Loneliness and voter apathy rises

The proportion of people voting has decreased in the county

Nottinghamshire is facing growing social alienation, voter apathy and poverty, according to new figures.

A BBC survey of social trends in Britain, broken down to reflect the 45 local radio areas, indicates greater division along lines of age and wealth.

More and more people in the county are feeling isolated and Nottinghamshire is rising in the UK's "loneliness" table.

The proportion of those not voting doubled from 17.4% just after World War II to 37.2% in recent years.

The Changing UK survey, carried out by a team from the University of Sheffield, used information from the Census and other data to give a picture of how neighbourhoods have changed over the past 40 years.

The national picture is one of increasing separation of communities along lines of income and age, with the changes accelerating in recent years.

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE IN NUMBERS Population (2006) - 1,129,000 Average age (2006) - 38.9 Population over pensionable age (2006) - 18.5% Average house price (2006) - £148,000 Breadline poor (1980)- 16.9% Breadline poor (2000)- 27.5% Population not voting (1945-51) - 17.4% Population not voting (1997-2005) - 37.2%

The measure of personal social isolation, what the survey calls "anomie", was calculated using factors including one-person households, people who are not married and recent arrivals in the area.

While all areas have seen an increase in this loneliness league, Nottinghamshire has the highest in the East Midlands region.

Against a national figure of 26.2% - up from 18.7% in 1971 - the county scores 26.5%, climbing from 38th place to 15th.

Dr Theo Stickley, Associate Professor of Mental Health at the University of Nottingham said the danger of social isolation should not be underestimated.

"It is a killer, loneliness is a killer. We all need social contact, we all need friends, we need to feel a sense of validation from other people.

"If we become lonely and isolated we lose a sense of who we are - a loss of identity and status.

"Without social engagement we become lost in our own world, in negative patterns. We desperately, desperately need other people."

The survey also showed an uneven age distribution in Nottinghamshire.

It has the highest proportion of 20 to 24-year-olds in the UK, but has a deficit of every age above 30.

Other figures showed a 6% growth in population between 1981 and 2006.

The proportion of those seen as "breadline poor" grew to a high of 27.5% from a 1980 low of 16.9%.