Parts of Yate and Dodington are classed as 'priority areas' (From Gazette Series)

Parts of Yate and Dodington are classed as 'priority areas'

11:48am Tuesday 7th July 2009 in

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PARTS of Yate and Dodington have officially been classed as priority neighbourhoods in a bid to reverse downward trends of deprivation.

A study carried out by South Gloucestershire Council found that since 2004, some streets in Yate and Dodington have seen standards in health and education fall dramatically.

Blaisdon has the worst levels of education and skills in the whole of South Gloucestershire, with Milton Road and the Culverhill and Rodford area coming close behind.

Cranleigh Court Road and Moorland Road have low health records, putting them in the top 10 percent of deprived areas in that category, according to the study.

Steve Evans, director of community services, said although the scores were not as worrying as other towns in the district, Yate and Dodington saw the most rapid decline in deprivation between 2004 and 2007.

He said the area did not meet all the criteria to warrant being classed as a priority neighbourhood.

But he added: "However, in the present economic climate and in order to prevent a decline towards increased relative deprivation it could be proposed to target Yate and north Dodington with additional resources, both strategically and operationally, in order to prevent it falling into the 10 percent most deprived in South Gloucestershire."

At a meeting of the council’s cabinet yesterday, councillors agreed to focus on improving the education, skills and training residents receive to increase economic prospects.

Cllr Ruth Davis (Lib Dem, Yate Central) said: "I am pleased to see the council is on board with this and understands the importance of it.

"One important factor to consider is that although there is a lot of private house ownership in the Yate and Dodington area, even in old council areas, many of the properties are 35 to 40 years old.

"Many of the roofs need redoing and it is quite cheap end housing. So you have a situation where people have got themselves on the housing ladder but they can’t afford to do anything."

Cllr Matthew Riddle (Con, Severn) said: "There is a rising unemployment problem in the greater Yate area and figures have now broken the 1,000 milestone. It is right that these economic issues are raised."

Extra funding to improve the area will be shared with the council’s existing five priority neighbourhoods, Kingswood, Staple Hill, Patchway, Filton and Cadbury Heath.

Cllr Roger Hutchinson (Lab, Filton) said: "My fear now is that the resources we have will be further stretched by adding in one more area.

"The money will be split six ways instead of five and clearly that will be a loss for everyone."

The council said it was already investing heavily in the Yate area, with the opening of the town’s new library, health centre and improvements at Yate Leisure Centre.

Cllr Heather Goddard (Con, Hanham) said: "Yate is well on the way with some investments. There is a lot going on in Yate."

Dodington Parish Council has said it supports the move as long as being designated as a priority neighbourhood benefits the area.