Barnsley-A lost Identity

Barnsley's economic future is bleak because of a culture of dependency and a lack of aspiration, a council report claims.

To boost commerce the authors say the town should concentrate on developing a stronger identity so it can exploit tourism opportunities.

The report states the borough is still suffering from the decline of traditional industries which have moved overseas.It says too many of the working-age population are a drain on the public purse and are sucked into a ‘downward spiral of dependency’, while too many in work are in low-skilled jobs.

“‘Skills poverty’ has wide ranging implications, from entry level jobs through to management and leadership positions,” it states.

“It is critical that education and training institutions focus on connecting local people to job opportunities, through a combination of vocational and work-based training and more traditional economic routes.”

Posted in: barnsley,bnp,by-election,enis dalton,identity,unemployment