ABSTRACT
Marshampton is a relatively affluent town of approximately 100,000 people. The local economy is characterised by a strong engineering and high technology sector and, in more recent decades, a significant growth in the service sector with, for example, head offices of insurance firms being moved there away from London. A national government agency is also a major employer. The town has an above-average representation of professional and middle class households, many attracted by the major national and international companies based locally. This has encouraged social polarisation between traditionally trained manual workers and a newer, more professional labour force. Despite its general affluence, the town has significant areas of deprivation and relative neglect.
