  10. Hunderton-Bishop’s Meadow: 20% living in income deprived households

Community answers

What do you think of your neighbourhood?

"Does it deserve to be described as 'deprived', or is it really a wonderful place to live? What, if anything, can be done to make it better? Your comment won't appear immediately, but we'll upload it as soon as we can."

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From Community contributor

What is your response?I live in Hunderton and have for the past 7 years - where for the last few years I have had alcoholic, drugged up neighbours hound my front door of a shared garden for 7 hours straight with police just telling me to "stay indoors". Okay, so you gonna pay my wages when I can't get to work? 4 years on and multiple police reports about drink driving, threatening behaviour, dog mess everywhere, music and fights all hours of the night, partying during the pandemic, sub letting (about 8 people in 1bed flat living) drug selling and guess what? They're still going strong! This is the truth of it. Housing and police don't care. Housing won't deal with her because it's "too dangerous" but it's fine for them to live next to a school and endanger everyone else?

From Community contributor

What is your response?I have lived in Newton Farm for almost 11 years now & initially the police were always in my residential area.Now itis a rare occurrence.I don't know if this is because priorities have changed or if the area has improved?I would say half & half.

From Phil Edwards

What is your response?Why not categorise the City areas correctly I.e. Golden Post is not in Newton Farm Ward of the City but is located within Hunderton. Bishops Meadow is not based in Hunderton. Phil Edwards, retired Councillor