Towns near Leeds feel inferior, surveys show. Many feel their area struggles with poor performance and lack of opportunity.
Dewsbury residents feel their area is struggling. Three-quarters think it’s not doing well. Nearly half even feel it performs very poorly. Similar feelings exist in Wakefield and Halifax. Selby locals also feel the area lags behind.
Leeds residents think their city does well. Seventy-two percent feel positive about Leeds. Pudsey and Harrogate residents feel even better. Less than 12% think their towns are doing badly.
Onward polled many English cities and nearby towns. Dewsbury received the lowest rating of all areas surveyed. This rating reflects how residents viewed their town. They compared it to other places in the country.
Town residents believe they are falling behind cities. They report fewer good jobs available to them. They also mentioned insufficient leisure activities. Poorer transport links were another key issue.
Town residents feel their areas worsened recently. They are cautiously hopeful about the future, though. City residents feel their areas improved. They also expect more progress soon.
The Onward research suggests actions for council leaders. It proposes ways to help reverse the decline. They want leaders to build stronger communities.
Onward suggests understanding connections between cities and towns. Leaders must know which services people need locally. They must also know which services people will travel for.
The government plans to devolve more power. Getting this balance right is therefore key. Leaders should identify antisocial behavior hot spots.
They should focus resources to solve underlying problems. They need to improve safety on public transport too. The report encourages programs for young people’s support.
Local leaders should support sports and mentoring programs. After-school clubs could prove beneficial also. These programs may prevent antisocial behavior.