{"id":36397,"date":"2021-12-10T16:22:09","date_gmt":"2021-12-10T16:22:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sheffieldwire.co.uk\/?p=36397"},"modified":"2021-12-10T16:22:09","modified_gmt":"2021-12-10T16:22:09","slug":"sheffield-east-west-inequality","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sheffieldwire.co.uk\/index.php\/2021\/12\/10\/sheffield-east-west-inequality\/","title":{"rendered":"A tale of two cities: Covid inequalities in East and West Sheffield"},"content":{"rendered":"

After more than a year of living with Covid-19, the inequality that splits Sheffield in half has never been more apparent.<\/p>\n

Despite hearing that “we’re all in this together” from politicians, brands, and celebrities, the pandemic showed the stark differences in the ways people live.<\/p>\n

More time was spent at home, jobs were lost or hours cut, and existing health conditions put people at risk of serious illness or death.<\/span><\/p>\n

What\u2019s significant about the divide in Sheffield?<\/b><\/h3>\n

 <\/p>\n

In Sheffield, the richest and poorest areas are split down the middle, with a strong dividing line between the East and the West.<\/p>\n

This layout for a city is unique in England. In many cities, some of the most affluent and most deprived <\/span>areas <\/span>sit side-by-side, mixed throughout.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"

Diagram showing areas which fall into the 20% most and least deprived in the country, across England\u2019s largest cities, from the Fairness Commission Report by Sheffield City Council<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

Researchers have said this is for historical reasons. <\/span><\/p>\n

In the 19th century, factory owners fled from the pollution-heavy East where the factories were based, to find home in the leafy, uphill West.<\/span><\/p>\n

After pit closures in the 1980s and 90s, the communities in the East were ravaged by poverty, while the West continued on largely unaffected.<\/span><\/p>\n

How unequal is Sheffield?<\/b><\/h3>\n

 <\/p>\n

Phil Vintin, 44, grew up in Woodhouse Mill in the East but moved as an adult to Sharrow and Nether Edge in the West.<\/p>\n

Reflecting on the differences in the city, he said: “I think the mindset within the city varies. I\u2019d say, as a generalisation, the North and the East are similar and the South West is particularly different, due to the money and things like the nicer, tree lined environment.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Like any city, there are extreme differences to be found.<\/span><\/p>\n