Last updated at 08:39, Wednesday, 18 July 2012

BARROW has the fastest declining population in England and Wales with the latest census figures showing a drop of four per cent over the last 10 years.

• Our view: Need to halt ‘brain drain’

The results of the 2001 to 2011 census have revealed that the population fell by 2,900 during the period.

The drop was the biggest in England, with most districts seeing increases in their populations.

Copeland saw a 1.9 per cent increase and there was a 1.3 per cent rise in South Lakeland.

Cumbria’s resident population at census day 2011 was 499,900, an increase of 2.5 per cent since 2001 and all of Cumbria’s six districts experienced a rise in population between 2001 and 2011 except Barrow.

The amount of young people in Barrow aged 0 to 14 years dropped by 18.7 per cent and there was a similar drop of 17 per cent in the 30 to 44 group.

The area did, however, see an increase of 4.4 per cent in 15 to 29-year-olds and 17.5 per cent and 16.2 per cent rise in the 60 to 74 and 85 plus categories.

The population aged 75 to 84 has risen in all districts except Barrow where it has fallen by 6.4 per cent.

The greatest rise is in Eden district where it increased by 24.2 per cent, almost four times faster than the rate of increase at a national level.

A spokesman for the Cumbria Intelligence Observatory said: “Barrow has the fastest declining population in England and Wales.

“It is one of only 15 districts in England and Wales where the population is in decline.

“There are notable declines in the population from ages 0 to 14 and 30 to 44 in Barrow.

“The population aged 0 to 14 is declining in all districts in Cumbria compared to a 0.6 per cent rise nationally.

“The decline in this age range is greatest in Barrow at –18.7 per cent. South Lakeland has the highest proportion of residents aged 60-plus in Cumbria at 30.1 per cent compared to 22.5 per cent nationally.”

Glen Watson, census director, said: “The whole operation has worked well. We met our targets both for response and quality.

“We’ve had fantastic support from the public, and also from voluntary groups, community groups and local authorities throughout England and Wales.

“I’d like to say a big thank you to everyone involved, including the 35,000 people who worked on the data collection and helped to make the census a success.”

South Lakes MP Tim Farron has today said that the census statistics show that we need to do ‘much more to keep young people in Cumbria’.

He said: “The statistics sadly show what communities up and down Cumbria have known for years, namely that we have major problems retaining our young people. Agencies, councils and business now need to sit down with this information and work together to create well paid jobs, truly affordable housing and opportunities for young people throughout Cumbria.”

Over the next 18 months, further results from the 2011 census will be released.

The Cumbria Intelligence Observatory website (www.cumbriaobservatory.org.uk) will have further briefings and statistics over the coming months.

First published at 12:28, Tuesday, 17 July 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk