NEIGHBOURHOODS in Kirklees are among the most deprived in England and Wales, according to a Citizens’ Advice Bureau boss.

Yesterday Mark Lacey, chief executive of Kirklees Citizens’ Advice, listed the areas as the gap between rich and poor widens across the borough.

Mr Lacey said parts of Almondbury, Batley, Crosland Moor, Newsome, Rawthorpe, Dalton and west and south Dewsbury were in the top 10% most deprived in England and Wales.

And Fartown, Fieldhead, Chickenley, Botham Hall and Windybank were also on the list.

It comes as figures show the gap between rich and poor nationally is greater now than at any other time since 1921.

Mr Lacey added: “Kirklees Council data shows that the number of households in the 20% most affluent and the 20% most deprived communities has increased over the past five years, while the numbers in the middle have stood still.

“This indicates that the gap between rich and poor is widening here in Kirklees.”

People living in areas of high deprivation are four times as likely to seek help from the Citizens’ Advice Bureau.

Mr Lacey said: “We have seen the number of benefits and debt inquiries go up and up as the recession has bitten deeper.

“We are providing frontline services for people in greatest need, but there is no statutory requirement for Kirklees Council to protect those services as it makes the unprecedented cuts which have been forced upon it.

“The best examples of local action to reduce the gap have been targeted at specific areas. The current focus on Dewsbury is one example.

“People need to see real change on the ground for them to believe that their lives can be different.

“Giving people hope, a reason to get up in the morning and a reason to live healthy lives is just as important as the money, but it cannot be achieved without public funding.”

Mr Lacey took the results from Kirklees Council data which includes statistics from The Index of Multiple Deprivation.

The 2009/2010 index uses data from several sources which provide a measure of the relative level of deprivation/affluence across England and Wales.

Mr Lacey has spoken out as nationally the gulf between the health of the rich and the poor has been revealed as greater now that at any time since the 1920s.

People living in less affluent areas are twice as likely to die young than the rest of the population and have a much lower life expectancy, according to a recent study published in the British Medical Journal.

Researchers said: “The last time in the long economic record that inequalities were almost as high was in the lead up to the economic crash of 1929 and the economic depression of the 1930s.”

Kirklees Citizens’ Advice delivers a comprehensive range of advice services in partnership with CHAS Housing Aid, Kirklees Law Centre and Kirklees Benefits Advice Service.

For people wanting help and advice, the main offices are at Standard House, Huddersfield and Empire House, Dewsbury.

Alternatively, call the Advice Line on 0844 8487970.