Town to have work done on image

IDEAS to turn around Dewsbury’s “negative reputation” are contained in a draft improvement plan for the town.

Kirklees Council and its partners have produced the 35-page report in an attempt to improve local aspirations and the town’s reputation, which has taken several knocks over the years, most recently over the case of nine-year-old Shannon Matthews in which her mother Karen and Michael Donovan were both jailed for eight years after hiding her for 24 days in 2008 as part of a plan to get a 50,000 reward.

A key area for improvement in Dewsbury between now and 2013 will be to “broaden children’s horizons and increase confidence.”

The report says a programme funded by regional development agency Yorkshire Forward, will focus on three areas:

n Give locals the skills to run their own projects;

n Create a space in the town centre where people can share ideas and information;

n Deliver a communication strategy “focusing on raising ambitions for the town, its people and addressing Dewsbury’s negative reputation.”

Recently 1m was allocated by Yorkshire Forward to raise aspiration in the town and, the report notes, “local press (are) running more positive stories”.

It is hoped that a “communication plan” will “lift the whole town and let people within the town and outside of it to see the town in a new positive way.”

Key priorities will continue to be improving health, reducing inequality and improving the look of the town centre.

“The town has a variety of neighbourhoods surrounding a substantial town centre that is struggling to remain attractive and competitive in the face of stiff competition,” the report notes.

The council is working on a vision for the town centre which is expected to be ready in July.

The creation of a Dewsbury Children’s Trust will help vulnerable children and families.

Improved access to care and self-care opportunities will help improve lifespan, it is hoped.

“People living in Dewsbury living with long-term conditions will have the understanding, problem solving skills, access to self-help resources, and support services to manage their conditions.”

The report notes that Dewsbury lags behind more affluent parts of Kirklees in many different ways.

Benefit claimant and unemployment rates are high and too many residents have few qualifications.

The gap in income levels between the Dewsbury West ward and the most affluent ward in Kirklees is 11,300 per year.

The population in Dewsbury is the least well-qualified in Kirklees, with four in 10 adults having no qualifications and significant numbers of young people leaving the area for post-16 education.

The number of children with a Child Protection Plan – those deemed at risk of harm – is double the Kirklees average and nine per cent of households are overcrowded compared with a three per cent average for Kirklees.

“In the Dewsbury Neighbourhoods area, up to 2019 there is an estimated need for 4,480 new homes to meet demand and tackle overcrowding.”

A range of indicators shows that Dewsbury’s population has the poorest health in Kirklees, high levels of infant deaths and more than one person in eight has diabetes.

“Smoking, drinking and levels of inactivity and obesity are significantly higher in Dewsbury particularly amongst women who are pregnant. Suicide and mental health rates are high.”

It adds: “Although crime and community safety statistics do not bear it out there are high levels of concern about crime and anti-social behaviour and the respect with which people treat each other.”

n Read the report at www.kirklees.nhs.uk