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Merkinch residents defiant in face of report that names Inverness district as one of the most deprived in the country


By Val Sweeney

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Dave Saunders, manager of the Bike Shed coffee shop, and local councillor Emma Roddick.
Dave Saunders, manager of the Bike Shed coffee shop, and local councillor Emma Roddick.

Community leaders have defended Merkinch after it was ranked eighth in the latest Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) report.

The report 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.

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.

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.

See this week's Highland News for more.


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