“If I could find anywhere else to live, I would do.” Those are the words of one man who has lived in a village described as “once beautiful”.
Goldthorpe locals are grappling with numerous problems, including drugs, crime, rubbish and a deteriorating high street featuring shuttered shops and an abundance of barber establishments, reports Yorkshire Live.
Census data reveals Dearne North, the Barnsley ward encompassing Goldthorpe, trails significantly behind the remainder of the UK. The area suffers from elevated unemployment rates, diminished educational attainment, and considerably poorer public health outcomes. These statistical concerns are reflected in accounts from local inhabitants.
Roy Hunt has called the South Yorkshire village home for 72 years. At 95, the father is heading to the post office to mail a card to his son residing in Australia.
His remaining children have settled in Scarborough and Bridlington, and he harbours no desire to remain in Goldthorpe.
“I wish I were anywhere other than Goldthorpe,” Roy said. “It was a beautiful place when I first came here, but now it is a dump. If I could find anywhere else to live, I would do.”
Census statistics indicate over 10% of Dearne North residents describe their health as poor or extremely poor, nearly twice the national average. Additionally, 13.8% have either never held employment or remain chronically jobless, substantially exceeding the 8.5% national figure.
“It’s terrible,” Roy said. “The council doesn’t do much about it, the people are not as friendly. There are these new houses, but I don’t know why anyone wants to live in Goldthorpe. The shops that used to be in Goldthorpe have all gone. The side streets are full of litter.”
Education and employment status are significant issues in the area.
Almost a third of the local population left school without any qualifications, compared to 18% across England and Wales. The number of individuals employed in “higher managerial, administrative and professional occupations” is three times lower than the national average.
Marie Thompson, a resident of Goldthorpe for a decade, highlights crime as a major concern, attributing it to a lack of activities for children and young people. She expressed: “Drugs are rife here. Burglaries. Everything. It’s just horrible for the kids growing up in this area. It’s not nice at all; there’s nowhere for kids to play. The parks are ransacked, it’s just horrible.”
Mark Harris, who operates Harris Carpets on the high street, has witnessed the area’s decline, particularly among local businesses. He remarked: “I think we have 14 barbers and a load of vape shops in Goldthorpe. I cannot find a pair of socks, but I can smoke to my heart’s content. The post office opens when it feels like it, and all the shops have been robbed except me.”
He voices concerns about immigration to the area, a sentiment echoed by others in the village. He said: “I’m not racist, but they are filling it with foreigners. It’s just run down.”
Goldthorpe, like many former mining villages, certainly feels neglected. The closure of shops, a significant lack of investment and poor job opportunities, coupled with a high crime rate and little to do, has resulted in a disheartened and desperate community. No one wants to live in Goldthorpe, and that is very sad.
