About Ross-on-Wye locality

Transcription

1 About Ross-on-Wye locality This document contains a summary of the key facts and figures for the Ross-on-Wye locality (see map on following page). Localities have been developed by Herefordshire Public Services (HPS) 1 in order to have a single approach to service delivery. Nine areas have been identified as forming the basis for engagement and providing the opportunity to deliver joined-up services for residents, both by Herefordshire Public Services and other service providers such as the police, fire service and ambulance service 2. Localities are built from parishes and have been designed to avoid splitting group parish councils wherever possible. The starting point was secondary school catchment areas, with minor adjustments on the basis of a wider range of evidence - for example community transport provision and GP registrations. The areas are the five market towns, Hereford City, Weobley, Golden Valley and Mortimer. Where relevant the summary for each locality contains separate analysis for the town or city and surrounding rural hinterland in order that differences in character between these areas are not lost. These areas are termed sub-localities. Hereford City has also been split into north and south sublocalities for the same reason. The following summaries contain general observations about the area in question and particular emphasis is given to aspects where the area differs from the county overall, so unless otherwise specified statements refer to the area s position in a Herefordshire context. A rate that is relatively high or low compared to other local areas, or the county as a whole, may not be particularly unusual compared to elsewhere in the country. Detailed statistics about all of these areas, as well as those not covered by these summaries, are available in the About Your Area section of the Facts & Figures about Herefordshire website: Reference is made throughout the profiles to Lower Super Output Areas (LSOAs); these are statistical geographies of about 1,500 people designed by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) using the results of the 2001 Census. They are the smallest geography for which statistics are regularly published, and their roughly equal population size makes comparison between them more valid than between administrative wards (which vary significantly in population). If you need help to understand this document, or would like it in another format or language, please call or researchteam@herefordshire.gov.uk. Copyright Data used in this report originally published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) is Crown Copyright protected. Source: National Statistics website, Crown copyright material is reproduced with the permission of the Controller of the Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI) Census data is also Crown Copyright and is reproduced with the permission of Her Majesty s Stationery Office (HMSO) and the Queen s Printer for Scotland. Crown copyright and database rights (2011) Ordnance Survey ( ) 1 The partnership between Herefordshire Council and NHS Herefordshire 2 Locality Strategy for Herefordshire

2 Ross-on-Wye locality With 23,400 residents (13% of the county s population), the Ross-on-Wye locality has the second largest population of the nine localities in Herefordshire and covers 278 km2. It is situated in the south of the county and shares a border with Gloucestershire to the south east and Monmouthshire to the south west. The area contains 26 parishes (inc. Ross-on-Wye parish), which reach from Brockhampton in the north east to Welsh Newton and Ganarew at the county s southern tip. Outside of the town the largest villages are Walford, Llangarron and Whitchurch; other smaller villages which act as service centres are Goodrich, Weston-under-Penyard and Lea. The area is well connected by road with the M50/A40 as well as a number of other A-roads running through the locality. There are no rail routes that serve the area. The county town of Monmouth is nearer than Hereford for the south of the locality (inc. Ross town), whilst Gloucester is around the same distance (30 min by car). North of Ross the area is made up of fertile, undulating farmland with extensive arable farming with substantial red sandstone farmsteads; numerous churches and manor houses in small hamlets; narrow, meandering floodplain with low hedges, ditches, scattered mature trees and pollarded willows; steep wooded slopes contrast with gentle riverside slopes. To the south of Ross is the Forest of Dean, characterised by a well-wooded plateau of ridges through which the Wye cuts a deep gorge. Much of the locality falls within the Wye Valley area of outstanding natural beauty. The Wye itself is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. The section of the Wye that runs through the locality has the greatest current flood risk associated with it (according to the number of properties at risk).

3 Ross-on-Wye town sub-locality With a population of 10,100, Ross-on-Wye is Herefordshire s second largest market town. The map opposite shows the area defined as Ross-on-Wye town for statistical purposes, including LSOAs 3 (all of which are classified as urban). The town is divided into the East and West wards, with the East ward having a notably older profile than the West, although areas within both wards have high proportions of people aged 65+ ( Riverside and Over Ross and Hildersley LSOAs). The latter had one of the lowest proportions of children in the Map of Ross-on-Wye town sub-locality showing Lower Super Output Areas (LSOAs) 1 county. In fact Ross has a number of areas (in particular John Kyrle ) where a large proportion of households consist of a single person under retirement age. A number of areas in the sub-locality also have a large proportion of lone pensioner households, notably Chase LSOA. Chase also had one of the highest proportions of residents who were from an ethnic group other than white British. Over Ross & Hildersley has a much older population compared to elsewhere in the county and a greater proportion that are economically retired. Both household composition and levels of affluence can be similarly diverse, with both high earning professionals and low paid manual workers being represented across a range of ages. As such people are likely to respond to a diverse set of communication methods, although there is an over-representation of people who may be unresponsive to any form of communication. Levels of multiple deprivation are relatively low, with Archenfield, Over Ross & Hildersley and Chase amongst the least deprived in the county. 4 The exception is John Kyrle, which is in the 10% most deprived in Herefordshire. Almost all residents of Ross who are registered with a GP attend either the Alton Street or Pendeen surgeries in the town. Archenfield is the least deprived area of Herefordshire in terms of health and disability, and one of the least deprived in England. Conversely, John Kyrle is one of the county s most deprived areas. Ross West (which contains John Kyrle ) has a higher rate of alcoholrelated hospital admissions than Herefordshire as a whole. In general, people living in the most deprived areas of Herefordshire are more likely to be admitted to hospital and have higher mortality rates for some conditions. Most of Ross is amongst the least deprived in England in terms of outdoor living environment. However, in a local context, Riverside, John Kyrle and Chase are amongst the most deprived areas of the county in this respect. Levels of nitrogen dioxide (linked to traffic congestion) on Gloucester Road in Ross have seen considerable improvement and satisfy objective levels. 3 Statistical geographies of about 1,500 people designed by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) 4 Archenfield is the least deprived, and one of only two areas amongst the 10% least deprived in England. Over Ross & Hildersley is one of the 20% least deprived nationally.

4 Levels of income deprivation vary widely: John Kyrle and Tudorville have some of the highest rates of people living in income deprived households in Herefordshire; Archenfield and Over Ross & Hildersley are some of the lowest. Similar patterns are seen when considering proportions of children and older people affected. Ross has relatively low levels of qualifications amongst the working age population; John Kyrle & Tudorville are amongst the most deprived in Herefordshire, and England, in terms of adult skills. Two fifths of people in John Kyrle had no qualifications. A fifth of the working age population in John Kyrle claim an out-of-work benefit one of the highest in the county and double most areas of Ross. The unemployment rate was particularly high. John Kyrle, Tudorville & Riverside are amongst Herefordshire s most employment deprived areas, whereas Archenfield is one of the least deprived both locally and nationally. Unlike other areas of the county, manufacturing is the most common sector of employment for Ross residents, and is particularly high in Tudorville (highest in the county), Greytree and Archenfield. Workplace employment in manufacturing is not particularly high in Ross suggesting that some resident may travel to work in the sector. Employment in transport storage & communication and hotels & catering was also over-represented in a number of areas. John Kyrle had the 2 nd highest rate of employment in wholesale & retail in the county. Ross East ward is relatively self-contained in terms of employment with more than half of residents in employment working in the ward. Walking or cycling to work is relatively common in the sub-locality, although the use of public transport for commuting is very low. Attainment at Key Stage 2 (primary) is similar to that for all Herefordshire pupils, whilst at GCSE it is slightly lower. However, this masks differences within the town. At GCSE level Over Ross and Hildersley had the 3 rd highest attainment rate in the county, whereas the rate for John Kyrle was less than half of this. John Kyrle and Greytree are amongst the most deprived in Herefordshire in terms of children & young people s education, training & skills, whereas Archenfield and Riverside are amongst the least deprived in England (the former also one of the least deprived in Herefordshire). A relatively high proportion of young people aged are not in employment education or training. Ross has relatively good access to services and residents are amongst the least likely to find it difficult to access a range of services, except for a cultural/recreational facility (e.g. theatre/cinema) and a sports/leisure facility for which they are the most likely to find it difficult. Those who use sports/leisure facilities, museums/galleries or theatres/concert halls are amongst the least likely to be satisfied with the facilities they use. Residents are amongst the least satisfied in the county with their local area 5 as a place to live. They are also amongst the least likely to agree that parents take enough responsibility for the behaviour of their children. Ross experiences relatively high levels of crime deprivation, with all but two areas ( Archenfield and Over Ross & Hildersley ) amongst the most deprived in the county. Riverside is one of the most deprived areas of England, and the most deprived area outside Hereford. The town has the third largest number of recorded antisocial behaviour incidents after Hereford and Leominster. Residents of Ross are amongst the least likely in the county to feel safe when out in their local area after dark. Employers in Ross rated external security (CCTV and street lighting) to be relatively more important than all employers in the county. Ross has low average house prices in comparison to the surrounding rural area, although out of the market towns and Hereford, only Ledbury was higher. Average prices for flats/apartments were relatively higher - greater than all other market towns and some rural areas. Ross was one of the most popular choices for people looking for social housing after areas of Leominster and Hereford. The rate of claiming housing benefit was lower than any of the market towns or Hereford City. The majority of Ross is amongst the most deprived in Herefordshire in terms of housing suitability & affordability. However, at the other extreme, Archenfield and Over Ross & Hildersley are amongst the least deprived in the county in this respect, and also in terms of indoor living environment no areas of the town are deprived according to this measure. In July 2009 Ross had the highest shop vacancy rate of any of the market towns. 5 The area within minutes walking distance of the respondent s home.

5 Ross-on-Wye rural sub-locality The map below shows the ten LSOAs 3 that fall within Ross-on-Wye rural sub-locality; all are classified as rural village & dispersed. The area has a population of 13,200 people and has a similar age profile to Ross-on-Wye town. The LSOAs of Birches 6 and Forest Edge have some of the lowest proportions of children in Herefordshire - the latter also had the lowest proportion of lone parent households in the county. Birches 6 and Greater Walford LSOA had some of the highest proportions of residents who were from an ethnic group other than white British. Garwaywood 7 and The Slip 8 are amongst the least densely populated LSOAs in Herefordshire. Map of Ross rural sub-locality showing Lower Super Output Areas (LSOAs) 1 Households are likely to be made up of families long established in the local area or incomers attracted by the quality of the local environment and the lifestyle it offers. The area also contains a relatively high proportion of successful professionals, with high net worth and large houses. Households in the area are likely to prefer internet, telephone, mobile phone and postal communications, but there are no methods to which they are particularly unreceptive. No LSOAs in Ross rural are particularly income deprived; Greater Walford and Forest Edge LSOAs are both in the 25% least deprived areas in England in this respect. However, analysis of smaller geographies shows pockets of income deprivation in Whitchurch (Goodrich Cross) (affecting all ages and specifically older people). Skills deprivation in Ross rural is generally low Loughpool, Birches 6 and Greater Walford LSOAs were all in the 25% least deprived areas in England in terms of adult education and skills. The proportion qualified to degree level or equivalent was also high in a number of areas. Educational attainment at GCSE and Key Stage 2 (primary) was also high: at GCSE Symonds Yat and The Slip 8 had some of the highest attainment rates in the county; the latter had the highest rate of attainment in the county at key stage 2. 6 Birches LSOA falls within the localities of the Golden Valley, Hereford City and Ross-on-Wye. 7 Garwaywood LSOA falls within the localities of both the Golden Valley and Ross-on-Wye rural. 8 The Slip LSOA falls within the sub-localities of Hereford City rural, Ledbury rural and Ross-on-Wye rural.

6 Like other rural areas, self-employment in Ross rural is relatively common, as is the proportion who work from home, although only Garwaywood 7 had a particularly high rate on either measure. Employment of residents in real estate; renting and business activities is high in much of the area Hole in the wall had a particularly high rate - only areas in and around Ledbury were higher. Employment in agriculture is fairly high in the area, with areas away from the south east of the locality (Forest of Dean) having the higher rates. Agricultural activity is likely to be limited in the Forest of Dean due to its physical geography. Employment in hotels and catering is over-represented in some areas, particularly Symonds Yat, which is only lower than Hereford City centre. Financial intermediation (banking, finance and insurance) is also over-represented in some areas, particularly Forest Edge. Employment in manufacturing and wholesale and retail is generally low in comparison to the county. A large proportion of residents travel more than 10 km to get to work Forest Edge was particularly high with more than two fifths travelling over this distance. Penyard and Kerne Bridge wards in the south of the area had some of the highest proportions of people commuting out of county for work. The most common destinations of workers reflects their location; in Penyard it is the Forest of Dean, Gloucester and Tewkesbury, whilst in Kerne Bridge it is the Forest of Dean and Monmouthshire. Like Ross town the area has low levels of deprivation in terms of health & disability; 6 out of 10 LSOAs in the area were in the 25% least deprived nationally. Garwaywood 7, Welsh corner, Forest Edge and Greater Walford were the least deprived - only areas in Ledbury and Ross towns were less deprived. The rate of falls related hospital admissions was the lowest of any area in the county. Alcohol and smoking related admissions were also low alcohol admissions were the 2 nd lowest in the county. The proportion of the population with a limiting long term illness is fairly close to that for the county. Rates of claiming Attendance Allowance and Disability Living Allowance are low, but the provision of unpaid care (more than an hour per week) is relatively high. 7 of the 10 LSOAs in the area were in the 25% most deprived in Herefordshire in terms of geographical barriers to services (all were in the 10% most deprived nationally). Welsh corner and Garwaywood 7 were the most deprived being in the 10% most deprived in Herefordshire. A relatively high proportion of residents of Ross surrounds 9 report access to a number of services as being difficult compared to the market towns and city, but proportions are generally lower than other rural areas. Public transport facility; bank or cash point; and local shop were the reported as relatively difficult to access. Access to broadband is likely to be less of an issue here than for other rural areas, although one in six postcodes are likely to receive no service or a slow speed (up to mbps). The average house price in Ross rural is fourth highest in Herefordshire after the rural areas of Ledbury, Bromyard and Leominster. Forest Edge and Birches 6 LSOAs had more than half of households that were owner occupied without a mortgage. Along with the north and west of the county the area has a relatively high proportion of dwellings that are second homes. Entry level rents are also relatively high only lower than those in the Ledbury area. The area is fairly unpopular as a choice for people looking for social housing. Affordable, decent housing is considered to be one of the most important factors in making somewhere a good place to live and most in need of improvement in the local area by residents across Herefordshire, but particularly those living in rural areas such as Ross rural. All of the ten areas in Ross rural is in the 20% most deprived nationally (five were in 25% most deprived in Herefordshire) with respect to the indoor living environment. Areas to the south seem to be relatively less deprived. Household electricity consumption is some of the highest in the county; Symonds Yat and The Slip 8 had the two highest household consumption rates in the county (6,700 kwh and 6,800 kwh respectively). Residents of rural villages (such as in Ross rural) are more likely to agree that they can influence decisions affecting their local area than residents of other areas of Herefordshire and are more likely to feel that they belong to their immediate neighbourhood than those in urban areas. Satisfaction with the local area as a place to live also increases with rurality. 9 Place Survey ward group