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Race relations go downhill two years after 'no-go area' fears
A COUNCIL in West Yorkshire council has warned community and race relations in the region show an "extremely worrying downward trend", two years after residents raised concerns over "no-go" areas.
Opinion polls in Kirklees have revealed a rise in the numbers of people who believe divisions have built up between different groups within the community.
Fewer than half of those questioned in Dewsbury, Mirfield and Heckmondwike thought people within different ethnic groups were getting on.
In 2006, 58 per cent said relations were good but this had fallen 12 per cent by 2008.
The most pessimistic outlook was in Heckmondwike (42 per cent), followed by Mirfield on 43 per cent.
Kirklees Council leader, Labour councillor Mehboob Khan, said community cohesion is "showing an extremely worrying downward trend" in places such as Mirfield.
"The findings are a concern, but we have identified this issue at an early stage," he said. "The survey data we collect has allowed us to tailor our follow-up work to the needs of each area. We are being proactive in understanding and tackling perceptions in Mirfield and other areas before it becomes a bigger problem.
"It is important to stress that Mirfield is far from being alone, in Kirklees, regionally or nationally, in showing these perceptions. This isn't an unusual trend
"The survey figures, although worrying, do not indicate any particular tensions, but we are working with our partners and with the community to find out more and help improve things."
Coun Khan spoke to the Yorkshire Post following a political row about the council paying consultants 14,000 to carry out further research on community relations across Kirklees – including Mirfield – including giving 25 shopping vouchers to those attending meetings.
Mirfield Tory councillor Vivien Lees described the 25 payments as a waste of money and a bribe.
"I was appalled to hear that the council are actually paying people to attend such meetings. This is nothing more than a bribe.
"There are eight such meetings, six of which are in North Kirklees (Dewsbury area), and payment to those attending will amount to 2,000.
"A total budget of 14,000 has been allocated for these forums and a private firm has been employed to oversee this project.
"Even allowing for room hire for these forums there will be a handsome profit for the company involved. It is money for old rope and a scandal to be using council taxpayers' money in this way when there is a recession on and council employees are in fear of losing their jobs."
Coun Khan hit back, saying: "The Tories began the incentives payments when they were in control; we have continued them as they are common practice in consultations where groups are asked to help shape future strategy."
He added: "It's a matter of a few hundred pounds in shopping vouchers and this work helps us to find out the reasons for poor community cohesion.
"The only effective way of doing this is to invite a cross-section of the community. They then receive a thank you for giving up several hours of their time, but this is standard best practice in the public and private sector."
The concerns about community relations in Kirklees were raised in a 2007 report in which white and ethnic minority residents claimed there were "no go" areas for different races.
The report said that schools were "highly segregated" and that "white flight" was a factor in the segregation of schools along ethnic lines.
It warned that confusion and doubt were hampering progress and leaders were not doing enough to challenge misconceptions.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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