E Devon 8th least affordable area in England
Page 99 of current cabinet papers:
“In East Devon:
Unemployment = 546 people as at September 2015. This is 0.7% of total population and represents a reduction of 136 since May 2014.
Working age population = 63.6%
Median full-time salary = £22,700
Earnings are 7% lower compared to the English average.
Average house prices to salary ratio are 11:1, which is the highest in Devon.
East Devon is the 8th least affordable district in England
(The Joseph Rowntree Foundation)”
Reblogged from eastdevonwatch.org
Seaton & Colyton MATTERS 
November 30, 2015 at 3:23 pm
I’d like to see the actual source of the figures. I think the situation is much worse than suggested. There are far more unemployed people but they are labelled as ‘in training’ or ‘Apprentices’ and many are not included as they have long term health/drug/alcohol issues or they may be carers for other family members or repeat offenders in the Prison system. I think the salary is too high also, it depends on which level of employment it is for. Way too high for unskilled E. Devon worker. Unless they are commuting to Exeter or Taunton and doing shift work, weekends etc. for enhancements. but not all E. Devon workers can commute. Earnings are definitely lower and made worse by higher costs of working such as commuting and running transport. There are a few pockets of industry in some towns such as Axminster but they do not generate anywhere near enough jobs. In the last 40 years Fishing, Farming, Manufacturing and Construction have all been hit. The main unskilled work now is in elderly care. Hospitals in E. Devon can’t even get qualified nurses because they can’t afford to live here.
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November 30, 2015 at 3:43 pm
It could also be seen as some groups of the population being economically barred from living in certain areas. Could that be deliberate ?
Some similar stats.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-28648704
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December 2, 2015 at 12:09 am
This will only add to the problem.
http://www.nursingtimes.net/roles/nurse-managers/nhs-to-get-4bn-budget-rise-but-student-nurse-bursaries-set-to-go/7000555.fullarticle
With the Student Nurses Bursary gone, No trainee nurses will want to study for 3 years only to build up huge debts just to get a £21k salary job requiring them to do shift work and night work and risk getting assaulted if they work in an A+ E.
Removing the Bursary could mean that UK universities begin to train nurses specifically for the overseas high wage market (USA, Saudi, Australia etc) So the students will have high wages to go to. No nurses will want to work for the UK’s pay and conditions.
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December 2, 2015 at 8:38 am
Andy, thanks for your comments. The average pay figures include relatively well paid professionals, managers, etc., so for many people the situation is much worse than they suggest. Obviously a lot of people are paid less than average. ‘Social cleansing’ might as well be the aim of government policies, since they let house prices and rents soar, cut benefits and increase the minimum wage too little. At £7.20 from April the latter will still be well under the Living Wage of £8.25, which is a national average figure (outside London) and probably still too low for East Devon. What you say about nurses highlights the problem that East Devon won’t be able to attract the health professionals it needs to look after its population.
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December 2, 2015 at 11:13 am
Social cleansing….using economics to alter demographics……first time I’ve heard of it….but suspected it for a long time….but the result would be all the disadvantaged crammed together in some areas and elitist ghettos with no workers in others.
http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/14098524.Welfare_reforms_are__socially_cleansing__the_poorest_households_from_Brighton_and_Hove/?ref=mr&lp=1
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