Residents riled by 'deprived' label defend Merkinch area
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RESIDENTS and community leaders have leapt to the defence of an Inverness neighbourhood named among the top 10 most deprived areas in Scotland.
Merkinch was ranked eighth in the latest Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) report which considers criteria including crime, income, health, education and unemployment in almost 7000 locations across the country.
Inverness MP Drew Hendry said there was much to be proud of in the area but also felt it was the case that many families are struggling.
“I hold regular advice surgeries in Merkinch and know the difficult life choices families are having to make,” he said.
“The choice between heating their home or putting food on the table is a daily choice for too many people.
“The roll-out of Universal Credit has a disproportionate effect on the people living in areas of greater poverty and it is those with the least who are suffering the most under this Tory government.”
Despite this the findings have dismayed many people living and working in the community, who insist there is more to Merkinch than “deprivation”.
Inverness Central SNP councillor Emma Roddick felt the index could be useful in identifying issues such as crime, but felt the criteria should be reviewed.
“The index cannot tell you anything about individuals or the full story of a community,” she said, insisting there were many positive things about Merkinch.
“You just have to walk up Grant Street and look at all the social enterprises and shops and incredible work people are doing every day.”
Dave Saunders, manager of the Bike Shed coffee shop in Grant Street, agreed.
“There are so many great things about Merkinch and then it get puts on this list and I don’t think it is helpful,” he said, querying the definition of “deprived”.
“If you were to take two people and one earns £10,000 and has family to rely on, or kids who support one another, and the other earns £60,000 but is alone most of the time and lives to work, who is the most deprived?” he asked.
Lifelong Merkinch resident Mary Evans (70), a volunteer manager at the local For The Right Reasons charity shop, said she would never move out of the area.
“Some people hardly have anything but in two seconds will help anyone else,” she said.
“I would not call the area deprived. We have crime and so on but no more than anywhere else.”
Ali Locke, chairman of Merkinch Partnership also believed the area was improving thanks to a range of projects over recent years.
“There are problems still there, but nothing compared to how I remember how it was 10 or 15 years ago,” he said.
Dell McClurg, chairwoman of Merkinch Community Council, said funding cuts by Highland Council several years ago had resulted in some community schemes being axed prematurely but added: “Using the word ‘deprivation’ doesn’t do local people any good. It is about giving people dignity.”
Highlands and Islands MSP, David Stewart, Labour’s shadow secretary for the eradication of poverty and social inequality, said the figures should be a wake-up call to the Scottish Government to ramp up efforts to end inequality, especially in health and education.
“As someone who went to Merkinch Primary and who grew up in that area I am also well aware of the good that happens there and the people who have gone on to pull themselves out of adversity and those who have stepped up to help their community,” he said.
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