A TOWN of low wages where jobs are vulnerable and unemployment is higher than average for the borough.

That is the grim picture that has been painted of Radcliffe.

Members of Radcliffe town centre subgroup received the verdict from Bury's economic strategy officer Heather Clark at a meeting last Thursday (Sept 6).

She revealed that the continued decline in traditional industries has particularly affected Radcliffe with more than 500 redundancies announced in 2001. The problem is compounded by the fact that patterns of work and skill requirements of service sector employers do not always match those of former employees in the manufacturing sector.

Miss Clark added that a high proportion of those living in Radcliffe Central and Radcliffe South have basic skills needs, unemployment in the same areas, where youth unemployment is relatively high, is above the borough average, and long term unemployment is a particular issue in Radcliffe North. A lack of private sector investment and the high number of local people commuting out of Radcliffe is also threatening the long-term economic future of Radcliffe.

Miss Clark was reporting back from a consultation day held on September 5 where Bury Council chiefs reviewed the economic regeneration of the borough as a whole.

The good news is that a number of opportunities have been identified which could benefit Radcliffe.

"The development of the Irwell Sculpture Trail and Outwood Country Park has extended the tourism potential of the Irwell Valley through the south of the borough, with positive implications for the wider area, including Radcliffe town centre," said Miss Clark.

The town's proximity to the M60 and M66 and access to the Metrolink, the proposed £6 million museum and market hall and the amount of service sector employment that has been attracted to Radcliffe all represent hope for the future. And Radcliffe has been identified as a priority in the Bury Regeneration Strategy.

But Miss Clark warned: "A potential barrier to economic regeneration in Radcliffe is the limited prospect for funding."