LOCALS say they love living in one of the UK’s most deprived areas where life expectancy is low, despite its problems.
Bushbury South and Low Hill in Wolverhampton is said to be a “nice part” of the West Midlands city by locals but drugs have reportedly become a “visible problem”.
Residents living in the Wolverhampton City Council ward claim youths gather at the top of one of the streets as they await orders.
Bushbury South and Low Hill has a life expectancy of 73.2 years – seven years lower than the UK average of 80.9 years, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
The crime rate is considered “high” with police figures showing on average there are 152 crimes per 1,000 people.
One man, when asked about the figures, told the Birmingham Mail: "It's a great street, we get on with everyone.
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"We have no issues at all. I have lived here for over 40 years and think it's better than some places."
A shop worker at a convenience store also had no problems with the area, saying: "It is just like any other area. It is a tight-knit community here."
However, on a parallel street, a 75-year-old man who only gave his initials as AC, painted a very different scenario.
He said: “Where do I start?”
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Nodding his head in the direction of a street which runs adjacent to his home he branded it as “drug alley,” and added: "A lot of drugs are going on here."
The man said the area was “rundown” but added he kept himself to himself and had no problems.
He said: "It has always been considered a deprived area, a little bit run-down.
"They changed the name from Bushbury to Low Hill but it hasn't made a difference."
Those views were echoed by another man who lived further up the street which is said to have the drug problem.
He said: "There's a major drugs problem but nobody is doing anything about it, youths gather at the top of the street.
"You'll probably see one or two of them on your way, they're only a phone call away.
"The police have been told about it but nothing seems to be getting done."
While the man had lived there for 30 years, he thought the drug problem had been ongoing for around “five to seven years”.
He added: "Other than that, it's a nice street."
Last month, residents living in the UK's "most deprived" seaside town have revealed how it could be destroyed - but insist they won't leave.
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In February, locals in the “roughest area in the UK” told how they love living in their town.
Elsewhere, people living in a "dead" seaside town which is blighted by yobs say they want the place torn down.
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