CLYDEBANK is home to some of the most deprived areas in Scotland – despite being within walking distance of one of the least deprived.

The latest update of the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) shows that parts of Dalmuir, Radnor Park and Drumry are within the five per cent most deprived areas in the country.

An area within Drumry was ranked 46th out of 6,976 data zones across Scotland.

And parts of Faifley and Mountblow made the list of the top 10 per cent most deprived, with rankings of 583rd and 526th respectively.

In Dalmuir, there was an area marked 146th most deprived, meanwhile, nearby Old Kilpatrick was ranked 6,393rd – the only part of the local authority to make the least deprived 10 per cent, along with a spot of Dumbarton East and streets near the banks of Loch Lomond.

Other parts of the local area that ranked relatively high included parts of Duntocher, which ranked 5,537th.

West Dunbartonshire as a whole was noted as having high levels of deprivation across 40 per cent of the local authority – the fourth worst ranked nationally – no change from the 2016 index.

Craig Edward, campaigner and resident of Radnor Park, told the Post: “It’s deeply disappointing that eight years on from a previous SIMD and Clydebank still has high levels of deprivation.

“Sadly, I could list the areas without even looking at the map. SIMD acts as a measurement of poverty in my view and there is far too much poverty in Clydebank.

“Holyrood, Westminster and the council all have their hand in this. One blames the other for cuts, but the argument will only truly be won when there is a drastic reduction in poverty here.

“This should be treated as a priority. We need universal credit scrapped, large scale investments – and not just at Queens Quay – good quality homes that people can afford to heat; council services that our vulnerable can access without checking their bank balance first; and stable, well-paid jobs. Too many people work but are still poor – that is a scandal.

Read more: Dalmuir Golf Club fees will go back down in price to increase membership

“Our town has so much potential, but we need those in power to actually have the political will to deliver change and stop the managed decline of our communities.”

In neighbouring East Dunbartonshire, parts of Bearsden were ranked as high as 6,970.

But despite poverty levels in Drumry becoming worst since 2016, in Whitecrook, things have gotten better.

Four years ago, an area of Whitecrook was ranked as high as 306th most deprived, but in 2020, the same part was ranked more than double – 675th.

Martin Docherty-Hughes, Clydebank’s MP, said the Thatcher legacy was still to blame for “deep-seated deprivation”.

The MP added: “These statistics are a stark reminder of what we knew already – which is that too many people in our communities continue to suffer from poverty and inequality.

“The damaging legacy of the social and economic policies of the Thatcher years is still being felt today. Deep-seated deprivation in parts of West Dunbartonshire and across Scotland means that many individuals and families are unfairly disadvantaged compared to others.

“I believe we can do better than this, and locally we’re seeing welcome investment from the council in affordable housing, better schools and economic regeneration in our town centres and developments like Queen’s Quay in Clydebank.

“However, for as long as we’re subject to UK Government welfare cuts and austerity efforts to tackle to the root causes of poverty will remain challenging.

“The impact of Brexit is also a concern; but whatever the future holds we must continue working to bring skilled jobs and investment to West Dunbartonshire.”