Southend could benefit from millions of pounds of regeneration funds after it was discovered parts of the town are among the most deprived in England.
Two areas in Southend Council's Kursaal ward, which covers the troubled Woodgrange estate, have been found to be in the top ten per cent of England's most deprived parts.
Areas in Milton ward, Southchurch ward and Victoria ward, in the centre of Southend, are said to be in the same category.
Altogether, about 39,000 people are affected.
At the opposite end of the scale, the council's West Leigh ward is ranked within the top 20 per cent of the least deprived areas in England.
The new findings from the Government, called the English Indices of Deprivation 2004, measure a host of different factors.
The indicators include income, levels of employment, crime and living environment.
David Garston, the Southend councillor in charge of regeneration and economic development, said he thought the report could mean Southend would receive more Government funding.
"Southend is a large town which is very densely populated, so problems of deprivation are bound to exist," Mr Garston said.
"Now that this has been recognised, we can lobby the Government to change its current regeneration and funding policies to ensure Southend gets the money it deserves."
Published Wednesday September 1, 2004
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