Deprivation and lowest average wages concern

4:30pm Tuesday 15th January 2013 in Local

DEPRIVATION in Bolton has risen more than anywhere else in Greater Manchester.

The town also has the lowest average wages compared to elsewhere in Greater Manchester.

A study published today by the Greater Manchester Poverty Commission has revealed 92 per cent of areas in the borough saw an increase in deprivation between 2007 and 2010.

In Bury 85 per cent of its areas showed a rise in deprivation, and in Trafford the figure was 30 per cent.

But in Wigan deprivation had increased by just eight per cent.

Central Bolton was also singled out as one of six “severely deprived” areas with Central and Falinge in Rochdale, Harpurhey in Manchester, Balderstone in Rochdale, Langworthy in Salford, and Coldhurst in Oldham.

It revealed Bolton was the 48th most deprived area nationally.

The town also had the fourth highest percentage of people in Greater Manchester on incapacity benefit and employment support allowance, with 15,380 claimants — 9.1 per cent of the population — while total unemployment was the sixth highest in the sub-region with 8,440 claimants.

The borough also had the lowest hourly wage in Greater Manchester with workers paid an average of £9.48-an-hour, with 15 per cent of people — and 49 per cent of part time workers — earning below what is deemed the “living wage” of £7.45-an-hour, the joint worst figure along with Manchester.

A total of 17 per cent of children in Bolton are living in poverty, with Farnworth having the highest rates at 36 per cent, and Bromley Cross the lowest at five per cent.

Farnworth councillor Noel Spencer, who is also life president of Bolton at Home, said the social landlord was doing its best to tackle poverty issues through its UCAN centres with employment support and advice on energy saving.

He said: “The figures aren’t a total surprise and Farnworth, like a number of areas in Bolton, are among the most deprived wards in the country, and Greater Manchester as a whole is also one of the most deprived areas.

“Deprivation, especially among children, is a real concern.” The commission spent 12 months researching the report, carrying out interviews and compiling statistics from organisations including Bolton Council, Bolton at Home and Bolton Citizens Advice Bureau.

The report revealed 600,000 people across Greater Manchester are living in poverty, which is 20 per cent of the population.

It identified low pay, debt, high fuel prices, lack of access to public transport and poor health as the causes.

The commission called for the introduction of social enterprises in the banking, food and energy sectors and asked councils to set up their own energy provider companies, credit unions and bulk food purchase supermarkets and foodbanks.

It also asked the government to address poverty and called on the private and public sectors to promote the adoption of a Living Wage, as opposed to a minimum wage, to raise standards of living.

Alex Malone, project manager at Farnworth and Kearsley Foodbank, said: “I don’t think organisations like ours are the answer in the long-term, we can service the immediate need but you need proper agencies.

“Even in the month we’ve been opened we’ve seen the extent of the problem. It’s not just people without jobs who are coming in but people on low pay.

“I think these problems have been there a while and it’s not just the recession, but I think they’re being noticed more now because they’re affecting the people who wouldn’t normally have been affected. And I think it’s going to get worse.”

A council spokesman said: “We recognise the issues raised in the report and welcome its recommendations.

“We also note the presence of the Chief Executive of Bolton at Home as one of the report’s commissioners who is well placed to understand the difficulties which affect Bolton.

“We have only recently received the report and therefore will be looking at these recommendations in detail to see how we can best respond.

“As the report highlights, Bolton is one of a number of areas across Greater Manchester which is experiencing the effects of the hard economic times we live in.”

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Comments (28)

10:43am Tue 15 Jan 13

Don Kiddick says...

A glowing testament to Bolton Council. Nice one guys.
A glowing testament to Bolton Council. Nice one guys. Don Kiddick

11:17am Tue 15 Jan 13

pstuart says...

The basic premise of the council is wrong, just to sit back and expect parking ticket revenues to keep them afloat shows little imagination.
It does not any create jobs or credibility for the town.
We don't want to float we need to sail!
The basic premise of the council is wrong, just to sit back and expect parking ticket revenues to keep them afloat shows little imagination. It does not any create jobs or credibility for the town. We don't want to float we need to sail! pstuart

11:36am Tue 15 Jan 13

Tim Burr says...

Who lives in central Bolton and what do they class as central Bolton?
Who lives in central Bolton and what do they class as central Bolton? Tim Burr

11:54am Tue 15 Jan 13

mycommentsaremyown says...

Bolton Council are a joke, Labour are failing miserably... they have not come up with any real meaningful strategies to tackle the fundamental issues within the town centre, where you would look to for jobs growth... we need some courage from the council to generate trade and encourage people back into the town, but this needs to be more than just free parking a few hours a week over Christmas...

I think we should be reducing business rates for two years (by half) for newcomers to the town centre, using council reserves to fund it, to encourage more small and medium sizes businesses into the town because thats where you get your individualism and character from that makes people from outside the town want to come... as part of this approach, we need to stop trying to attract larger shops because they are happy to leave the town as quickly as they come...
Bolton Council are a joke, Labour are failing miserably... they have not come up with any real meaningful strategies to tackle the fundamental issues within the town centre, where you would look to for jobs growth... we need some courage from the council to generate trade and encourage people back into the town, but this needs to be more than just free parking a few hours a week over Christmas... I think we should be reducing business rates for two years (by half) for newcomers to the town centre, using council reserves to fund it, to encourage more small and medium sizes businesses into the town because thats where you get your individualism and character from that makes people from outside the town want to come... as part of this approach, we need to stop trying to attract larger shops because they are happy to leave the town as quickly as they come... mycommentsaremyown

1:20pm Tue 15 Jan 13

Marzi30 says...

No chance, Bolton Council is totally blinkered and self serving. Doesn't surprise me that this report is published just a fortnight after our bestowed Council Leader Doris claims that Bolton is holding its own in comparison to other North West Towns. Errrr Councillor Doris I think You'll find we're not, 48th most deprived area Nationally ? Explain that one Bolton Council, you're a shower of clowns !!,
No chance, Bolton Council is totally blinkered and self serving. Doesn't surprise me that this report is published just a fortnight after our bestowed Council Leader Doris claims that Bolton is holding its own in comparison to other North West Towns. Errrr Councillor Doris I think You'll find we're not, 48th most deprived area Nationally ? Explain that one Bolton Council, you're a shower of clowns !!, Marzi30

1:22pm Tue 15 Jan 13

magic dragon says...

mycommentsaremyown wrote:
Bolton Council are a joke, Labour are failing miserably... they have not come up with any real meaningful strategies to tackle the fundamental issues within the town centre, where you would look to for jobs growth... we need some courage from the council to generate trade and encourage people back into the town, but this needs to be more than just free parking a few hours a week over Christmas...

I think we should be reducing business rates for two years (by half) for newcomers to the town centre, using council reserves to fund it, to encourage more small and medium sizes businesses into the town because thats where you get your individualism and character from that makes people from outside the town want to come... as part of this approach, we need to stop trying to attract larger shops because they are happy to leave the town as quickly as they come...
Would you please enlighten me. Surely the fact that jobs and services within the Council are being cut highlights the fact that there are no reserves.
[quote][p][bold]mycommentsaremyown[/bold] wrote: Bolton Council are a joke, Labour are failing miserably... they have not come up with any real meaningful strategies to tackle the fundamental issues within the town centre, where you would look to for jobs growth... we need some courage from the council to generate trade and encourage people back into the town, but this needs to be more than just free parking a few hours a week over Christmas... I think we should be reducing business rates for two years (by half) for newcomers to the town centre, using council reserves to fund it, to encourage more small and medium sizes businesses into the town because thats where you get your individualism and character from that makes people from outside the town want to come... as part of this approach, we need to stop trying to attract larger shops because they are happy to leave the town as quickly as they come...[/p][/quote]Would you please enlighten me. Surely the fact that jobs and services within the Council are being cut highlights the fact that there are no reserves. magic dragon

1:24pm Tue 15 Jan 13

mycommentsaremyown says...

Marzi30 wrote:
No chance, Bolton Council is totally blinkered and self serving. Doesn't surprise me that this report is published just a fortnight after our bestowed Council Leader Doris claims that Bolton is holding its own in comparison to other North West Towns. Errrr Councillor Doris I think You'll find we're not, 48th most deprived area Nationally ? Explain that one Bolton Council, you're a shower of clowns !!,
I completely agree, Bolton didn't become a successful town by standing still! It had leaders who took risks, had courage and didn't want Bolton to just 'hold its own'... Now is the time to look to get a head start on all the other towns with a stand-still mindset by making us competitive and looking to create an identity for the town.
[quote][p][bold]Marzi30[/bold] wrote: No chance, Bolton Council is totally blinkered and self serving. Doesn't surprise me that this report is published just a fortnight after our bestowed Council Leader Doris claims that Bolton is holding its own in comparison to other North West Towns. Errrr Councillor Doris I think You'll find we're not, 48th most deprived area Nationally ? Explain that one Bolton Council, you're a shower of clowns !!,[/p][/quote]I completely agree, Bolton didn't become a successful town by standing still! It had leaders who took risks, had courage and didn't want Bolton to just 'hold its own'... Now is the time to look to get a head start on all the other towns with a stand-still mindset by making us competitive and looking to create an identity for the town. mycommentsaremyown

1:35pm Tue 15 Jan 13

mycommentsaremyown says...

magic dragon wrote:
mycommentsaremyown wrote: Bolton Council are a joke, Labour are failing miserably... they have not come up with any real meaningful strategies to tackle the fundamental issues within the town centre, where you would look to for jobs growth... we need some courage from the council to generate trade and encourage people back into the town, but this needs to be more than just free parking a few hours a week over Christmas... I think we should be reducing business rates for two years (by half) for newcomers to the town centre, using council reserves to fund it, to encourage more small and medium sizes businesses into the town because thats where you get your individualism and character from that makes people from outside the town want to come... as part of this approach, we need to stop trying to attract larger shops because they are happy to leave the town as quickly as they come...
Would you please enlighten me. Surely the fact that jobs and services within the Council are being cut highlights the fact that there are no reserves.
thats what they want you to think... a quick trawl of the net tells you that in fact the council is building up more and more reserves, see the link which suggests Bolton Councils reserves (just over twelve months ago) had likely more than trebled from £23m to £81m...

http://www.telegraph
.co.uk/news/politics
/8980729/Councils-ho
arding-more-cash-des
pite-spending-cuts.h
tml
[quote][p][bold]magic dragon[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]mycommentsaremyown[/bold] wrote: Bolton Council are a joke, Labour are failing miserably... they have not come up with any real meaningful strategies to tackle the fundamental issues within the town centre, where you would look to for jobs growth... we need some courage from the council to generate trade and encourage people back into the town, but this needs to be more than just free parking a few hours a week over Christmas... I think we should be reducing business rates for two years (by half) for newcomers to the town centre, using council reserves to fund it, to encourage more small and medium sizes businesses into the town because thats where you get your individualism and character from that makes people from outside the town want to come... as part of this approach, we need to stop trying to attract larger shops because they are happy to leave the town as quickly as they come...[/p][/quote]Would you please enlighten me. Surely the fact that jobs and services within the Council are being cut highlights the fact that there are no reserves.[/p][/quote]thats what they want you to think... a quick trawl of the net tells you that in fact the council is building up more and more reserves, see the link which suggests Bolton Councils reserves (just over twelve months ago) had likely more than trebled from £23m to £81m... http://www.telegraph .co.uk/news/politics /8980729/Councils-ho arding-more-cash-des pite-spending-cuts.h tml mycommentsaremyown

1:41pm Tue 15 Jan 13

mycommentsaremyown says...

Also, a look at the recent articale on this website quotes Cllr David Greenhalgh suggesting we make a one of use of the reserves to prevent a hike in council tax rates...

http://www.thebolton
news.co.uk/news/loca
l/10155982.__9m_more
_cuts_at_town_hall/?
ref=nt
Also, a look at the recent articale on this website quotes Cllr David Greenhalgh suggesting we make a one of use of the reserves to prevent a hike in council tax rates... http://www.thebolton news.co.uk/news/loca l/10155982.__9m_more _cuts_at_town_hall/? ref=nt mycommentsaremyown

1:50pm Tue 15 Jan 13

8cup49 says...

Its nice to see Labour think and care highly for its own citizens when you look at the announcement last week from the I'm all right jack Cliff Morris that they would be looking to increase rates and refuse the supposedly one million pound offer if they did not increase the rates, thus pilling more misery and a financial burden on workers who are on low or over a stretched budget, remember if rates go up the unemployed do not pay so the burden is on the low payed workers once again. The labour party cannot think outside the box and be creative, you have only got to look back over the past ten years and see that they were only good at wasting money. This sums up the attitude of some Councillors when it was announced that there was substantial cuts to public funding one Councillor stated when asked what about bin collections and rubbish in the town his the reply was good the more rubbish the better. That's and then they could blame this government for the cuts, its not us its someone else to blame. (The person will know who I am talking about) The Bolton centre is like a doss town empty and boarded up shops and the list goes on.
Its nice to see Labour think and care highly for its own citizens when you look at the announcement last week from the I'm all right jack Cliff Morris that they would be looking to increase rates and refuse the supposedly one million pound offer if they did not increase the rates, thus pilling more misery and a financial burden on workers who are on low or over a stretched budget, remember if rates go up the unemployed do not pay so the burden is on the low payed workers once again. The labour party cannot think outside the box and be creative, you have only got to look back over the past ten years and see that they were only good at wasting money. This sums up the attitude of some Councillors when it was announced that there was substantial cuts to public funding one Councillor stated when asked what about bin collections and rubbish in the town his the reply was good the more rubbish the better. That's and then they could blame this government for the cuts, its not us its someone else to blame. (The person will know who I am talking about) The Bolton centre is like a doss town empty and boarded up shops and the list goes on. 8cup49

1:58pm Tue 15 Jan 13

mycommentsaremyown says...

8cup49 wrote:
Its nice to see Labour think and care highly for its own citizens when you look at the announcement last week from the I'm all right jack Cliff Morris that they would be looking to increase rates and refuse the supposedly one million pound offer if they did not increase the rates, thus pilling more misery and a financial burden on workers who are on low or over a stretched budget, remember if rates go up the unemployed do not pay so the burden is on the low payed workers once again. The labour party cannot think outside the box and be creative, you have only got to look back over the past ten years and see that they were only good at wasting money. This sums up the attitude of some Councillors when it was announced that there was substantial cuts to public funding one Councillor stated when asked what about bin collections and rubbish in the town his the reply was good the more rubbish the better. That's and then they could blame this government for the cuts, its not us its someone else to blame. (The person will know who I am talking about) The Bolton centre is like a doss town empty and boarded up shops and the list goes on.
i'm convinced they have a strategy across all Labour run councils to make things worse, make people feel hard done by and feel the pinch, and then they can blame it all on the Tories and their 'cuts' to make sure Labour get back into central government.
[quote][p][bold]8cup49[/bold] wrote: Its nice to see Labour think and care highly for its own citizens when you look at the announcement last week from the I'm all right jack Cliff Morris that they would be looking to increase rates and refuse the supposedly one million pound offer if they did not increase the rates, thus pilling more misery and a financial burden on workers who are on low or over a stretched budget, remember if rates go up the unemployed do not pay so the burden is on the low payed workers once again. The labour party cannot think outside the box and be creative, you have only got to look back over the past ten years and see that they were only good at wasting money. This sums up the attitude of some Councillors when it was announced that there was substantial cuts to public funding one Councillor stated when asked what about bin collections and rubbish in the town his the reply was good the more rubbish the better. That's and then they could blame this government for the cuts, its not us its someone else to blame. (The person will know who I am talking about) The Bolton centre is like a doss town empty and boarded up shops and the list goes on.[/p][/quote]i'm convinced they have a strategy across all Labour run councils to make things worse, make people feel hard done by and feel the pinch, and then they can blame it all on the Tories and their 'cuts' to make sure Labour get back into central government. mycommentsaremyown

2:42pm Tue 15 Jan 13

stupancho says...

No surprise about Farnworth, after all, Bolton Council has spent nothing up here, and the town has been in terminal decline since 1974. Bet the councillor`s pension haven`t declined any though.....
No surprise about Farnworth, after all, Bolton Council has spent nothing up here, and the town has been in terminal decline since 1974. Bet the councillor`s pension haven`t declined any though..... stupancho

3:05pm Tue 15 Jan 13

steveG says...

Where are these "reserves" invested?. Now the Icelandic banks have gone to the wall it must be difficult for the council to find a sure fire way of losing our money.
Where are these "reserves" invested?. Now the Icelandic banks have gone to the wall it must be difficult for the council to find a sure fire way of losing our money. steveG

3:33pm Tue 15 Jan 13

aardwolf says...

Only an idiot draws on reserves. The council has already sold the family silver. God forbid they then spend the cash under the mattress. Perhaps a more interesting question would be 'What is the measure of poverty used in the report?'.
Readers may be surprised by the answer.
Only an idiot draws on reserves. The council has already sold the family silver. God forbid they then spend the cash under the mattress. Perhaps a more interesting question would be 'What is the measure of poverty used in the report?'. Readers may be surprised by the answer. aardwolf

3:58pm Tue 15 Jan 13

Hulton Park says...

I wrote in the Letters column of the BEN back in 1983 (!), in the wake of the demotiion of Leigh from a sub-regional to a merely local centre, that the Greater Manchester idea would eventually see Bolton (then a thriving shopping centre and magnet for new employment opportunities, well regarded in a WHOLE- REGIONAL context) reduced to little more than a local centre, catering for only the inner area of the old county borough. Voilà.

We are now well on the way to creating a city out of the eastern part of the South Lancashire conurbation. Bolton is unique in GM - by far the biggest employment centre outside Manchester, the only borough that does not have a net outflow of workers, and the only one that registers on maps that record this sort of thing with any significance. it will continue to suffer the most - because we are the biggest (dispregarding fictions like "metropolitan" Wigan).

Expect huge swathes of Bolton to look increasingly like 1960s Salford did - cast aside, neglected and abandoned. The GMCA is a talking shop for local apparatchiks who want the kudos, without the boring necessity of winning a mandate from an electorate. It will do NOTHING for Bolton.

Unitary status NOW - before it really is too late.
I wrote in the Letters column of the BEN back in 1983 (!), in the wake of the demotiion of Leigh from a sub-regional to a merely local centre, that the Greater Manchester idea would eventually see Bolton (then a thriving shopping centre and magnet for new employment opportunities, well regarded in a WHOLE- REGIONAL context) reduced to little more than a local centre, catering for only the inner area of the old county borough. Voilà. We are now well on the way to creating a city out of the eastern part of the South Lancashire conurbation. Bolton is unique in GM - by far the biggest employment centre outside Manchester, the only borough that does not have a net outflow of workers, and the only one that registers on maps that record this sort of thing with any significance. it will continue to suffer the most - because we are the biggest (dispregarding fictions like "metropolitan" Wigan). Expect huge swathes of Bolton to look increasingly like 1960s Salford did - cast aside, neglected and abandoned. The GMCA is a talking shop for local apparatchiks who want the kudos, without the boring necessity of winning a mandate from an electorate. It will do NOTHING for Bolton. Unitary status NOW - before it really is too late. Hulton Park

3:59pm Tue 15 Jan 13

Tim Burr says...

stupancho wrote:
No surprise about Farnworth, after all, Bolton Council has spent nothing up here, and the town has been in terminal decline since 1974. Bet the councillor`s pension haven`t declined any though.....
Bolton Council has been sitting on £320,000 CASH for a number of years, given in exchange for planning permission for Tesco and to be used for Farnworth and its people, the money is not sitting in a bank earning interest and there are no plans afoot to use it. Bolton Council (deliberately?) keep people in poverty and deprived. It wouldn't do for the peasants to hold an uprising would it?
Much easier to pass the blame or allow the blame to be passed on to ethnics or immigrants -such as the shisha debacle, its easy when they've failed to educate the masses who then feel downtrodden and alienated.
[quote][p][bold]stupancho[/bold] wrote: No surprise about Farnworth, after all, Bolton Council has spent nothing up here, and the town has been in terminal decline since 1974. Bet the councillor`s pension haven`t declined any though.....[/p][/quote]Bolton Council has been sitting on £320,000 CASH for a number of years, given in exchange for planning permission for Tesco and to be used for Farnworth and its people, the money is not sitting in a bank earning interest and there are no plans afoot to use it. Bolton Council (deliberately?) keep people in poverty and deprived. It wouldn't do for the peasants to hold an uprising would it? Much easier to pass the blame or allow the blame to be passed on to ethnics or immigrants -such as the shisha debacle, its easy when they've failed to educate the masses who then feel downtrodden and alienated. Tim Burr

7:05pm Tue 15 Jan 13

boltonnut says...

Deprivation,it sounds like Sodom and Gomorrah.
Deprivation,it sounds like Sodom and Gomorrah. boltonnut

7:05pm Tue 15 Jan 13

boltonnut says...

Deprivation,it sounds like Sodom and Gomorrah.
Deprivation,it sounds like Sodom and Gomorrah. boltonnut

7:23pm Tue 15 Jan 13

Beyond News Forum says...

aardwolf wrote:
Only an idiot draws on reserves. The council has already sold the family silver. God forbid they then spend the cash under the mattress. Perhaps a more interesting question would be 'What is the measure of poverty used in the report?'.
Readers may be surprised by the answer.
Well answer it then!

DO you have the answer to hand?

I'm looking at your past comments and I do not like to point out that individuals are shills. But in most cases you seem to draw golden balls all over the council cr*p. I don't get it? You obviously have a sound mind... but when push come to shove, if you live in Bolton you, then you need to **** well get out and about a little more than you do as this town is crumbling... your kids and grandchildren are depending on you.

The bottom line here aardwolf dude is poverty. This figure is probably more statistical than it is completely accurate, but one thing for sure. Any poverty in our town that is not self inflicted is a bloody CRIME!

The fact that these criminals with bums on seats in the council hierarchy are ripping the sh*t out of this once great town seems to go straight over your head... POVERTY in 21st Century Bolton is a CRIME and it should have been eradicated many moons ago. But it hasn't been because there is nothing left here in Bolton to ensure that jobs are created, wages don't stagnate and no real leadership when it comes to the fact that here in Bolton we have way too many people who cannot be arsed to do anything but sit at home, maybe only go out IN A TAXI to the signing on point.

The town is a sh*thole, it is recognized nationally as a sh*thole, the BWFC fans chant the town is a sh*thole... so what is your point?

Stick your blindfold back on and crawl back under your rock!
[quote][p][bold]aardwolf[/bold] wrote: Only an idiot draws on reserves. The council has already sold the family silver. God forbid they then spend the cash under the mattress. Perhaps a more interesting question would be 'What is the measure of poverty used in the report?'. Readers may be surprised by the answer.[/p][/quote]Well answer it then! DO you have the answer to hand? I'm looking at your past comments and I do not like to point out that individuals are shills. But in most cases you seem to draw golden balls all over the council cr*p. I don't get it? You obviously have a sound mind... but when push come to shove, if you live in Bolton you, then you need to **** well get out and about a little more than you do as this town is crumbling... your kids and grandchildren are depending on you. The bottom line here aardwolf dude is poverty. This figure is probably more statistical than it is completely accurate, but one thing for sure. Any poverty in our town that is not self inflicted is a bloody CRIME! The fact that these criminals with bums on seats in the council hierarchy are ripping the sh*t out of this once great town seems to go straight over your head... POVERTY in 21st Century Bolton is a CRIME and it should have been eradicated many moons ago. But it hasn't been because there is nothing left here in Bolton to ensure that jobs are created, wages don't stagnate and no real leadership when it comes to the fact that here in Bolton we have way too many people who cannot be arsed to do anything but sit at home, maybe only go out IN A TAXI to the signing on point. The town is a sh*thole, it is recognized nationally as a sh*thole, the BWFC fans chant the town is a sh*thole... so what is your point? Stick your blindfold back on and crawl back under your rock! Beyond News Forum

7:28pm Tue 15 Jan 13

Beyond News Forum says...

boltonnut wrote:
Deprivation,it sounds like Sodom and Gomorrah.
Soddom!

Dude you know your town lol *hug*
[quote][p][bold]boltonnut[/bold] wrote: Deprivation,it sounds like Sodom and Gomorrah.[/p][/quote]Soddom! Dude you know your town lol *hug* Beyond News Forum

7:37pm Tue 15 Jan 13

pstuart says...

Beyond News Forum wrote:
aardwolf wrote:
Only an idiot draws on reserves. The council has already sold the family silver. God forbid they then spend the cash under the mattress. Perhaps a more interesting question would be 'What is the measure of poverty used in the report?'.
Readers may be surprised by the answer.
Well answer it then!

DO you have the answer to hand?

I'm looking at your past comments and I do not like to point out that individuals are shills. But in most cases you seem to draw golden balls all over the council cr*p. I don't get it? You obviously have a sound mind... but when push come to shove, if you live in Bolton you, then you need to **** well get out and about a little more than you do as this town is crumbling... your kids and grandchildren are depending on you.

The bottom line here aardwolf dude is poverty. This figure is probably more statistical than it is completely accurate, but one thing for sure. Any poverty in our town that is not self inflicted is a bloody CRIME!

The fact that these criminals with bums on seats in the council hierarchy are ripping the sh*t out of this once great town seems to go straight over your head... POVERTY in 21st Century Bolton is a CRIME and it should have been eradicated many moons ago. But it hasn't been because there is nothing left here in Bolton to ensure that jobs are created, wages don't stagnate and no real leadership when it comes to the fact that here in Bolton we have way too many people who cannot be arsed to do anything but sit at home, maybe only go out IN A TAXI to the signing on point.

The town is a sh*thole, it is recognized nationally as a sh*thole, the BWFC fans chant the town is a sh*thole... so what is your point?

Stick your blindfold back on and crawl back under your rock!
Totally agree.

The time for gentle and old fashioned comments has got us into this situation.
We don't shop in the town centre anymore since it started to resemble a bad episode from the Muppet show.
Farnworth is worse, bless us that live there.
I am a natural Labour voter but like many we don't vote anymore because no one seems to represent what we want.
[quote][p][bold]Beyond News Forum[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]aardwolf[/bold] wrote: Only an idiot draws on reserves. The council has already sold the family silver. God forbid they then spend the cash under the mattress. Perhaps a more interesting question would be 'What is the measure of poverty used in the report?'. Readers may be surprised by the answer.[/p][/quote]Well answer it then! DO you have the answer to hand? I'm looking at your past comments and I do not like to point out that individuals are shills. But in most cases you seem to draw golden balls all over the council cr*p. I don't get it? You obviously have a sound mind... but when push come to shove, if you live in Bolton you, then you need to **** well get out and about a little more than you do as this town is crumbling... your kids and grandchildren are depending on you. The bottom line here aardwolf dude is poverty. This figure is probably more statistical than it is completely accurate, but one thing for sure. Any poverty in our town that is not self inflicted is a bloody CRIME! The fact that these criminals with bums on seats in the council hierarchy are ripping the sh*t out of this once great town seems to go straight over your head... POVERTY in 21st Century Bolton is a CRIME and it should have been eradicated many moons ago. But it hasn't been because there is nothing left here in Bolton to ensure that jobs are created, wages don't stagnate and no real leadership when it comes to the fact that here in Bolton we have way too many people who cannot be arsed to do anything but sit at home, maybe only go out IN A TAXI to the signing on point. The town is a sh*thole, it is recognized nationally as a sh*thole, the BWFC fans chant the town is a sh*thole... so what is your point? Stick your blindfold back on and crawl back under your rock![/p][/quote]Totally agree. The time for gentle and old fashioned comments has got us into this situation. We don't shop in the town centre anymore since it started to resemble a bad episode from the Muppet show. Farnworth is worse, bless us that live there. I am a natural Labour voter but like many we don't vote anymore because no one seems to represent what we want. pstuart

9:30pm Tue 15 Jan 13

Citizen Cane says...

The article is wholly misleading. A single parent with one child working 35 hours on the minimum wage has state top-ups taking their monthly TAKE-HOME income to £1924. Hardly poverty.

An equivalent unemployed claimant will get to around 60% of this - again, hardly poverty.

The real reason for child poverty is irresponsible, grasping parents ripping off the taxpayer and then spending the cash on cigs, booze, drugs, fast food,animals, phones, sky tv, etc etc rather than on their genetically doomed offspring. Many will be on the rob or on the fiddle to boot.
The article is wholly misleading. A single parent with one child working 35 hours on the minimum wage has state top-ups taking their monthly TAKE-HOME income to £1924. Hardly poverty. An equivalent unemployed claimant will get to around 60% of this - again, hardly poverty. The real reason for child poverty is irresponsible, grasping parents ripping off the taxpayer and then spending the cash on cigs, booze, drugs, fast food,animals, phones, sky tv, etc etc rather than on their genetically doomed offspring. Many will be on the rob or on the fiddle to boot. Citizen Cane

9:35pm Tue 15 Jan 13

sallyupsteps says...

mycommentsaremyown wrote:
Bolton Council are a joke, Labour are failing miserably... they have not come up with any real meaningful strategies to tackle the fundamental issues within the town centre, where you would look to for jobs growth... we need some courage from the council to generate trade and encourage people back into the town, but this needs to be more than just free parking a few hours a week over Christmas...

I think we should be reducing business rates for two years (by half) for newcomers to the town centre, using council reserves to fund it, to encourage more small and medium sizes businesses into the town because thats where you get your individualism and character from that makes people from outside the town want to come... as part of this approach, we need to stop trying to attract larger shops because they are happy to leave the town as quickly as they come...
I couldn't agree more! We need to encourage small businesses to come into town. Give them rent and rate free premises. Give the kids a chance we have loads of young people who only need that one chance.
[quote][p][bold]mycommentsaremyown[/bold] wrote: Bolton Council are a joke, Labour are failing miserably... they have not come up with any real meaningful strategies to tackle the fundamental issues within the town centre, where you would look to for jobs growth... we need some courage from the council to generate trade and encourage people back into the town, but this needs to be more than just free parking a few hours a week over Christmas... I think we should be reducing business rates for two years (by half) for newcomers to the town centre, using council reserves to fund it, to encourage more small and medium sizes businesses into the town because thats where you get your individualism and character from that makes people from outside the town want to come... as part of this approach, we need to stop trying to attract larger shops because they are happy to leave the town as quickly as they come...[/p][/quote]I couldn't agree more! We need to encourage small businesses to come into town. Give them rent and rate free premises. Give the kids a chance we have loads of young people who only need that one chance. sallyupsteps

12:34am Wed 16 Jan 13

oftbewildered2 says...

Citizen Cane wrote:
The article is wholly misleading. A single parent with one child working 35 hours on the minimum wage has state top-ups taking their monthly TAKE-HOME income to £1924. Hardly poverty.

An equivalent unemployed claimant will get to around 60% of this - again, hardly poverty.

The real reason for child poverty is irresponsible, grasping parents ripping off the taxpayer and then spending the cash on cigs, booze, drugs, fast food,animals, phones, sky tv, etc etc rather than on their genetically doomed offspring. Many will be on the rob or on the fiddle to boot.
that's more than I used to take home when I was working (retired now, but I was working a couple of years ago)
[quote][p][bold]Citizen Cane[/bold] wrote: The article is wholly misleading. A single parent with one child working 35 hours on the minimum wage has state top-ups taking their monthly TAKE-HOME income to £1924. Hardly poverty. An equivalent unemployed claimant will get to around 60% of this - again, hardly poverty. The real reason for child poverty is irresponsible, grasping parents ripping off the taxpayer and then spending the cash on cigs, booze, drugs, fast food,animals, phones, sky tv, etc etc rather than on their genetically doomed offspring. Many will be on the rob or on the fiddle to boot.[/p][/quote]that's more than I used to take home when I was working (retired now, but I was working a couple of years ago) oftbewildered2

1:03am Wed 16 Jan 13

ARBEE says...

People should not boast about being a
labour or tory supporter,they should put their brains into gear and become a
swinging voter, this will make these seat warmers work a lot harder to keep their jobs. then again pigs might fly !!!
People should not boast about being a labour or tory supporter,they should put their brains into gear and become a swinging voter, this will make these seat warmers work a lot harder to keep their jobs. then again pigs might fly !!! ARBEE

1:47pm Wed 16 Jan 13

boltonnut says...

Hugs back mr.Forum ,I say sodom all.
Hugs back mr.Forum ,I say sodom all. boltonnut

3:44pm Wed 16 Jan 13

Beyond News Forum says...

Citizen Cane wrote:
The article is wholly misleading. A single parent with one child working 35 hours on the minimum wage has state top-ups taking their monthly TAKE-HOME income to £1924. Hardly poverty.

An equivalent unemployed claimant will get to around 60% of this - again, hardly poverty.

The real reason for child poverty is irresponsible, grasping parents ripping off the taxpayer and then spending the cash on cigs, booze, drugs, fast food,animals, phones, sky tv, etc etc rather than on their genetically doomed offspring. Many will be on the rob or on the fiddle to boot.
Absolute garbage Cane... you know as well as the many that the statistics of people that are able to afford such luxuries on benefits is complete nonsense. Of those that can, and i can assure you that I am in the know on this - that it is those that have put time into work over many years and find themselves out of a job but do get a decent scratch from the government because they paid up a good whack in NI. You get back what you put in.

I do not disagree that there are some that are dodgy with their benefits, but the bottom lineis this. less than £125 a week is classed as poverty.

Poverty breeds people who become extremely stressed and can see no light at the end of the tunnel. It is this situation that needs to be addresses instead of throwing accusations blindly. These are the type of people that will put up the blinds and wish to block out the world with alcohol, cigs and sometimes drugs.

I believe that a small top-up is a right of someone who is working 35-hours and should be commended as the other option is much much worse. Top-ups are a reward for a single person who does go out to work should be a top-up as it is with married couples with tax benefits. You would be *****ng and moaning if that single person was drawing £30k a year saton their backside with 3 kids. This is a democratic society that we live in not a Communist regime!

I don't agree with the benefits system at in many regards, there should be a 2-month cut off and/or state work programs that pay a minimum wage which would be cheaper than the handouts.

On the rob you say... well this goes part and parcel with poverty, mental health and the **** laws that are produced. Parenting can be an issue, but you will find that statistically offenders for the main go behind a parents back and not with the blessing of said parent(s).

But if you can grab some investigative journalistic research on what you say I will agree with you... You will find none as what you say is of your personal opinion that is speculative.
[quote][p][bold]Citizen Cane[/bold] wrote: The article is wholly misleading. A single parent with one child working 35 hours on the minimum wage has state top-ups taking their monthly TAKE-HOME income to £1924. Hardly poverty. An equivalent unemployed claimant will get to around 60% of this - again, hardly poverty. The real reason for child poverty is irresponsible, grasping parents ripping off the taxpayer and then spending the cash on cigs, booze, drugs, fast food,animals, phones, sky tv, etc etc rather than on their genetically doomed offspring. Many will be on the rob or on the fiddle to boot.[/p][/quote]Absolute garbage Cane... you know as well as the many that the statistics of people that are able to afford such luxuries on benefits is complete nonsense. Of those that can, and i can assure you that I am in the know on this - that it is those that have put time into work over many years and find themselves out of a job but do get a decent scratch from the government because they paid up a good whack in NI. You get back what you put in. I do not disagree that there are some that are dodgy with their benefits, but the bottom lineis this. less than £125 a week is classed as poverty. Poverty breeds people who become extremely stressed and can see no light at the end of the tunnel. It is this situation that needs to be addresses instead of throwing accusations blindly. These are the type of people that will put up the blinds and wish to block out the world with alcohol, cigs and sometimes drugs. I believe that a small top-up is a right of someone who is working 35-hours and should be commended as the other option is much much worse. Top-ups are a reward for a single person who does go out to work should be a top-up as it is with married couples with tax benefits. You would be *****ng and moaning if that single person was drawing £30k a year saton their backside with 3 kids. This is a democratic society that we live in not a Communist regime! I don't agree with the benefits system at in many regards, there should be a 2-month cut off and/or state work programs that pay a minimum wage which would be cheaper than the handouts. On the rob you say... well this goes part and parcel with poverty, mental health and the **** laws that are produced. Parenting can be an issue, but you will find that statistically offenders for the main go behind a parents back and not with the blessing of said parent(s). But if you can grab some investigative journalistic research on what you say I will agree with you... You will find none as what you say is of your personal opinion that is speculative. Beyond News Forum

8:08pm Fri 18 Jan 13

JustBecause says...

Poverty..... Tell you what go over to Cambodia, or India, or Africa, they have real poverty.

Your in poverty in the uk if you can't top up your mobile or sky subscription.

As for someone taking home nearly 2k a month, if this true, I am off to do the same 30k a year for 35 hrs....
Poverty..... Tell you what go over to Cambodia, or India, or Africa, they have real poverty. Your in poverty in the uk if you can't top up your mobile or sky subscription. As for someone taking home nearly 2k a month, if this true, I am off to do the same 30k a year for 35 hrs.... JustBecause

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