Putting Place in Perspective
Cheshire West and Chester
In Cheshire West and Chester (CWaC) the overall quality of life is very good for most
residents. However, it is firmly recognised there are places, mainly in urban areas,
where some communities experience multiple disadvantages.
Economic Prosperity
There are 9 areas in Cheshire West and Chester that fall within the 10% most
deprived in England:
Westminster
Lache Park,
Blacon Lodge
Blacon Hall
Winsford Over
Winsford Wharton
Stanlow and Wolverham
Lache Park in Chester is in the bottom 1% in England for each of the measures of
income deprivation used in the Indices of Multiple Deprivation. Blacon Lodge
(Chester) is in the bottom 1% for employment and health and Winsford Over
contains one neighbourhood with exceptionally high levels of deprivation in terms of
access to education (37th worst out of 32,482 in England).
Rates of benefit claimants in Westminster and Blacon Lodge are double the rates for
the rest of the UK and 24 neighbourhoods (primarily in Chester, Ellesmere Port and
Neston) have higher than average rates.
The number of NEETs (young people not in employment, education or training) in
both Northwich and Winsford exceed the national average.
Ageing Population
The population of Cheshire West and Chester is older than that of the rest of
England.
17.7% of CWaCs population is aged 65+. The 65+ population is expected to increase
by over 50% to over 92,000 by 2029. The 85+ age range will more than double to
over 16,000.
Making Cheshire Better
This ageing population is contrasted by slow population growth. There will be a
decrease in working age population and resident labour supply over the next 20
years with an increase in older workers contrasted by a decrease in the younger
workforce. This implies a greater demand for public sector services, but with less tax
revenue to finance this increased demand. More specifically, there will be particular
pressures in future on the sort of public services which older people are more likely to
use, such as hospitals, care services, public transport and leisure/cultural facilities.
Health Inequalities
Health inequalities between the most deprived and most affluent areas are on the
increase and there is a distinct difference in health experience between areas that
are in the nationally most deprived 40% compared with others. One third of the
population of Cheshire West and Chester lives in these areas.
The difference in life expectancy between the most deprived and least deprived
individuals is 10 years for men and 7.5 years for women. Life expectancy for women
in Winsford and Rural East and Ellesmere Port is lower than the national average.
¾’s of deaths in CWaC are caused by circulatory diseases, lung cancer and
respiratory diseases.
Mortality from alcohol-specific disorders is significantly higher than the national
average and is on the increase. Hospital admissions from alcohol-attributable
conditions are higher than the national average and are increasing year-on-year.
Under-18 hospital admission rates for alcohol-specific conditions are significantly
higher than the national average.
18% of CWaC’s population classify themselves as having a limiting long-term illness.
These illnesses are primarily preventable and are evidenced in areas of deprivation
and among high numbers of elderly residents.
Children and Young People
Birth numbers are increasing primarily in families living in the most deprived 20% of
areas.
Teenage conception rates are significantly high in the most deprived areas but
nearly half of teenage conceptions are to young women living in the most affluent
three quintiles. Both Winsford and Ellesmere Port have very high rates of teenage
pregnancy.
The number of children in care in Cheshire West and Chester is increasing and their
level of educational attainment is poorer than the national average.
Homelessness
In 2009 CWaC had the second highest number of rough sleepers outside London.
Making Cheshire Better
BME Communities
Cheshire West and Chester has a relatively small but growing proportion of people
from a black or non-white minority ethnic background. The area is becoming more
diverse and is seeing a growing number of international workers and their families,
many from Eastern Europe who work in and around the area. Increasing levels of
migration from Eastern Europe are altering the ethnic composition of the local
population in and around the city of Chester parts of Ellesmere Port and Frodsham
and altering the types and demands for different services. Historic lack of ethnic
diversity across in the local authority could create problems for integration of
minority groups where they exist in local communities.
Rural Isolation
Rural isolation and access to services for rural communities is an issue. 1
For further information please contact:
Cheshire Community Foundation
Warren House
Rudheath Way
Gadrook Park, Northwich
CW9 7LT
Telephone: 01606 330607
Email: office@cheshirecommunityfoundation.org.uk
Cheshire Community Foundation is a registered charity, no: 1143711.
1
All statistics quoted in this Area Perspective are taken from the LA Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA),
DORIC
Making Cheshire Better