Thousands in West are one bill away from the breadline
The fragile financial futures of people across the Westcountry who are in work but on low incomes has been exposed by new research.
Experian Public Sector used a combination of its own data and social indicators to measure how economically "resilient" different areas are.
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It revealed a list of households who were already struggling to pay the bills despite working full-time and were "at risk" of slipping into poverty.
Experian's Bruno Rost explained: "These are the people who are on the cliff edge and, should circumstances deteriorate further, are the types of people likely to suffer most with a change in fortune."
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Local authority areas in Devon and Cornwall featured prominently in the national table compiled by Experian for The Guardian newspaper.
Torbay topped the national list with 37 per cent of 61,800 homes at risk.
In Teignbridge, which was ranked 13th, the figures were 15,600 households (28 per cent), in North Devon, which was 15th on the list, it was 10,800 properties (27 per cent).
Torridge, which has one of the lowest average pay rates in the country, was ranked 23rd, with 7,600 (26 per cent) of homes at risk of poverty. In Cornwall the rate was 26 per cent or 62,700 households.
The figures contrasted sharply with Exeter where only 14 per cent, or 7,200 homes, were judged at risk.
Devon and Cornwall Business Council chairman Tim Jones said it was important to keep it in perspective and there were not hundreds of people "begging on the streets of Torbay".
But he said the report "reflected what we are experiencing in the marketplace" across the two counties.
"The fact is we do have a small and micro-business economy, a lot of people who are self employed, while part-time work is more prevalent than the statistics would suggest," Mr Jones said.
"Low take-home pay, low productivity and gross domestic product are some of the problems we are having to grapple with. We have got to work very hard to create opportunities through regeneration in particular."
A Torbay Council spokesman said it "recognises the issues affecting Torbay" and had "many measures and strategies in place to try and reduce poverty and social deprivation in the Bay".
He added: "We are working closely with our partners to address inequalities, but it is a complex issue heightened by the fact that we are experiencing financial constraints. We do adopt a 'first and most' policy which targets resources at the areas and people that are most at need.
"Torbay Council is also committed to creating opportunities for the community through job-led regeneration, creating an environment that encourages inward investment and raising skills levels in the Bay.
"All these things will help improve the prospects of Torbay's economy to prevent more people from experiencing financial and social problems and to help more people escape poverty."
Comments
by globalloon
Friday, June 22 2012, 12:52AM
“Ladybugs
you said:
"You've really got me on one now. Heating......we ended up living and sleeping in one room to keep warm... People these days really don't know they have been born"
you then went on to say:
"you have made assumptions that are so far from the truth that it is laughable."
in reaction to me suggesting that winter heating was an essential expense.
As far as I know we have had indoor heating in this country for over 2000 years. Your assumption that I, or other working people with limited income, waste money on heating during record-breaking cold winters is what is just that; an assumption.
Pot, kettle, black.
I am passionate about the this country, our future and how we get there. Can't we can discuss these things without you calling other peoples' input "rubbish" and "laughable"? You are old enough to know better than that.”
by 2ladybugs
Thursday, June 21 2012, 10:47AM
“globalloon. You have completely misread what I have written and have made assumptions that are so far from the truth that it is laughable.”
by globalloon
Thursday, June 21 2012, 10:07AM
“Ladybugs
that's the big difference; you had capital. The report describes people who have no assets and are therefore unable to raise capital. You admission that you owned 2 properties is very different from the picture you painted of you and your children living in one room to keep warm, wearing hand stitched rags and nary a chicken bone between you.
Small businesses (of which there are many 1000s) can't borrow to expand or employ and many working people have no spare income to spend anyway; it's a vicious cycle of economic woe. A global economic crisis deeper, broader and more prolonged than any in 100 years.
Well done to you for making yourself comfortable during the boom years of the 80s. The current situation is nothing like that and it's disingenious to try and compare.
Why do you think anyone finds it "sickening" that you are comfortable? I feel that your immediate attack on this report (and more importantly the implications of what this report shows) is a little bit sad; the facts may not support your world view, but they are facts nonetheless.
I have run several successful businesses and charities and am well educated, hard working and turn my hand to most things, but I, like millions of working people in this country today, am under desperate finacial stress. Please stop and consider the facts before forming opinions.”
by 2ladybugs
Thursday, June 21 2012, 5:55AM
“@equity2010
You're warming to me??!!......that's ominous. You might regret having said that. :)
How right you are at the end of your comment.”
by equity2010
Thursday, June 21 2012, 2:44AM
“Ladybugs, I am warming to you. Like you, I am retired and suffering none of the fallouts of the current recession, but my heart does go out to those who are suffering. It is unfortunate that the get up and go philosophy that drove our predecessors to lift themselves from the mire has been sacrificed on the burning pyre of political correctnest and socialist victim dogma.”
by Chunder123
Wednesday, June 20 2012, 8:56PM
“the recovery from ww2 could take hundreds of years. The planet might never fully recover from it”
by TheodoreV
Wednesday, June 20 2012, 6:31PM
“Oh poor ole "gwenonek". Such a simplistic (and erroneous) view of the world. How precisely would "ending Westminster rule now" reduce relative poverty or pay for all the social mechanisms to support those in need?”
by Ax0l0tl
Wednesday, June 20 2012, 6:15PM
“In Britain the national debt is equivalent to the amount the richest 1,000 people have become richer by in the past four years.”
by 2ladybugs
Wednesday, June 20 2012, 4:46PM
“Oh and just to upset you even more, I am now living in comfort and the "recession" is barely touching me. Sickening isn't it. :0))))”
by 2ladybugs
Wednesday, June 20 2012, 4:24PM
“BTW when I said the 70's/80's it was from about 1979 to 1984/5. I know this is six years but a couple of years things weren't quite so dire.”