Ref. 30919-27PENHILL is the poorest neighbourhood in Swindon and among the most deprived in the UK.

Figures published by Swindon Council show an area of Penhill has been ranked among the bottom six per cent of the country in a national league of deprivation.

The ranking takes into account a range of factors including low income, unemployment, health problems and disability, lack of access to education, distance to services, crime and disorder, poor housing and air quality.

The poorest area of Swindon is supposedly the part of Penhill to the west of the primary school including Melksham Close, Latton Close, Minety Road, Avebury Road, Southwick Avenue, Heddington Close and Milston Avenue.

It was rated the 2,136th most deprived area out of a possible 32,482. The poorest area in the UK at pole position is in Manchester.

Councillor Andy Harrison, who grew up in Penhill and still lives there, said: "There's a good community spirit here but there's also a lot of deprivation."

Trying to explain why parts of Penhill were so poor, he said: "Young couples break up, so there are a lot of single families, and this prevents parents from working.

"People don't have close families near them and the housing crisis has made this worse. There is not the family support there once was."

Penhill residents yesterday stuck up for their area and suggested the number crunchers would be better off coming to see the community for themselves.

Peggy-Sue Ford, 23, who lives in Avebury Road, said: "Our street is brilliant and I thoroughly enjoy living in the area. So many people make you feel welcome there are the odd couple who don't but you get that everywhere."

Mark Woodward, 34, of Ansty Walk, said: "It's a good area with a bad reputation. There aren't enough areas for the kids to play and there needs to be more stuff for the young people."

Mr Woodward, who has lived in the area for seven years, said there was good access to shops, buses and doctors. But he said it was unfair nearby Abbey Meads seemed to have more facilities than Penhill.

Robert Davis, 18, who lives in Odstock Road, said: "I like it. I was born and bred here."

Aaran Wells, an 18-year-old ground worker, said: "Its a top area it's my area.

"But the problem is there's nothing to do. There should be a youth centre for the younger kids as well as us. Maybe I'll live somewhere else in the future but for now I'm happy here."

Perhaps predictably for a Labour councillor, Coun Harrison said the Labour government had done more to help the area in recent years.

"For so long we had a government that didn't invest in places like Penhill, but now the central government money is coming in," he said.

"It's easier to destroy than it is to build something, and it will take a long time to repair."

Swindon Council is currently looking at adopting a Neighbourhood Renewal Programme, under which deprived areas of the town like Penhill would be given preferential treatment to safeguard and improve vital services.

Andy Tate