Locals in UK's second most desirable area say it's a 'dump' despite house prices

07 November 2023 , 10:42

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Oldbury town centre (Image: No credit)

Despite being one of the most deprived areas in the country, Sandwell in the West Midlands has been named as the second most desirable place to live in the UK - and locals aren't buying it.

House prices in the borough have shot up over the past decade, from an average of £107,560 in 2013 to £199,445 this year. A study by Swift Direct Blinds found that there were 1,744 properties for sale in Sandwell on Rightmove as of October. This makes it second in the 'UK Property Index' table, which ranks the most desirable places to live in the UK.

However, Sandwell is also ranked as the 12th most deprived local authority in England, according to a 2019 Government report. A more recent study placed the borough, which borders Birmingham to the west, as the second lowest in the country for cost-of-living vulnerability

Karanjeet Singh, 33, who runs Get In in Oldbury (No credit)

Black Country Live visited the town of Oldbury, located in central Sandwell, to see what residents and businesses thought of these findings. House prices in this West Midlands area, one of the poorest in the country, have jumped by almost £100k. On a gloomy, rainy day, one man standing under an umbrella simply stated: "I don't know who told you that. They are talking b*******."

A lady running a sweet stall under a gazebo commented: "We've got the right weather for it today. The area has gone downhill and a lot of the shops have shut - especially for older people. That figure is surprising." Shop owner, Karanjeet Singh, 33, who operates a store named Get In, claimed the area wasn't 'safe' and he's had ongoing 'trouble' at his shop - including an assault from a customer. Mr Singh, also a Sikh priest and Indian classical music teacher, expressed surprise at the study's findings.

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He opened his convenience and mobile phone store last year on Church Street, just opposite Sandwell Council House in Oldbury town centre. He said: "It's alright but it is not like a very safe place because in my shop, I have had so much trouble. "Since I started here, I have had troublemakers come into my shop, I have reported it to the council and the police."

Oldbury is the second most desirable area (No credit)

Mr Singh, who moved to the UK from India in 2005 as a youngster, mentioned 'fights' have occurred inside his shop and he's had issues with 'underage' customers. The shopkeeper shared his experiences of dealing with crime in his store. He recalled an incident where a college student, who thought he was a gangster, entered his shop brandishing a large knife.

In another frightening episode, a young person struck him on the head and turban with a bottle after he had asked a troublesome group to leave his shop. He also spoke about the challenges of running a small business amidst rising prices. He compared his situation to big companies like McDonald's and Sainsbury's, saying it's tougher for smaller businesses.

Holding up a pack of Doritos, he pointed out: "This packet was £1 before, now it's £1.25. Customers find it more expensive. And electricity bills, council bills, water bills, all the bills are expensive and high. How is a normal shopkeeper meant to survive?" Speaking about Oldbury, Mr Singh said: "Before, it was a very nice area. Now it's not. If these issues are gone (the crime), it will be a good area. They have a bus interchange here, a lot of people come here and use this area."

Jai Jiva, 45, from Tipton, works at Coffee Break shop (No credit)

A local shop worker, who wanted to stay unnamed, disagreed with the survey. She said: "No, absolutely not, I don't agree with the survey," and added, "Who would want to live in Sandwell? It is very unsafe, with crime, it is overcrowded, it has just gone downhill. There are no nice areas to shop, no safe areas, children are not safe outside, it is not safe to walk the streets. It's been forgotten, it's a dumping ground about and there is no policing whatsoever."

Another man, also wishing to remain anonymous, recently took over a shop in the town centre. He described the business as 'dead'. He stated: "I'm from Dudley, that's a cesspit, but the second one is Sandwell. There is no business and trade here. They are putting prices up, like business rates, and you have the cost-of-living, but they are treating this town and Dudley like five stars. It's all gambling shops and charity shops and addicts on the road. We need to bring in more traffic."

Jai Jiva, 45 from Tipton, who works at Coffee Break on Birmingham Street, expressed surprise at the survey results. He commented: "A lot of things have changed in a negative way. But if you say it is a place that is one of the best, I can only imagine the other places are worse than this. Everybody wants to go to a good place."

Locals disagree with the findings (No credit)

Oldbury's town centre boasts a large Sainsbury's, the council house, a library, a cenotaph honouring the armed services and war heroes, and a variety of shops. Some are independent while others belong to larger chains like Papa Johns. There's also a charming churchyard with a boutique hotel called Domo opposite.

Despite concerns raised by businesses and residents, the borough benefits from excellent transport links. These include multiple train lines, the Midland Metro tram line, the M5 and M6, and numerous bus services. Despite rising house prices, Sandwell remains affordable compared to other areas. The average house price in England was £306,000 as of June this year, according to the Office for National Statistics. This makes Sandwell an attractive option for home buyers.

Inspector Wes Smith from West Midlands Police responded to the story about crime in Oldbury. He said: "We fully understand the impact of crime and anti-social behaviour on our communities and businesses in Oldbury town centre. This is why we carry out regular, visible patrols and also targeted operations to catch shoplifters, support retailers and offer crime prevention advice where appropriate.

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"This has included extra resources in the area as part of Operation Advance, a dedicated week of action during Safer 6 and we've also been involved in Safer Business Action Week. We'll continue to have targeted operations which support the ongoing daily activity we do, alongside our partners, to prevent crime and make sure the town centre remains a great place for visitors and workers to come."

* 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]

Jamie Brassington