Swindon is booming according to a new report that says the town's economy is outperforming Oxford, Bristol and Birmingham.

More of its residents are in work, and those workers are more productive than many in other towns and cities.

But some are concerned that not everyone is getting to share in that overall prosperity outlined in the Centre for Cities report.

The report shows that Swindon has the eighth highest employment rate, higher than Reading and Milton Keynes.

And Swindon has a strong GVA (Gross Value Added) per worker, which at £62,700 is higher than cities such as Birmingham, Bristol and Oxford and substantially higher than the national average of £57,600.

The report says that between 2016 and 2017, Swindon saw the second highest increase in housing stock, which at 1.8 per cent puts the town behind only Cambridge.

Coun Oliver Donachie, Swindon Borough Council’s cabinet member for economic prosperity, said: “These figures show just how well Swindon’s economy performs year after year.

“We are a top location for wealth-creating private businesses and our employment and productivity levels continue to put us among the country’s high flying towns and cities. As a council, we work very hard to make sure our town prospers and I am extremely confident that we can continue to build on our economic achievements.”

But not everyone is as sanguine about Swindon’s apparent prosperity.

Coun Bob Wright, a Labour member of the borough council is concerned that an unequal distribution of both wealth, good housing and opportunities has a real impact on the health and lives of those missing out.

He pointed out that eight areas in Swindon are in the top 10 per cent of those deprived, nationally, with Penhill being the most deprived.

For educations, skills and training Swindon is 47th most deprived out of 152 local authority areas, with Penhill being the 33rd most deprived in the country for children and young people.

Faringdon Road is the only Swindon area in the top 10 per cent for deprivation for ‘living environment’, which measures both quality of housing and things like air quality and pollution.

He said: “It’s all well and good making bland statements about how well Swindon is doing – but there are areas of serious deprivation.

“In Broad Green, just by the council’s own offices. There is deteriorating housing stock, HMOs and overcrowding.

“In Penhill there are issues of people on very low incomes – and those without incomes. We don’t house them any more until they can demonstrate and income. So we’re not doing anything for the very poorest people.

“It’s not enough to say Swindon is doing well, and lots of people are in work, if a lot of people in the town don’t get to share in that prosperity.”

Coun Donachie responded: “This Conservative administration is committed to giving all Swindon residents and businesses the tools they need to build their own futures by creating new jobs and economic growth and ensuring our educational offer strives to be diverse and provide excellence across the town”

“Over the past few years, there have been considerable improvements in education provision in some of the most socio-economically deprived parts of the borough. Swindon Academy has transformed into one of the most successful schools in the south west in terms of pupil progress.

“There is excellent primary school provision for example at Goddard Park, Holy Family, and Oaktree PriThis is a testament to the hard work of staff in all these schools.”