Guardian News Service
THE ASIAN populations of northern English towns hit by racial unrest
this summer will see explosive growth in the next decade, raising
fears of a social crisis unless problems of racism and deprivation are
effectively tackled.
A report presented to Oldham council last week showed that by 2011 the
white population of the town will have decreased by nine per cent,
whilst the Bangladeshi population will have grown by 112 per cent and
the Pakistani population by 88 per cent.
Similar reports drawn up by other councils in Burnley, which has also
suffered a race riot, and Rochdale, also revealed Asian communities
growing far faster than their white counterparts. By 2011 Rochdale’s
Asian community will have grown from nine per cent to 13 per cent.
The key reasons behind the projected growth of the Asian population is
a higher birth rate, continued migration from the Asian sub-continent
and a much younger population than the white community.
Experts have warned that the growing Asian populations could coincide
with a worsening of race relations in the towns if they remain
disadvantaged and discriminated against.
“These towns are currently racial hot spots, but they will be even
hotter spots if in 10 years’ time we have not got race relations in
Britain right,” said a spokesman for the Commission for Racial
Equality.
The growing Asian populations in the North also present a major
challenge for education and housing sectors that have in the past
promoted physical segregation.
The Oldham report suggested that changes in education, housing and the
jobs market will have to take place in order to cope with the social
demands of a growing Asian population.
“Unless there is deliberate action to mix the communities in these
towns then you will end with an Asian Muslim dominated inner city area
and the more segregated a community the more potential problems there
are,” said Dr David Owen, an expert in racial demographics at Warwick
University.
http://society.guardian.co.uk/regeneration/news/0,8367,532803,00.html
[This message has been edited by rvikz (edited August 06, 2001).]