Inside one of UK's most deprived area branded a 'ghost town with no real jobs'

05 November 2023 , 11:33

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Jean Young and June Fosse shared their thoughts on Middlesbrough being named on the most destitute list (Image: Rahima Miah)

An area located in one of the most deprived regions in the UK has been described as a "ghost town with no real jobs" by a resident.

The comment came after a study revealed that Middlesbrough had the third highest levels of poverty in the country. The report by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation highlighted an increase in people unable to afford basic necessities. Only Manchester and Newham in London had higher poverty levels than Middlesbrough.

When asked their thoughts on the study's findings, many locals mentioned the number of empty shops in Middlesbrough. A 74-year-old pensioner from Acklam, who wished to remain anonymous, said: "It's a ghost town. They've closed too many shops. I used to live on Carlow Street. That was bad. They need to put prices back where they were. I bought cough medicine from Savers for £3.99 and in Boots the exact same one is £5.99."

Oludare Olowora said there are 'no real jobs' in the town (Rahima Miah)

Jean Young and June Fosse, shopkeepers at PDSA's Middlesbrough store, commented on the poverty levels in Middlesbrough. PDSA is the UK's leading charity for pets in need. They said: "Everyone says Middlesbrough is a ghost town. They're shutting all the nice shops.

"People haven't got resources to buy the shops. The resources have to be spent on the police because of the crime levels." Jean expressed her sadness over the desolation of Middlesbrough.

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Meanwhile, Oludare Olowora, a Nigerian student who moved to Middlesbrough in 2021, believes the lack of jobs and opportunities is the root cause of the town's poverty. He told Teesside Live: "There are no real jobs here. I have been here since 2021. I came from Nigeria to study for my masters degree. I'm not finding any work."

Pauline Carter, a resident of Ingleby Barwick, agreed with Middlesbrough being named the third most destitute place in England, saying it is "probably about right". The teaching assistant added: "Everything has closed down. I don't feel safe in Middlesbrough.

"It's too risky. I only came to Middlesbrough today to pick up my granddaughter." She suggested that the council should "bring shops back" as she feels there are "no cafes".

Harvey Peacock, a student at Teesside University, said: "Where I live is not great. I guess it's good that there are students here from other places because that helps things."

* An AI tool was used to add an extra layer to the editing process for this story. You can report any errors to [email protected]

Rahima Miah