Despair personified in this article. And whilst obviously local, multiply this by the fuel poverty index nationwide and one can only begin to get a handle on the crisis unfolding. Much was (rightly) made of food poverty during lockdown but this has the capacity to bring this now isolated nation to its knees. People like me who are fortunate enough to be cushioned from these price hikes due to personal circumstances can only stand and watch in horror as a real version of the early 18th century Britain starts playing out again. Well written, Jack as ever, but what an horrific reality is being faced.
I am in a very similar situation to Adele - thank you so much for making ‘our’ voice heard. We are all too busy trying to survive at the moment to even try to fight this, and know it wouldn’t get us anywhere anyway.
The fact that the most vulnerable are ignored just feeds the narrative that everything is ok - and it’s not.
Hi Kathy, thanks for taking the time to read Jack's piece and sharing your experiences with us. We'd like to include your comment in our letters section this morning, could I get your borough please? Best, Dani
The area Jack describes, the 'forgotten hinterland' - and specifically the area close to Salford City Centre used to be known as Hanky Park. There is a book by Walter Greenwood called 'Love on the Dole' which is a fictional story about a family living in the area, and their struggles to survive during the great depression of the 1930s. It could easily be transplanted to the 2000s as there is the same struggle to survive on limited incomes - and for some, the struggle to find work. You could hardly guess that Salford Quays and Media City are just a couple of miles down the road.
I used to work in an office on Hankinson Way - just a few hundred yards from Salford precinct. On my way into work early in the morning, I'd see people queueing up at a local pub waiting to be let in. One day there was a young man in a tower block across the road who looked like he was going to jump out of the window, but seemed to be high on something - drugs or alcohol.
It wasn't uncommon to see people intoxicated as booze was cheap and offered temporary escape from worries.
I once saw a group of teenagers from a local school - Year 9s ( judging by the uniform] who were sharing a spliff whilst waiting for the bus to arrive.
Inner city Salford is the land that time forgot. It might as well have a sign up saying 'Abandon hope all ye who enter here'. My redundancy in 2011 when I was working there, almost came as a blessed relief.
Despair personified in this article. And whilst obviously local, multiply this by the fuel poverty index nationwide and one can only begin to get a handle on the crisis unfolding. Much was (rightly) made of food poverty during lockdown but this has the capacity to bring this now isolated nation to its knees. People like me who are fortunate enough to be cushioned from these price hikes due to personal circumstances can only stand and watch in horror as a real version of the early 18th century Britain starts playing out again. Well written, Jack as ever, but what an horrific reality is being faced.
Hi Caroline, thanks for reading. Do you mind if I include in our letters section this morning? Just need your borough. Thanks, Dani
Any time - no need to ask
Thanks Caroline, what's your borough? Best
I’m in Ancoats
Exactly the sort of story I subscribe for.
I am in a very similar situation to Adele - thank you so much for making ‘our’ voice heard. We are all too busy trying to survive at the moment to even try to fight this, and know it wouldn’t get us anywhere anyway.
The fact that the most vulnerable are ignored just feeds the narrative that everything is ok - and it’s not.
Hi Kathy, thanks for taking the time to read Jack's piece and sharing your experiences with us. We'd like to include your comment in our letters section this morning, could I get your borough please? Best, Dani
Yes of course - Stockport
Thanks for your comment Kathy - I'm glad you felt the piece acknowledges the significant difficulties so many face.
The area Jack describes, the 'forgotten hinterland' - and specifically the area close to Salford City Centre used to be known as Hanky Park. There is a book by Walter Greenwood called 'Love on the Dole' which is a fictional story about a family living in the area, and their struggles to survive during the great depression of the 1930s. It could easily be transplanted to the 2000s as there is the same struggle to survive on limited incomes - and for some, the struggle to find work. You could hardly guess that Salford Quays and Media City are just a couple of miles down the road.
I used to work in an office on Hankinson Way - just a few hundred yards from Salford precinct. On my way into work early in the morning, I'd see people queueing up at a local pub waiting to be let in. One day there was a young man in a tower block across the road who looked like he was going to jump out of the window, but seemed to be high on something - drugs or alcohol.
It wasn't uncommon to see people intoxicated as booze was cheap and offered temporary escape from worries.
I once saw a group of teenagers from a local school - Year 9s ( judging by the uniform] who were sharing a spliff whilst waiting for the bus to arrive.
Inner city Salford is the land that time forgot. It might as well have a sign up saying 'Abandon hope all ye who enter here'. My redundancy in 2011 when I was working there, almost came as a blessed relief.